The No. 18 Tennessee Volunteers are off to a 2-0 start after taking down Georgia Tech 45-24 Saturday night in Atlanta.
What initially looked like a dangerous road test quickly turned into a statement victory for the Volunteers, who controlled the game at the line of scrimmage and eventually pulled away from the Yellow Jackets.
Tennessee Takes Control
Georgia Tech came out with some early energy, taking a 10-7 lead after a blocked punt was returned for a touchdown. Tennessee, however, responded with a dominant stretch that completely changed the game.
The Volunteers scored 24 unanswered points, turning the early deficit into a 31-10 advantage in the third quarter.
Tennessee’s rushing attack was the biggest difference-maker. The Vols finished with 299 rushing yards, consistently finding holes and keeping Georgia Tech’s defense on its heels.
Brandon Delivers
Freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon also played an important role in the victory.
Brandon threw for 226 yards and two touchdowns, giving Tennessee another dimension offensively. DeSean Bishop added two rushing touchdowns as the Volunteers continued to find success in the red zone.
The Tennessee defense also came through with some major plays, including a pick-six from DeJuan Lane that helped the Vols build their advantage.
A Strong Start For Tennessee
The Volunteers entered the season with high expectations, and they have now backed them up with consecutive victories.
After opening the year with a 56-9 win over Furman, Tennessee followed it up by going into Atlanta and handling a Georgia Tech team that had already shown it could make games difficult for opponents.
The Yellow Jackets fought back late, but Tennessee had already built too large of a lead to overcome.
Now sitting at 2-0, the Volunteers have plenty of momentum heading into the next portion of their schedule.
For Tennessee, this wasn’t just another win. It was a road statement that showed the Vols can lean on their rushing attack, make explosive defensive plays and win when facing adversity.
