Tennessee football: Turning points in Vols 38-12 loss at Georgia Bulldogs

Despite losing 38-12, Tennessee football was a few plays from making their game against the UGA Dawgs interesting. These were the Volunteers’ key moments.

We know this sport, even in a blowout, can come down to just a few plays. That was the case for Tennessee football as the Vols lost to the Georgia Bulldogs 38-12 on the road Saturday afternoon to fall to 2-3 on the year and 0-2 in the SEC.

Despite the blowout, Rocky Top had a lot to feel good about, especially after their six-turnover collapse against the Florida Gators the previous week. The defensive front seven played hard, and the offense once again came to life in the second half.

If it weren’t for a few specific things happening, we could be talking about a much closer game between the hedges, which would shock a lot of people. Let’s take a look at the key moments and turning points in Tennessee football’s loss to Georgia.

1. Jake Fromm’s fumble is recovered by Georgia and run in for a touchdown.

This was obviously the major play to set the tone early. The Vols appeared to get a huge stop on 3rd and 9 on Georgia’s first drive, as Darrell Taylor strip-sacked Jake Fromm with the game scoreless in the first quarter. However, tight end Isaac Nauta, who missed the block on Taylor, recovered the fumble and managed to run it 31 yards into the end zone for the touchdown to give UGA a 7-0 lead. It was a play typical of Tennessee football’s luck. And it’s been the story of the program in recent years.

2. Jeremy Pruitt decides to punt on 4th and inches.

This is one of the first bits of criticism I’ve ever had for Jeremy Pruitt. But the Vols were down 7-0, and the clearly got a first down on a fullback handoff to Madre London in the first half. A bad spot by the refs made it 4th and inches in their own territory. Pruitt, then decided to punt it. Sorry, but you have nothing to lose. You sneak it with Jarrett Guarantano right there and get the first. It was a bad call, made only worse by back to back illegal formation penalties on the punt that gave Georgia the ball in good field position. It allowed them to orchestrated a field goal drive and go up 10-0.

3. Georgia converts a 4th and 1 late in the first half.

Down 10-0, Tennessee football got a key stop on the Dawgs in the first half on 3rd and 1. But on 4th and 1 at the UT 32, Kirby Smart did what Pruitt didn’t do earlier in the game and went for it. He got it on a six-yard run by Brian Herrien. The play wasn’t much, but it was the momentum Georgia needed to score a touchdown on that drive and go up 17-0 into halftime.

4. Justin Fields recovers his own fumble.

Tennessee football battled back to make it 24-12, but the Vols’ lack of depth began to show on their defensive front seven. Georgia had drove into their territory in the fourth. Then, for the fourth time on the day, Georgia had a fumble. Justin Fields fumbled on a wildcat play, but the Vols once again failed to recover. That could have really put them in the game. Instead, the Dawgs capitalized off their next break and scored anther touchdown to put the game out of reach.

5. Jeremy Banks fumbles late in the fourth.

The game was pretty much out of reach at this point anyway, as the Georgia Bulldogs were up 31-2 with under four minutes to go. But you would think the Vols could keep fighting. They never got the chance, as Jeremy Banks fumbled on the first play right after the Dawgs’ previous scoring drive. UGA’s defense, unlike Tennessee’s defense, was then able to recover a fumble. The result? The Dawgs scored another touchdown on the next drive to make sure the game was not only out of reach but remained a blowout. Hey, at least Tennessee football covered.