Georgia’s defense has had Tennessee’s offenses number unlike anyone else in Josh Heupel’s four seasons in Knoxville. But the Vols offense exploded from the jump in their rivalry matchup against Georgia Saturday afternoon at Neyland Stadium.
In the previous four meetings, Tennessee was averaging just 14 points per game and had failed to score more than 17 points in any one game. It took the Vols just 11:23 to exceed that mark this season, with Tennessee jumping out to a 21-7 lead by scoring touchdowns on its first three drives against the Bulldogs.
Tennessee used eight plays to go 75 yards and score a touchdown on its opening drive. The Vols didn’t face a single third down and found the end zone on a four-yard Joey Aguilar designed quarterback run. It was the fifth straight game against Georgia that Tennessee scored on its opening drive.
Georgia answered with a quick touchdown drive of its own but Tennessee had an answer this time. It was a quick strike answer at that, as Aguilar connected with Chris Brazzell for a 73-yard touchdown on the second play of the drive.
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The Vols had to work harder for their third touchdown but the drive was still a beautiful one with Tennessee going 83 yards on 12 plays. Tennessee converted on a pair of third downs before Aguilar found Brazzell again, this time from 14 yards out on a busted Georgia coverage.
Aguilar was stellar in the first quarter, completing all 14 of his pass attempts for 213 yards and two touchdowns while adding a touchdown on the ground. It was 43 yards more than Nico Iamaleava threw for a season ago against Georgia in Athens.
Brazzell was stellar in the opening quarter too, catching four passes for 106 yards. Mike Matthews caught four passes for 48 yards.
Tennessee football leads Georgia 21-14 in the second quarter at the time of publication. Follow along at RockyTopInsider.com for live coverage all day.
