KNOXVILLE, Tn. (WATE) — The Vols picked up their first loss of the season to Georgia, with the first overtime ending 44-41.

The Vols received the opening kickoff and marched right down the field with little to no push back from the Bulldogs, scoring with just two and a half minutes into the contest. A strike across the middle to TE Mike Kitselman moved Tennessee into enemy territory and Joey Aguilar caped the drive with a four-yard rushing score.

Gunner Stockton and the Georgia offense responded with a deep ball on the opening play of their drive to move into Tennessee territory. Stockton tied the game with a six-yard rushing score of his own.

The Vols kept their foot on the pedal, with Aguilar throwing deep on the second play of their second drive, connecting with Chris Brazzell II on a 72 yard score to take a 14-7 lead.

The Vol defense stepped up on the Bulldogs second possession, forcing a quick punt.

Aguilar maintained his perfect start by finishing the third drive 14-14 with 213 yards and a second passing touchdown to Brazzell II for a 21-7 advantage.

On the first play of the second quarter, Stockton hits Zachariah Branch on a screen play and he housed it from 36 yards out to cut their deficit to seven.

Aguilar finally threw his first incomplete pass with 14:41 in the second quarter, and a dropped ball by Braylon Staley ended the drive with a punt. Long-snapper Bennett Brady made a diving special teams play on the punt to pin Georgia deep in their own side of the field, resulting in another punt with 10:27 left in the second quarter.

The Bulldogs forced a second consecutive punt and were once again backed up deep but helped out by two pass interference calls, setting them up around the 50 before Stockton connected with TE Oscar Delp to set up first and goal, eventually kicking a 20-yard field goal after a massive defensive stop.

Aguilar threw his first interception of the season to Georgia’s Joenel Aguero on a deep ball with just over a minute left in the half. Ty Redmond picked off Stockton on a last second heave to send it to the half with a 21-17 score.

The Bulldogs opened the second half with a long, ground and pound drive, chewing up more than half of the third quarter and finishing with a short rushing score from Josh McRay to take their first lead of the game, 24-21.

The Vols first third quarter drive lasted less than two minutes before a third consecutive punt. Aguilar took a big hit on a second down rushing attempt.

Following another Bulldog punt, Aguilar threw his second interception of the game, reeled in by KJ Bolden.

After four plays, the Dogs were forced to kick a 48-yard field goal, which extended the lead to 27-21.

The Vols showed their first sign of life in the second half, as Aguilar aired out a high-flying jump ball to Brazzell II, resulting in a 56-yard score. It was Brazzell’s third TD of the game, as Tennessee jumped in front 28-27.

Georgia responded by marching right down the field, but they’re held to their third field goal of the second half, taking a 30-28 advantage.

The fourth lead-change of the second half occurred just over a minute later, as a long run from Star Thomas set up a fourth passing touchdown for Aguilar. He hit Staley on a 32-yard strike to go back up 35-30.

Tennessee’s defense came out energized with a roaring crowd behind them. A Josh Joseph strip sack was recovered by Bryson Eason set the Vols up with a short field to work with just over eight minutes left in the contest.

The Vols immediately tried to run the clock down, but did not get far, setting up for a a 48-yard field goal, put through the upright by Max Gilbert, extending the lead 38-30 with 6:40 remaining.

The Bulldogs pushed on with Stockton finding London Humphreys with a 28-yard pass to pickup another touchdown. With the extra point, Georgia tied up the game 38-38.

Bringing the ball back, the Vols brought the ball back to Georgia's 20-yard line. After a false start penalty, Gilbert was brought in for a field goal, missing the shot to the right of the uprights and turning the ball back over to Georgia with 3 seconds left on the clock. The Bulldogs ran for a loss of 1 yard to their own 24-yard line and leading the game into overtime.

Tennessee started off their first possession in the OT drive with an incompletion, but Gilbert came back and brought in a field goal to give the Vols 3 points.

Georgia followed up on the return with a 21-yard run to Tennessee's 4 yard line. With a three-yard run, Georgia found itself at the Vols' 1 yard line. McRay made a final one-yard run, giving the Bulldogs a touchdown and ending the game 44-41.

With the Vols' loss, Georgia extends its series win streak to nine game, which is now tied with Tennessee (1989-1999) for the longest streak since the series began in 1898.

UP NEXT: The Vols are staying in Knoxville next weekend, taking on UAB at Neyland Stadium. The game is set to kick off at 12:45 p.m. and will be broadcast on SEC Network.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/sports/tennessee-volunteers/tennessee-finds-first-loss-of-season-to-georgia-in-overtime/