Tennessee players react to game between the hedges
ATHENS — Tennessee players battled with Georgia on Saturday night between the hedges. After the game, select Vols met the media to discuss the game.
“I feel lot of frustration, a lot of anger. We put a lot of work into coming out with a win,” Nico Iamaleava said after the loss.
“We came up short, didn’t play smart in the second half. It’s going to sting, let it sting and just learn from it.”
Tennessee’s third possession went just three yards in four plays, but it ended with a 52-yard field goal from Max Gilbert. The three points were set up by freshman defense back Boo Carter, who returned a punt 26 yards to set the Vols up at the Georgia 37-yard line.
There was plenty of doubt all week as to whether Iamaleava would be able to play, but he was cleared through concussion protocol and threw for 167 yards while completing 20-of-33 throws with no interceptions.
“I felt great. I was happy I could go out there and battle with my brothers. I wouldn’t want to go into battle with anybody else besides these guys,” Iamaleava said.
Tennessee was able to effectively run the ball on the Bulldogs as Dylan Sampson once again went over 100 yards. In the second quarter he ran 27 yards for a touchdown on the first play after the two-minute timeout in the first half. The 10-play, 75-yard touchdown drive included two runs covering 26 yards from freshman running back Peyton Lewis. Sampson once again led the Vols in rushing.
The game was tied 17-17 at the half, with Tennessee getting the ball to start the second, but Georgia outscored Tennessee 14-0 in the final two quarters.
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“Obviously they adjusted well in the second half, but everything we were running I thought was still there. We have to do a better job of executing,” Iamaleava said.
Georgia quarterback Carson Beck found his groove against Tennessee as the Vols allowed more than 19 points for the first time all season long. Beck had all day to throw at times with Tennessee’s defensive line struggled to get to the senior signal caller.
Tennessee didn’t sack Beck a single time on the night and the Vols weren’t even credited with a quarterback hurry against an offensive line that gave up five sacks at Ole Miss last week.
Meanwhile Iamaleava was sacked six times in the game.
Beck threw for 347 yards, completing 24-of-39 throws with two touchdowns. He added 32 yards and a touchdown on three carries.
“I think we were trying to do too much, not sticking with what got us here,” defensive lineman Jaxon Moi said after the game.
“We didn’t stick with what got us here. It wasn’t there tonight.”
