Stunner between the hedges: Vandy upsets Georgia 17-16

Vanderbilt claimed its first Southeastern Conference road win in Derek Mason's three seasons as coach, stunning Georgia 17-16 on Khari Blasingame's 2-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter and a huge fourth-down stop late in the game Saturday.

The Bulldogs (4-3, 2-3 SEC) held a commanding lead in total yards, 421-171, but special teams blunders doomed the home team and left rookie coach Kirby Smart facing plenty of questions heading into an off week.

For Vanderbilt (3-4, 1-3), it was only the third win over Georgia in the last 22 meetings between the SEC East rivals. Mason had dropped his first nine league road games before the upset between the hedges.

Georgia finally went ahead for the first time early in the third quarter on Jacob Eason's 17-yard touchdown pass to Isaac Nauta. The Bulldogs added their third field goal, stretching the lead to 16-10 with just under 14 minutes remaining.

But Vanderbilt finally put together its only extended drive of the game, going 75 yards on eight plays to reclaim the lead when Blasingame powered over with 9:43 to go.

Georgia's final drive was extended by Eason's 23-yard pass to Terry Godwin on fourth-and-13, but the Bulldogs couldn't convert when facing fourth-and-1 at the Vandy 41. In a puzzling move, the Bulldogs didn't go with either of their star runners - Nick Chubb and Sony Michel - and instead pitched the ball to receiver Isaiah McKenzie after he dropped back into the tailback position.

McKenzie was thrown down about foot shy of the first-down marker by Vandy linebacker Zach Cunningham, who finished with a staggering 19 tackles.

Vanderbilt's first 10 points were set up by special teams.

Darius Sims returned the opening kickoff 95 yards before getting dragged down at the Georgia 4. Two snaps later, Ralph Webb scored on a 1-yard plunge to give the Commodores a 7-0 lead just 22 seconds into the game.

Georgia received the second-half kickoff but wound up deep in its own territory when Reggie Davis made the catch along the sideline and inadvertently stepped out of the bounds at the 3. The Bulldogs went three-and-out, Kalija Lipscomb returned the punt 17 yards and Vandy didn't even need to make a first down to set upTommy Openshaw's 38-yard field goal.

Georgia trailed 7-6 at halftime, settling for two field goals by Rodrigo Blankenship despite a 204-64 lead in total yards.

THE TAKEAWAY

Vanderbilt: The victory will take some of the heat off Mason, but the Commodores have yet to address their anemic offense. Other than one impressive drive, they barely moved the ball against Georgia. Still, the upset victory set off a wild celebration and gave Vandy a glimmer of hope in what was shaping up as another dismal season.

Georgia: This is hardly what the Bulldogs expected when they fired longtime coach Mark Richt and brought in Smart. The special teams are a mess, and the offensive play-calling will surely come under scrutiny after the Bulldogs rushed for only 75 yards against Vanderbilt and didn't turn to their top runners when the game was on the line.

UP NEXT

Vanderbilt: The Commodores return home next Saturday to face Tennessee State. It will be only the second home game in six weeks for Vanderbilt.

Georgia: The Bulldogs are off next weekend. They return to action Oct. 29 against Florida in the annual Cocktail Party showdown at Jacksonville, Florida.

Georgia rebounds with 28-14 victory in Sunday game

Georgia linebacker Davin Bellamyhad a simple pregame message for his teammates eager to bounce back from an awful two weeks.

"Everyone in there has aspirations of playing on Sundays. It's Sunday, it's time to play ball," Bellamy said.

The Bulldogs did just that, rushing for a season-high 326 yards and snapping a two-game losing streak with a 28-14 victory over South Carolina on Sunday in a game pushed back a day because of Hurricane Matthew.

Nick Chubb, back from a sprained left ankle, ran for 121 yards and two touchdowns and Sony Michel had 133 yards - Georgia's first game with two 100-yard backs since Chubb and Todd Gurley did it against Auburn in 2014.

