#18 Tennessee easily beats Georgia Tech 45-24

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

After a hearbreaking loss to Colorado last week, Georgia Tech (0-2) was firmly beat by the now 2-0 #18 Tennessee Volunteers 45-24 behind two touchdowns from DeSean Bishop and another two passing from freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon.

Tech had a lead early in the game after a blocked punt before allowing 24 points unanswered to go down 31-10 in the third quarter and effectively end the game there. Both teams put on garbage time touchdowns in the final two minutes of the game.

Tennessee held control for most of this game, winning the turnover battle and rushing for 299 yards. If not for 14 penalties totaling 142 yards, Tennessee could’ve won by a lot more.

Tech did manage to score their first offensive touchdown of the season, a two yard receiving score by running back Justice Haynes, his first as a Jacket and Alberto Mendoza’s first passing touchdown as a Jacket.

On the whole, Tech was better at the line of scrimmage with far fewer pre-snap penalties and getting run stops early. Offensively, Justice Haynes finally got some running room, rushing for 81 yards and a touchdown plus 36 yards receiving.

It was not a brilliant day for Mendoza, who threw 26-40 for 221 yards and two interceptions including a pick six, plus had multiple other throws that could’ve been interceptions.

In revenue news, the game was sold out, making it Tech’s 4th straight sellout, the first time that’s happened since 1999. Odds are we will not see that extend to 5 games next week against Mercer.

How It Happened

1st Quarter

Tech’s first play calls were a far cry from last week’s, missing Dalen Penson on a quick slant then ran Alberto Mendoza on two designed runs that gained a combined six yards before punting.

Tennessee tore Tech a new one on their first drive, scoring in three plays between a 33 yard run and 25 yard touchdown catch by Ethan Davis to go up 7-0.

Mendoza connected with Kevin Roche, Jr. three times for 41 yards on the second drive to get into Tennessee territory. After a first down sack near the redzone, Tech couldn’t catch up and settled for a 30 yard Aidan Birr field goal to get on the board down 7-3.

Tech took the lead 10-7 on Tennessee’s next drive on a blocked punt by Trae Stevenson, Jr. and recovered in the endzone for a touchdown by Elgin Sessions. Tennessee’s punter, Jackson Ross, ran left after receiving the snap to delay the kick but waited too long before Stevenson was in his face.

2nd Quarter

Tennessee’s next drive ate up the remaining 5:49 remaining in the first quarter. At Tech’s 10 yard line, the Vols were stopped on the ground at the line of scrimmage and committed a bad false start on third down, resulting in a field goal to tie it at 10-10.

Tech with what felt like a slight amount of momentum had nearly recovered from a holding call to get 3rd & 2, but Mendoza on a screen pass to the right was picked off by DeJuan Lane for a 41-yard pick six to put the Vols up 17-10.

Two Tech and one Tennessee punt later, Tennessee was on track to go three and out to make it four straight punts but were bailed out on a phantom defensive pass interference call. The Vols took that and blew down Tech’s defense with two big runs by Daune Morris to get to the red zone before 20 yard receiving touchdown by Braylon Staley made it 24-10.

With the end of the half approaching, Tech kept a sustained drive alive with multiple big runs from Justice Haynes plus a Mendoza rushing first down to get in field goal range. With under a minute to go, Mendoza had Jordan Allen open inside the 20 on the right sideline but underthrew it for an interception to Jeremiah Telander.

3rd Quarter

Early in Tennessee’s opening drive, Jordan Walker and Jaylen Mbakwe collided midplay, resulting in Mbakwe having to come off on a stretcher with a neck brace and Walker getting carried off the field. The delay in removing them from the field took more than five minutes and certainly had the defense shaken, who allowed DeSean Bishop to easily run through them for three 10+ yard runs, including a 17 yarder for a touchdown and a 31-10 Tennessee lead.

Tech responded with their most cohesive drive of the night thus far, getting a 19 yard first down catch from Justice Haynes and two looks to Jordan Allen on the left side for first downs. Dalen Penson and Justice Haynes combined to get Tech in the redzone before Kevin Roche caught a ball on the left sideline to set up goal to go. Haynes crossed over for the score from two yards out to make it 31-17.

With the Vols at midfield, Tech got fortunate on a 3rd & 1 false start by the Vols, who then burned a timeout on 3rd & 6 trying to get set. The next set of downs was stopped short on a 3rd & 3 incompletion to give the ball back to Tech.

The Jackets kept the throttle going from their previous drive, getting Chris Corbo in the action with an 18 yard completion before a Dalen Penson completion put Tech in Volunteer territory, and went deeper on a defensive pass interference plus Trelain Maddox run to get goal to go with the 4th quarter beginning.

4th Quarter

Mendoza was sacked on 2nd down putting Tech at the 12. The next play was a checkdown pass to Justice Haynes for a loss of two, but Tech decided to go for it from the 14 on 4th & goal where Mendoza nearly threw his third interception for a turnover on downs.

The Vols should have had a consistent drive on the ground, but three penalties had them punting deep in their own territory and giving Tech the ball back with 6:26 left.

Tech did nothing with Mendoza getting sacked twice including on 4th & 10 to give the ball back to the Vols in Tech territory. Tennessee padded their lead with a 29 yard rushing touchdwon from DeSean Bishop for a 38-17 lead.

Both teams put in garbage time touchdowns, Tech’s coming from a 2 yard Justice Haynes run and Tennessee’s from a Daune Morris 47 yard run.

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos