NO. 12 GEORGIA 35,
TENNESSEE 32
ATHENS, Ga. -- Todd Gurley shook off a couple of defenders in the backfield, built up speed down the sideline, and saw another would-be tackler in his path.
The Georgia running back could've lowered a shoulder. He could've stepped out of bounds. Instead, he channeled his former days as a high school hurdler.
Up and over he went.
"I don't know how high Todd got on that thing," Coach Mark Richt said. "That was pretty impressive to see right there in front of you. You just shake your head and go, 'Wow.'"
There were plenty of wow moments Saturday, and the No. 12 Bulldogs needed every one of them. Gurley rushed for a career-high 208 yards and 2 touchdowns, including a 51-yarder in the fourth quarter, as Georgia held off gritty Tennessee for a 35-32 victory.
The lackluster Bulldogs (3-1, 1-1 SEC) struggled mightily with the Volunteers (2-2, 0-1) for the second year in a row. Tennessee wouldn't quit, even after running back Jalen Hurd fumbled a handoff and Josh Dawson fell on it in the end zone for a Georgia touchdown that made it 35-25 with 4:27 remaining.
Having Gurley made all the difference. This was a performance that will ramp up his Heisman hopes even more, eclipsing his previous career high of 198 yards in a season-opening victory over Clemson.
His scoring burst down the middle of the field with 9:31 left was huge, giving Georgia a 28-17 lead. But it was that 26-yard run -- the one where he took the high road -- that left everyone amazed.
For Gurley, a champion hurdler in high school, it was no big deal.
"It's cool to look at those plays," he said. "But I like to look at the stuff that I didn't do right. I had several plays that maybe could've been touchdowns. I need to get better on that."
He'll get no complaints from the Bulldogs, who rallied from an early 10-0 deficit to beat the Volunteers for the fifth year in a row, matching their longest winning streak in the series.
"It's pretty special," said Georgia quarterback Hutson Mason, who was 16 of 25 for 147 yards with 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions. "He's just a big freak running around out there with a lot of athletic ability."
Tennessee has lost 21 consecutive road games against ranked teams. The Vols might have pulled off the upset if senior quarterback Justin Worley had not been sidelined for three possessions in the second half with an elbow injury.
Worley completed 23 of 35 for 264 yards and 3 touchdowns, leading a pair of touchdown drives after he re-entered the game in the final quarter.
"He's a tough leader," receiver Jason Croom said. "He can play through anything."
Worley hooked up with Pig Howard on a 31-yard touchdown, followed by a two-point conversion pass. Worley then went to Marquez North for a 6-yard score that pulled the Vols within a field goal with 2:14 remaining.
Georgia recovered an onside kick and Gurley picked up the clinching first down on his 28th and final carry of the game.
With that, the Bulldogs breathed a big sigh of relief, much like they did a year ago when the Vols took them overtime in Knoxville before losing 34-31.
g," said Tennessee Coach Butch Jones. "Every individual in this organization believed we were going to win."
NO. 10 MISSISSIPPI 24, MEMPHIS 3
Jaylen Walton ran for a key fourth-quarter touchdown, and Mississippi (4-0) used a dominant defensive performance to beat Memphis (2-2) in Oxford, Miss.
The Rebels are undefeated through four games for the first time since 1970, overcoming a mistake-riddled performance by the offense and special teams. Ole Miss' Bo Wallace threw two interceptions and lost a fumble. The senior completed 22 of 37 passes for 248 yards and 2 touchdowns, both to Laquon Treadwell.
Ole Miss led 7-3 after three quarters. Andrew Fletcher made a 19-yard field goal -- after missing his first two attempts earlier in the game -- to increase the Rebels' lead early in the fourth. Walton's 23-yard run with 9:34 remaining pushed the advantage to 17-3.
Memphis managed only 104 total yards.
Sports on 09/28/2014