Chubb ran for 18 yards the first time he touched the ball. He ended the series with a 15-yard TD run to put the Bulldogs (4-2, 2-2 Southeastern Conference) ahead for good.

"I think that got everyone going, the whole team," Chubb said. "To come out there, first play of the game getting something going."

Georgia didn't stop - except when attempting to pass. Freshman Jacob Eason finished 5 of 17 for 29 yards with a TD and an interception.

"We've got to improve our ability to throw and catch the ball," Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart said.

It didn't matter much against South Carolina (2-4, 1-4), which came in next to last in the SEC at stopping the run.

"We knew they were going to come out and run the ball. We couldn't stop them," South Carolina linebackerBryson Allen-Williams said. "It's frustrating."

Georgia came in hoping to turn around a miserable stretch where it was pounded by Ole Miss (45-14), then beaten by Tennessee on a Hail Ma ry after taking the lead seconds earlier.

"We needed this win," Bellamy said.

"It felt good to know we are," Michel said. "Georgia football, we're going to run the football."

Chubb , who had just one carry the past two games with a left-ankle sprain, was on his game from the start. He scampered 18 yards on his first carry and ended the sequence with 15-yard TD run.

Chubb added a 1-yard touchdown as the Bulldogs moved in front 14-0. The Gamecocks (2-4, 1-4) could not keep up in losing their third straight game.

"I don't know why you're all so surprised," Chubb said. "We run the ball."

It was the first time since a 2014 win over Auburn that Georgia had a pair of 100-yard rushers. Chubb was part of that, too, gaining 144 yards while Los Angeles Rams tailback Todd Gurley ran for 138.

The Gamecocks cut it to 21-14 on Rico Dowdle's 1-yard TD run with 1:40 left. But Terry Godwin picked up South Carolina's on-side kick attempt and took it 43 yards for a clinching score.

THE TAKEAWAY

Georgia: The Bulldogs are a different team when Chubb is healthy. His powerful running makes Georgia's other tailbacks in Sony Michel and Brian Herrien even more effective. The Bulldogs need help to contend in the SEC Eastern Division, but won't go anywhere without Chubb in the lineup.

South Carolina: The Gamecocks once more struggled on offense, gaining only 108 yards in the opening half to fall into a hole they couldn't climb out from. The three turnovers, including an interception from starting quarterback Perry Orth, did not help either.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

This game had the ultimate impact on the AP Poll - the new rankings were delayed until Monday because this game was moved. While Georgia's run game was impressive, it wasn't a surprise particularly with Chubb in the lineup. Georgia may not get enough votes to re-enter the poll after this one.

MUSCHAMP'S BLOODY LIP

The South Carolina coach, Will Muschamp, needed a trainer to help his bloody lip. After the game, Muschamp did not know how it happened. "I got cut somewhere on the sideline," he said.

MATTHEW'S EFFECTS

There were few effects left over from the storm Sunday, although some letters on the stadium's highest level were removed because a few had blown off and others were loosened by the high wins. The crowd, announced at 77,221, was not close to that number, but traffic was smooth without state troopers (they were deployed to help with recovery and cleanup) on hand to help.

FAST FRIENDS

Former Georgia teammates and longtime friends in Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart and Gamecocks coach Will Muschamp squared off for the first time as head coaches, although the two have coached against each other on opposing staffs.

UP NEXT

Georgia: The Bulldogs return home next week to face struggling Vanderbilt.

South Carolina: The Gamecocks get the week off, then step out of the SEC when they return against Massachusetts on Oct. 22.

Tennessee beats Georgia 34-31 with TD pass on final play

 Jauan Jennings hauled in a 43-yard Hail Mary from Joshua Dobbs on the final play, giving No. 11 Tennessee a stunning 34-31 victory over No. 25 Georgia after the Bulldogs appeared to win the game on a long TD pass of their own with 10 seconds remaining Saturday.

The Vols (5-0, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) rallied from a double-digit deficit for the fourth time in five games, but this was their most improbable comeback yet. The SEC East rivals packed a whole game's worth of action into the closing minutes as Tennessee went ahead for the first time all afternoon by recovering a fumble by Georgia (3-2, 1-2) in the end zone with 2:56 to go.

Then, after the Bulldogs threw an interception but got the ball back one more time, Jacob Eason tossed a 47-yard touchdown pass to fellow freshman Riley Ridley. With the Sanford Stadium crowd in a frenzy, Tennessee took the kickoff into position to take one shot at the end zone.

Dobbs hurled a towering pass that the 6-foot-3 Jennings didn't really have that much trouble bringing down . He leaped above the scrum to make the catch, and then landed on his back for the score that sent the Tennessee bench charging on the field to celebrate.

"I just know to go get it," Jennings said. "I just grabbed the ball and brought it in."

Georgia built a 17-0 lead in the first half but was clinging to a 24-21 edge when it got the ball deep in its own territory late in the fourth quarter.

Risking a pass from his own end zone, Eason tried to pull the ball down and was crushed by two Tennessee defenders, Derek Barnett and Cortez McDowell. The ball came loose and Corey Vereen fell on it for a touchdown.

Turns out, these teams were just getting warmed up.

Eason had another turnover, this one an interception by Malik Foreman. But Georgia used a couple of its timeouts, held defensively and got the ball back again. This time, the young quarterback came through, quickly driving the Bulldogs past midfield. After their final timeout, Eason found Ridley streaking behind two defenders down the left sideline, delivering a pass that the young receiver took in stride, seemingly giving Georgia an improbable win.

Not so fast.

An excessive celebration penalty forced the Bulldogs to kick off from their own 20, and Evan Berry's 20-yard return got the Vols in range to throw one up. When Jennings brought it down, Tennessee coach Butch Davis sank to his knees, overcome with emotion, while Vols running back Alvin Kamara sprawled out on his back, seemingly in disbelief.

"It was a crazy play, stuff you dream about," Dobbs said.

THE TAKEAWAY

Tennessee: The Vols have shown remarkable resilience while gaining a commanding position in the SEC East. They keep getting off to sluggish starts, but keep finding ways to win. Now, they have victories over both Florida and Georgia, likely to be their two leading challengers in the division race. That not only puts Tennessee ahead in the standings, but provides a tiebreaker edge that could come in handy by the end of the season.

Georgia: The Bulldogs have now lost two in a row in the SEC, a huge blow to their hopes of contending for a division championship in Kirby Smart's first season as coach. It will be interesting to see how they bounce back from such a devastating loss.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

Tennessee could move back into the Top 10, while Georgia is sure to tumble out of the rankings for the first time this season when The Associated Press poll comes out Sunday. The Bulldogs barely hung on to the final spot after their big loss at Ole Miss.

UP NEXT

Tennessee: The Vols are facing their third straight game against a ranked opponent, and another tough one on the road, when they travel to College Station to take on No. 9 Texas A&M (5-0). It doesn't get any easier after that, either. No. 1 Alabama visits Neyland Stadium on Oct. 15, finishing off the toughest part of Tennessee's schedule.

Georgia: The Bulldogs hit the road to face another SEC East rival, South Carolina.

No. 23 Rebels find their rhythm, beat No. 12 Georgia 45-14

 Chad Kelly threw for 282 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another score to lead No. 23 Mississippi over No. 12 Georgia 45-14 on Saturday.

The Rebels (2-2, 1-1 Southeastern Conference) dominated every phase of the game, building a lead of 31-0 by halftime and 45-0 by midway through the third quarter.

Ole Miss broke a 10-game losing streak in the series dating to 1996.

"I can't think of a time in my lifetime where a team has done that to Georgia," said Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze.

Georgia (3-1, 1-1) lost its first game under new coach Kirby Smart and looked overmatched. To make matters worse, star running back Nick Chubbinjured an ankle in the second quarter and didn't return.

