Georgia football: 3 monumental wins against the Vols since 2000
2012: No. 5 Georgia 51, Tennessee 44
Hype surrounded the Georgia Bulldogs before the 2012 season, as the Dawgs could land two of the top running backs in the nation in Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall. Nicknamed “Gurshall” similar to Herschel Walker and because their numbers were 3 and 4, Dawg fans couldn’t wait to see these two light-up teams on Saturdays.
On September 29, 2012, against Tennessee, Georgia unleashed them.
In what turned out to be a shootout in Athens, Georgia outlasted the Volunteers thanks to Gurley, Marshall, Aaron Murray, and Georgia’s second-half defense.
At one point, the game looked as if it would be an easy win for Georgia, as the Dawgs were up 27-10 early in the second quarter. Gurley and Marshall both had TD runs of 50+ yards.
Tennessee would chip away at the deficit and found themselves leading before halftime until UGA kicker Marshall Morgan drilled a 50-yard field goal as time expired to send both teams to the locker room tied at 30.
Aaron Murray would throw a pair of touchdown passes in the second half to give Georgia the lead, and Marshall had his second 70+ yard TD run that essentially iced the game for Georgia.
On the day, Gurley and Marshall combined for nearly 300 yards rushing and five touchdowns. Murray finished the day 20-for-26 passing with 286 yards and two TDs.
Despite giving up a lot of points and yards in the first half, Georgia’s defense rallied and held the Vols to 14 points in the second half.
Sanders Commings had two interceptions on the day, and Jordan Jenkins had a sack and forced a fumble late that was recovered by the Dawgs, all of which came in the final minutes of the fourth quarter.
Georgia finished the 2012 regular season going 11-1 for the first time since 2002. They played Alabama in the SEC Championship Game, and of course, it resulted in heartbreak — a win would have sent the Dawgs to the BCS Championship to face Notre Dame…sigh.
3 simple things Georgia football must see its defense do against the Vols. dark. Next
This rivalry is still a big one amongst both Georgia and Tennessee fans. We are excited for Saturday in what should be another exciting chapter in this great SEC rivalry.