This is how all football games should end.
No. 25 Georgia took a late, three-point lead with less than a minute to go thanks to quarterback Jacob Eason beautifully finding Riley Ridley on a 51-yard touchdown.
Tennessee, who had rallied back from a 17-point first quarter deficit, looked like they had let it slip away, and so did the UT fans, shocked that Eason was able to get that throw off.
However, Tennessee miraculously did not go away. The Vols got the ball back on Georgia’s 43-yard line. With just ten seconds to go, it looked seemingly impossible for Tennessee, but Joshua Dobbs put together a miracle touchdown pass.
Talk about finding ways to win. Tennessee is no stranger to coming from behind. In fact, they’ve done it for most of the year. Previously this season, the Vols have faced early two-score deficits against Appalachian State, Virginia Tech, Florida, and now Georgia.
This is what exaltation looks like. Part II pic.twitter.com/oHDVijbPhY
— Jesse Re Simonton (@JesseReSimonton) October 1, 2016
Georgia was able to jump out to an early 17-0 lead with two minutes left in the second quarter, which wasn’t all that surprising, given how slow this Tennessee team has started in games this season. Trailing by three scores inside a packed Sanford Stadium, the Vol offense was able to respond with a 9 play, 64-yard touchdown drive to go into the locker room trailing by just 10.
The third quarter featured back-to-back scores by both teams. Georgia QB Jacob Eason hit tight end Isaac Nauta to counter and retain a 10-point lead with less than five minutes remaining in the third quarter.
But like we said earlier, Tennessee seems quite comfortable when falling behind in games. The fourth quarter featured a quick six play, 51-yard scoring drive to pull within three.
The Georgia defense was able to force a Tennessee interception and punt in back-to-back possessions, which gave Georgia the ball back inside the three-minute mark. However, an Eason fumble in the end zone gave Tennessee a go-ahead 28-24 lead with under three minutes, before what appeared to be UGA’s winning score.
With the victory, the Vols are in the driver’s seat to clinch the SEC East division, but the remaining schedule is no cake walk. Tennessee has a road game against No. 9 Texas A&M next, followed by games against No. 1 Alabama, South Carolina, Vanderbilt and Missouri left to play.
You have to tip your cap to what head coach Butch Jones and this Tennessee team has been able to do so far this season, being able to come back form behind so often.