It was an impressive win for the Rebels, who finally built a big lead they didn't give away. Ole Miss led Florida State by 22 points and Alabama by 21 this season before losing both games.

"We've certainly had experiences that we should have learned from," Freeze said.

Kelly was sharp from the opening series, completing 18 of 24 passes and adding a 41-yard touchdown run right through the middle of the Georgia defense. Tight end Evan Engram led the Rebels with six catches for 95 yards.

"When we get in a rhythm, it's hard for people to stop us," Engram said.

Brian Herrien led the Bulldogs with 78 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Freshman quarterback Jacob Eason had a tough day, completing just 16 of 36 passes for 137 yards and an interception.

THE TAKEAWAY

Georgia: The Bulldogs were an interesting bunch after three straight wins to start the season, but after being stomped by the Rebels, it doesn't look like Georgia is anywhere near being an elite team.

Ole Miss: The Rebels needed this one after blowing big leads in losses to Florida State and Alabama. Ole Miss proved it still can be a force in the SEC this season despite a tough September. Said Freeze "I think we're getting better. We've by no means arrived, but we've played a difficult schedule and easily could have won the games."

POLL IMPLICATIONS

Georgia: The Bulldogs probably tumble in the rankings after being outplayed in pretty much all aspects of the game.

Ole Miss: Look for the Rebels to jump a few spots.

UP NEXT

Georgia: The Bulldogs host Tennessee next week in an SEC Eastern Division showdown.

Ole Miss: The Rebels host Memphis in a non-conference game.

Jacob Eason leads No. 16 Georgia past Missouri, 28-27

Isaiah McKenzie's last big play made Kirby Smart a winner in his conference debut.

Jacob Eason threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to McKenzie on fourth down with 1:31 seconds to play to give No. 16 Georgia a 28-27 victory over Missouri on Saturday night in the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams.

"They never stopped fighting," Smart said. "They never stopped believing, and I'm proud of that.

"I appreciate that and we're tough on them. We are tough on these kids every day so they respond to it and they did tonight."

McKenzie caught 10 passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns, including the go-ahead score. He was targeted 16 times in the pass game and also carried the ball twice for 19 yards, with a 6-yard touchdown run near the end of the first quarter.

"It feels good to be that guy that they can go to and I can make a big play for them and I thank our coaches for believing in me, my team for believing in me and it brings joy to my heart that they believe in me to make big plays for them," he said.

After splitting time with senior Greyson Lambert in the Bulldogs' first two games, Eason made his first collegiate start and played every snap, completing 29 of 55 passes for 308 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.

The Tigers (1-2) turned the ball over five times, including four in the second half. Missouri's Drew Lock was 23 of 38 for 376 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions.

"It's tough," Missouri coach Barry Odom said. "When you don't win the turnover margin it's going to be hard to win.

"I hurt for my guys ... We didn't make enough plays to win it and I didn't put them in a position to get it done. I'm frustrated."

Following Eason's late touchdown pass, Missouri took over at its own 30-yard line with 1:21 remaining. On the ensuing play, Lock found J'Mon Moore over the middle for a 20-yard reception. However, Moore fumbled the ball and Georgia defensive back Juwuan Briscoe recovered it. Briscoe finished with three tackles, two fumble recoveries and an interception.

Moore had eight catches for 196 yards and two touchdowns, including a 79-yard score that gave the Tigers a 20-14 lead midway through the second quarter.

The Bulldogs (3-0) were 0 for 2 on field goal attempts. William Ham missed two field goals wide left, both of which were set up by Missouri interceptions.

Georgia defensive back Kirby Choates was ejected late in the fourth quarter for a targeting hit on a bizarre special teams play. Georgia was flagged for both kick-catch interference on the 35-yard punt and Choates' targeting hit on Missouri returner Johnathon Johnson. Missouri accepted the targeting penalty, resulting in a first down at the Tiger's 44-yard line.

