This is me processing the game. Skip if you don't like long reads.
Through four series, two for each team. We already have three false starts, and two of them are questionable. Despite being behind the sticks due to penalties, the difference in the game is Bennett made a perfect pass to set up a touchdown and Hooker overthrew Hyatt. Hooker so far has had plenty of time to pass, but so has Bennett. 7-3 UGA
3rd drive for UGA. 3 & out. But then they hit that 75 yard punt. Easy to see upon rewatching the game how much impact this play had on the first half.
3rd drive for Tennessee. We were able to give Hooker a little space with two consecutive run plays but on 3rd down he simply waited too long.
4th drive for UGA. They get the ball on our 37 yard line. First play of the drive, Slaughter bit on the play fake and got torched. When I saw this live I thought he slipped but he didn't. He just got badly beaten.
At this point it's 14-3 and we need an answer. Wright picks up 11 yards on first down. Here comes the tempo. Hooker can't find anyone open. Scrambles for 4. Game slows down again... ugh. 3 yards on 2nd down. 3rd & 5, Hooker bounces it to Hyatt. Hooker has completed that pass maybe a hundred times in 2022. Not today.
**Agreeable comment from Danielson. Up to this point in the season Tennessee has been the hunter. They've been building and climbing the ladder. This is the first game where the spotlight's been on them. You can feel they that they feel tense in this game.**
5th drive for UGA. We stuff them on 1st down. 2nd down Bennett avoids pressure and connects with McIntosh on a wheel route for a 49 yard gain. We actually had him double covered with Banks and McCollough. Banks took the underneath coverage and McIntosh runs right by McCollough. Bad play by McCollough, IMO. UGA scores on just a perfect pass by Bennett. No way to defend it unless we're allowed to hang a player from the goal post.
5th drive for Tennessee. Need someone to make a play. Hooker hitches and gets sacked 4.5 seconds after the snap. High throw on 2nd down handcuffs McCoy from getting anything after the catch. PI gives us a first down on 3rd down. This is our chance to get back in the game. 3 yard run by Small on first down. Ineffective WR screen and 2nd down. Hooker connects with Warren, first down.... here's come tempo. 2 yard run. Must score on this drive. Another PI. Ball now on 32 yard line. Hooker to Tillman takes it inside the 20. Must score here. QB draw gets it to the 11. 2 yard run by Wright. BACK-TO-BACK FALSE STARTS. 3rd & 12. Middle of the field wide open, Fant can't get any separation on the slant. Pass broken up. FG.
6th drive for UGA. We desperately need a stop at this point. Georgia NOT taking foot off the gas. They fake an end around on 1st down, but Turnage had great coverage. We stuff them on 2nd down, they get a false start and we get off the field on 3rd & 14.
6th drive for Tennessee. It's 21-6. We can make this a 1 score game at the half if we just score here. 17 yard pass complete to Tillman. Ball at midfield. Hooker has had time to throw this entire half. Wright picks up another first down on back-to-back runs. WAIT WHAT? They didn't give Wright the first down. Then we get stuffed on 3rd & 1. Feels like we got screwed on previous spot. 4th down, Hooker gets first down. Here comes the tempo... deep ball to Tillman!!! Intercepted. This was obviously a huge play. How might the game have changed if Tillman wins this 1-on-1?
7th drive for UGA. Big run by UGA down to the 45. Few plays later Bennett completes pass to McConkey down to the 25. Couple plays later McConkey beats Harrison to take it inside the 10. Defense stiffens. FG.
Halftime. UGA 24, Tennessee 6
