Georgia quarterback Carson Beck silenced many of his doubters against Tennessee in a 31-17 win at home in Athens.
Beck had thrown 12 interceptions in the six previous games entering Saturday but performed well versus the No. 7 Vols. The senior completed 25 of 40 passes for 347 yards and two touchdowns, with a rushing score.
“I just thought there was a juice and intensity, and there was just a fire about us tonight,” Beck said after the game. “It seemed like we were having fun. I think that’s the biggest thing for us. Just go out there and have fun.”
Georgia struggled offensively early in the first half, however.
The No. 12 Bulldogs punted to Tennessee on their first three possessions. The Vols led 10-0 at the end of the first quarter but then fell behind, giving up a pair of touchdowns and a field goal on the following three drives.
Beck took control of the Georgia offense, leading it on a seven-play, 75-yard scoring drive, which ended with a four-yard touchdown pass to tight end Oscar Delp. His first passing touchdown made it a one-score game.
Beck continued to succeed on the ensuing possession, throwing another touchdown to Delp to take the lead. Tennessee responded as tailback Dylan Sampson rushed for a 27-yard score with 1:54 left in the first half.
A 25-yard pass to Delp on the first play of the next drive gave Georgia’s offense some life. A few plays later, Beck showed his legs, rushing for a first down on 3rd-and-2, keeping the drive alive with under a minute left.
Bulldog placekicker Peyton Woodring nailed a 36-yard field goal to tie the game at 17 heading into the half.
Georgia’s defense pitched a shutout in the second half, and Beck remained on his A-game to secure the win.
Beck, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound quarterback, put the Bulldogs in the driver’s seat on their first drive of the third quarter. He scrambled 10 yards for the go-ahead touchdown on 3rd-and-goal from the Tennessee 7-yard line.
Georgia’s offense put the final nail in Tennessee’s coffin in the fourth quarter by going on a seven-minute scoring drive. The Bulldogs got a rushing touchdown from freshman running back Nate Frazier with 2:29 left.
In the second half, Beck was sharp, completing 11 of 12 passes for a total of 162 yards and a rushing score.
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said he was proud of Beck and how he silenced his naysayers.
“Carson carries himself well. I’ve been consistent, even with some of the dumbest questions in the world, no offense, about our quarterback because we see him every day,” Smart said. “He gets judged by outcomes and stats, but we don’t judge based on that. We judge internally in what gives us the best chance to win.”
Delp agreed with Smart’s sentiment.
“Being a quarterback at Georgia has got to be one of the toughest things to do. The stuff he has to deal with daily, I wouldn’t wish that on anybody, what he has to go through every day,” said Delp, who caught four passes for 56 yards and two scores. “He’s a great player, a baller. He knows that, and we know that.”
Georgia improved to 8-2 overall and 6-2 in the SEC. Next, the Bulldogs will face UMass, which fired coach Don Brown on Monday, in Sanford Stadium at 12:45 p.m. on Saturday. The Minutemen enter with a 2-8 record.