TAKEAWAYS:

Missouri: After a relatively unproductive output through two weeks, Missouri's defensive line was relentless in the trenches, accounting for 22 tackles, including 5 1/2 for loss. After making just five tackles through Missouri's first two games, defensive end Charles Harris had seven tackles to go with three sacks.

Georgia: Nick Chubb had 38 carries for 143 yards and touchdown against Missouri in 2014, but was somewhat ineffective Saturday with 19 carries for 63 yards. Chubb averaged nearly 6 yards per carry heading into the game, but managed just over 3 yards per rush.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

With teams such as No. 13 Iowa and No. 14 Oklahoma losing just ahead of them, the Bulldogs should easily move up a few places in the rankings on Sunday.

UP NEXT:

Missouri: The Tigers host Delaware State (0-2) next Saturday in the first meeting between the schools.

Georgia: The Bulldogs visit No. 19 Ole Miss (1-2, 0-1 SEC) next Saturday. Georgia won the last meeting 37-10 on Nov. 3, 2012, in Athens.

No. 9 Georgia survives scare, tops underdog Nicholls 26-24

Georgia scored two quick-strike touchdowns - one on offense, one on defense - in a span of about two minutes after Nicholls took a third-quarter lead, and the No. 9 Bulldogs escaped with an uninspiring 26-24 win over the Colonels on Saturday.

Georgia (2-0) opened the game with a fast touchdown drive capped by Nick Chubb's 6-yard run and appeared headed for the easy win over the FCS Colonels that was widely expected in Kirby Smart's home debut as coach.

Smart called the sloppy win disappointing.

"We had a lot of guys today who didn't play the way they are capable, and I've got to figure out why that is," Smart said.

Nicholls (0-1) led 14-13 midway through the third after freshman quarterback Chase Fourcade, a surprise starter, threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Jarrell Rogers.

Georgia freshman quarterback Jacob Eason, also making his first start, threw a 66-yard scoring pass to Isaiah McKenzie less than a minute later. The Bulldogs' rally continued on Lorenzo Carter's 24-yard fumble return for a score.

A fumbled punt return by McKenzie inside the Georgia 10 set up a late Nicholls touchdown on Fourcade's 6-yard pass to C.J. Bates, cutting the Bulldogs' lead to 2 points.

Georgia relied on Chubb, who rushed for 80 yards, to run out the clock.

"If we get a stop, who knows what could've happened?" asked Nicholls coach Tim Rebowe. "I'm proud of our guys. ... We found out some things today about our team."

Eason completed 11 of 20 passes for 204 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Greyson Lambert took over late in the game.

Smart said the quarterback position wasn't settled.

"It was never settled this week until late," Smart said. "We're going to look and see who gives us the best chance to be successful."

Fourcade completed 9 of 19 passes for 99 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions and said he felt "kind of both" good and bad emotions.

"It is always frustrating to lose a close game," Fourcade said. "... Overall this was a good first game for us to take into next week."

Chubb had only 17 yards rushing in the first half and lost a fumble that set up Dontrell Taylor's 4-yard touchdown run late in the half.

THE TAKEAWAY

Nicholls: The Colonels hardly appeared awed by the step up in competition. They showed impressive push on their defensive front, hitting Chubb and McKenzie for losses. It was an encouraging start to coach Tim Rebowe's second season.

Georgia: The slow start was a reality check for the Bulldogs and fans expecting an easy game. There is reason to be alarmed about an offense which failed to score off three first-half opportunities: two interceptions and a drive that started at the Nicholls 37 following a short punt.

UP NEXT

Nicholls: The Colonels will play their home opener against Southland Conference rival Incarnate Word.

Georgia: The Bulldogs begin a string of eight straight Southeastern Conference games when they visit Missouri.

Chubb runs for 222 yards, Georgia beats NCarolina 33-24

Nick Chubb left no doubt.

He's fully recovered from that grotesque knee injury.

