From the Field: Georgia was counted out late, but found a way to win

KNOXVILLE, TN. — Georgia fans were probably thinking the quote from legendary announcer Larry Munson when the No. 6 Bulldogs defeated No. 15 Tennessee 44-41 in overtime on Saturday.

‘I GAVE UP, YOU DID TOO. WE WERE OUT OF IT AND GONE. MIRACLE.’ — Larry Munson

Georgia was essentially out of the game, trailing 38-30, when the offense faced a 4th-and-6 from the Vols’ 28-yard line with 2:38 left in the fourth quarter. That’s when Bulldog offensive coordinator Mike Bobo dialed up a gutsy shot to the end zone.

The play was a success, as quarterback Gunner Stockton dropped a dime in the corner of the end zone to wide receiver London Humphreys. Georgia pulled to within two points but still had to convert a two-point conversion, which it did. Stockton completed a pass to transfer wideout Zachariah Brach to tie it up.

Still, it felt like the game was in Tennessee’s favor. The Vols got the ball back with 2:32 left, with three timeouts, plus the two-minute warning stoppage of the clock. They had also moved the ball efficiently on Georgia’s defense all day. The Bulldogs couldn’t stop a nosebleed, and it showed again as Tennessee converted three first downs, getting down to the Georgia 20-yard line. That moment is when it really felt like the Bulldogs were out of it.

All Vols’ head coach Josh Heupel had to do was let kicker Max Gilbert make a chip shot field goal, which if good, would’ve been Tennessee’s first win over Georgia in nine years. Heupel had already broken a 15-year losing streak to Alabama in 2022, and with the cards in his favor, was set to make history again. But a questionable decision to run one more play came back to bite him.

Tennessee’s offense was called for a false start, which backed up the game-winning attempt five yards. It was then a 43-yarder, and it should’ve been no problem for Gilbert, who had already nailed a 48-yard attempt earlier in the game.

However, it seemed like those five yards made a huge difference. Kicking is a mental game and that penalty looked like it ruined the rhythm Gilbert was in. Well, it worked out for the Bulldogs and backfired on Heupel and the Vols as Gilbert shanked the field goal wide right.

What a gut punch for Tennessee fans. The Vols had lost all momentum because of a crazy call by Heupel. The life was sucked out of their sails after that kick went nowhere near the uprights.

But you could hear a small section of Georgia fans in the lower and upper sections cheering at the top of their lungs. Even though the game then went to overtime and the Bulldogs hadn’t performed well on defense, momentum shifted their way.

Tennessee got the ball to start the overtime period and the Vols’ student section lacked the energy they had during regulation. Georgia’s defense finally made a big-stop and held Tennessee to a field goal.

From there, it felt like the Bulldogs were going to walk it off like they did against Georgia Tech and Texas last year, and that’s exactly what happened.

Transfer running back Josh McCray scored his second touchdown, which was initially ruled short, but a review said otherwise. It was a huge moment for a Georgia team that probably shouldn’t have won that game. Head coach Kirby Smart said the same thing in his postgame press conference.

Regardless, the Bulldogs found a way to win.

Tennessee fans displayed a total state of shock and disappointment after that call was reversed.

Munson is likely smiling at that image.