KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – In a clash that epitomized SEC drama, the Georgia Bulldogs extended their dominance over Tennessee to nine straight victories, edging the Volunteers 44-41 in an overtime thriller at Neyland Stadium on Saturday night.
The Bulldogs, led by quarterback Gunner Stockton in his first road start, showcased resilience after trailing by 14 points early and later facing an eight-point deficit in the fourth quarter. Stockton delivered a poised performance, completing 23 of 31 passes for 304 yards and two touchdowns, while adding a rushing score. Running back Nate Frazier chipped in with 73 hard-earned yards on 14 carries, while Zachariah Branch caught five passes for 69 yards and a touchdown.
Tennessee struck first, with quarterback Joey Aguilar engineering an eight-play, 75-yard drive capped by a four-yard rushing touchdown. Aguilar’s connection with wideout Chris Brazzell tormented Georgia’s secondary, producing touchdowns of 72 and 14 yards that pushed the Volunteers ahead 21-7 in the first quarter.
Georgia answered with Stockton’s six-yard rushing score and a screen-pass touchdown to Branch, cutting the deficit to 21-14. The Bulldogs added a field goal before halftime, but still trailed 21-17 at the break.
The second half saw Georgia seize its first lead behind a punishing ground attack, capped by transfer Josh McCray’s one-yard plunge. However, Tennessee’s explosive offense struck back repeatedly, including a 56-yard bomb to Brazzell and a 32-yard touchdown to Braylon Stanley. A costly Stockton fumble led to a Tennessee field goal, and the Bulldogs suddenly trailed 38-30.
Refusing to fold, Stockton found London Humphreys for a 28-yard touchdown and hit Branch for the two-point conversion to tie the game at 38. Tennessee had a chance to win in regulation, but kicker Max Gilbert missed a 42-yard attempt wide right in the final seconds.
In overtime, Tennessee settled for a Gilbert field goal to lead 41-38. On Georgia’s possession, Frazier broke loose for a 21-yard run to the four-yard line, setting up McCray’s decisive two-yard touchdown.
With the victory, Georgia improved to 3-0 on the season and maintained momentum heading into a bye week before a highly anticipated showdown with Alabama in Athens. For Tennessee, the loss was heartbreaking but underscored its offensive firepower.
For the Bulldogs, the night belonged to Stockton, whose composure in a hostile environment earned him the trust of teammates and fans alike. As head coach Kirby Smart put it postgame, “He grew up tonight.”