Less than 10 months after going down on a play that's still tough to watch, Chubb ran for 222 yards and a pair of touchdowns to lead No. 18 Georgia to a 33-24 victory over No. 22 North Carolina in Kirby Smart's coaching debut Saturday night.

Looking just as dominant as he did before his injury, Chubb carried a staggering 32 times and clinched the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game victory for Georgia (1-0) on a 55-yard run with 3 1-2 minutes left in the game.

"That dude doesn't stop," moaned North Carolina defensive lineman Nazair Jones.

Chubb said he never doubted his ability to recapture the form that made him a Heisman contender before a tackle at Tennessee midway through last season caused his left knee to buckle in the wrong direction, an injury that looked so bad some wondered if it might be career ending.

No way.

"I felt good the whole game," Chubb said. "Give me the ball. I know we have a great team."

Georgia also got some promising play from freshman quarterback Jacob Eason , who didn't start but was on the field as the Bulldogs rallied from a 24-14 deficit in the second half.

North Carolina (0-1) ripped off 17 straight points, including a pair of touchdowns by T.J. Logan that included a 95-yard kickoff return to start the second half.

Then, a pair of pass interference penalties on freshman cornerback Patrice Rene set up a touchdown that got Georgia back in the game, and two more penalties - one an unsportsmanlike conduct call on coach Larry Fedora - backed up the Tar Heels deep in their own territory, leading to a safety when Elijah Hood caught a short pass in the end zone and was quickly knocked down.

"We got the penalty on a lineman downfield. I was questioning the call. The guy didn't like what I said, so he threw a flag on me," Fedora said. "That's nobody's fault but mine."

Fifth-year senior Greyson Lambert started at quarterback for Georgia, but Eason - a touted freshman Georgia fans were clamoring to see - hooked up with Isaiah McKenzie on a 51-yard pass that set up William Ham's go-ahead, 29-yard field goal with 5:27 remaining.

Smart, the longtime Alabama defensive coordinator, was coaching a team of his own for the first time. He was hired after the Bulldogs dumped Mark Richt, who wound up at Miami after 15 years leading Georgia.

"It felt really weird," Smart said, chuckling. "A comedy of errors. I had to flip over on my headphones, trying to figure out who I was talking to. That was different for me. I was trying to find the special teams. I didn't feel like I was coaching my players, which I always felt was my best asset. It was a unique experience for me that I will build on and learn from."

GEORGIA'S QB QUESTION

Eason looks poised to take over the Georgia quarterback job, but Smart isn't ready to make the call just yet.

The freshman was 8 of 12 for 131 yards and a touchdown, while Lambert went 5 of 8 for 54 yards. The fifth-year senior also was sacked three times.

"There is no plan right now," said Smart, who didn't name a starter until two days before the game. "I'm sure all you guys (in the media) will want to know who's going to start the next game, and we'll start it all over again."

THE TAKEAWAY

North Carolina: The Tar Heels were eager for a signature win over a major-conference foe, but too many silly mistakes - and that one disputed penalty - worked against them. Despite 11 wins a year ago, they have yet to show they are ready to challenge Clemson and Florida State in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Georgia: The play of Chubb and Eason gives the Bulldogs plenty of reason to feel hopeful about contending in the Southeastern Conference East, especially after a shaky showing by favored Tennessee in its season opener. When running back Sony Michel returns from a broken left forearm sustained in an ATV accident - and he sure looked good in pregame warmups - the Bulldogs will have another offensive weapon.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

North Carolina: The Tar Heels are likely to drop out when the new rankings are unveiled Tuesday.

Georgia: The Bulldogs should move up a spot and could jump a couple of teams that beat lesser opponents in Week 1.

UP NEXT

North Carolina: The Tar Heels hit the road again next Saturday to face Big Ten school Illinois. It will be their first visit to Champaign since 1971. North Carolina leads the series 3-0, including last year's 48-14 rout in Chapel Hill.

Georgia: The Bulldogs take big step down in competition when they host FCS school Nicholls State between the hedges.