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Tennessee routs 12th-ranked Georgia

Oct 7, 2007 - 12:40 AM KNOXVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) -- This time, Tennessee never let Georgia get comfortable in Neyland Stadium.

Arian Foster recorded his second straight three-touchdown game against Georgia as the Volunteers upset the 12th-ranked Bulldogs, 35-14, on Saturday in a Southeastern Conference contest.

"The line was getting a good push today," Foster said. "I was just doing my job. We ran the ball, and that was our mindset going in."

Georgia came into Saturday's game 23-3 on the road in the SEC under coach Mark Richt and had won its previous three visits to Tennessee.

But the Bulldogs (4-2, 2-2 SEC East) were out of this one early, allowing three touchdowns in an eight-minute span of the second quarter to fall behind, 28-0, at halftime.

It could have been the worst half of football Georgia has played in Richt's seven years as coach. In the opening 30 minutes, the Bulldogs were outgained, 291-59, managed only two first downs and punted seven times.

"There's not much to say other than they beat us soundly today," Richt said. "Definitely, they were a better team today than we were."

Foster, who rushed for 98 yards on 17 carries, scored on runs of nine, 22 and four yards, helping Tennessee (3-2, 1-1 East) avoid its first 0-2 start in the SEC since 2001.

In last season's 51-33 win at Georgia, Foster scored on three one-yard runs.

"We had unbelievable preparation over the open date," said Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer, whose team had been off since defeating Arkansas State, 48-27, on September 22. "It showed in our play today."

Erik Ainge passed for only 165 yards for Tennessee - his lowest total of the season - but was nearly flawless in directing the offense, completing 17-of-22 passes.

"Our game plan was great and we kept making plays," Ainge said. "The running backs made people miss. I feel like we took full advantage of the opportunity."

Tennessee set the tone on its initial possession, marching 81 yards on 12 plays to grab a 7-0 lead on Foster's nine-yard TD run with 8:20 remaining.

The Volunteers used some trickery to extend the lead as wide receiver Lucas Taylor hit Lamarcus Coker for a 56-yard TD on a flea flicker 10 seconds into the second period to make it 14-0.

Tennessee struck again on its next possession, stretching the lead to 21-0 on Montario Hardesty's 10-yard run with 9:14 left in the half.

Foster's 22-yard TD run just over 2 1/2 minutes later completed the second-quarter barrage.

"This win was huge for our confidence," Foster said. "The (SEC) East is wide open now."

Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford completed 16-of-33 passes for 174 yards, but much of that was after the outcome was determined.

The Bulldogs were held to 69 yards rushing, although they were forced to abandon the running game in the second half.

"We have to regroup and get ready to play next week," Stafford said. "Tennessee did a great job all day."

Georgia got on the board on Stafford's 26-yard TD pass to Demiko Goodman with 9:39 left in the third quarter.

But Tennessee's ended any hopes of a Bulldogs' comeback by answering with a seven-minute drive. Foster's four-yard TD made it 35-7.

In the last six quarters, Tennessee has outscored Georgia, 72-13. Last season, the Volunteers outscored the Bulldogs, 37-9, in the second half to rally from a 24-14 halftime deficit.

Saturday's loss matched Georgia's most lopsided defeat under Richt. The Bulldogs fell to Louisiana State, 34-13, in the 2003 SEC championship game.