Takeaways from Tennessee's victory over Georgia

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The ball was traveling in slow motion.

Georgia quarterback Greyson Lambert threw a beautiful deep ball that was heading right for wide receiver Reggie Davis, who had previously caught a 48-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the fourth quarter to tie the game at 31.

Now, holding onto a 38-31 lead, and after a season full of fourth quarter collapses, it appeared as if this game was going to join the list of heartbreaks for the Vols.

There was nothing separating Davis from the end zone, but the Vols finally caught a break in the fourth quarter, as Davis dropped the sure-fire touchdown pass.

The Bulldogs had a chance to tie the game with the clock running out after starting their final drive on their own half-yard line, but Lambert’s pass was knocked down and incomplete, giving the Volunteers their first win over the Bulldogs since 2009, and their biggest win in the Butch Jones era.

Here are the takeaways from the game:

Comeback kids

Maybe the Vols have found a new strategy: trail by multiple touchdowns instead of lead by multiple touchdowns? Nevertheless, the Vols completed a comeback that was as quick as it was stunning. With 3:27 left in the first half, Tennessee found itself trailing 24-3 after a 70-yard punt return touchdown by Georgia nearly took the wind out of the stadium. However, in a 37-second span, the Volunteers scored two touchdowns and trailed by only seven. The first touchdown was scored on a fourth-and-8, 39-yard pass from quarterback Joshua Dobbs to receiver Josh Smith. The second touchdown was scored after Georgia fumbled on the ensuing kickoff, leading to a two-yard touchdown strike from Dobbs to running back Alvin Kamara. The Vols took the lead in the third quarter and did not trail the rest of the game.

This was Tennessee’s first three-touchdown comeback since 2005, when it trailed the LSU Tigers 21-0 at halftime in Baton Rouge, only to win the game 30-27 in overtime.

Fourth quarter music to our ears

The Vols’ fourth quarter blues have been well documented this season and have been discussed and criticized in great detail. However, this fourth quarter was a different story. While the Vols did allow Georgia to score on a 48-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the quarter, and were lucky to have a dropped touchdown that would have tied the game at 38, the Vols easily had their best fourth quarter of the season on both sides of the ball. Even when Georgia had a chance to tie the game with six seconds left, the defense stepped up and made the play to win the game. While this fourth quarter will not erase the painful memories of the Oklahoma or Florida game, what the Vols did against the No. 19 team in the country is a promising sign.

Dobbs silences critics with five touchdowns

Dobbs has been criticized all season for his accuracy. While he was inaccurate at times throughout the game, one cannot deny that Dobbs had the best game of his career. He completed 25 of 42 passes for 312 yards and three touchdowns, while rushing the ball 18 times for 118 yards and two additional scores. Even more impressive was the way Dobbs performed in the second half, when it mattered:

First half stats: 14-of-28, 183 yards, two touchdowns, interception, seven carries, 46 yards

Second half stats: 11-of-14, 129 yards, 11 carries, 72 yards, three total touchdowns

Dobbs performed well in both halves, but his composure and accuracy in the second half was the central reason Tennessee won the game.

Dominance on third down conversions

The Vols had a noticeable advantage in the third down department, converting 8-of-18 (44 percent) third down opportunities compared to Georgia’s 4-of-14 (29 percent) third down conversion rate.

Bouncing back from adversity

After losing to Arkansas last Saturday, 24-20, negativity swirled around the program like a hurricane. After Jalen Hurd’s fumble in the first quarter was returned 96 yards for a touchdown, fans must have been thinking, “here we go again.”

However, it is safe to say that when taking into account the devastating losses this season, all the injuries on both sides of the line, and the relative inexperience of the squad, the Vols showed exceptional mental toughness against a tough opponent. Albeit that Georgia was without its best player, Nick Chubb, who suffered a gruesome leg injury in the first quarter.

The Volunteers are now 3-3, but more importantly, salvage a chance to win the SEC East, posting a 1-2 conference record. They get a much-needed rest this week before taking on Alabama in Tuscaloosa on Oct. 24.

Edited by Cody McClure