ATHENS, Ga. (WVLT) -- For the first time since 2002, Tennessee lost to Georgia between the hedges, falling 26-14 to the Bulldogs Saturday afternoon.
For the first time since 2000, the Vols are 0-3 in the SEC.
Georgia took a commanding 13-0 first-quarter lead, then held on against a feisty -- but mistake-prone -- Tennessee squad, which was unable to stop the Bulldog rushing attack when it mattered most.
The Bulldogs (5-1, 2-1 SEC) ran 87 offensive plays compared to Tennessee's 48, holding onto the ball for almost the entire fourth quarter to prevent a Tennessee comeback.
Knowshon Moreno led the Bulldogs on the ground. Even though he was unable to find the end zone, he carried the ball 27 times for 101 yards. The performance made him the first running back to rush for 100 yards against the Vols this year.
The Vols (2-4, 0-3 SEC), meanwhile, rushed for only one yard.
Tennessee quarterback Nick Stephens made some nice throws, including a gorgeous 60-yard bomb to Denarius Moore in the second quarter. Stephens finished 13-of-30 for 208 yards and two touchdowns in his SEC debut.
The Georgia win was the 'Dawgs' first over the Vols since 2005, a season that vividly mirrors this one. That season, the Vols went 5-6 and missed the postseason for the first time since 1988. Unless they turn things around this season, they are in danger of missing a bowl once again.
Tennessee will look to rebound next week when it hosts Mississippi State, who handed Vanderbilt its first loss of the season Saturday in a 17-14 contest. That game will be a Pay-per-view telecast and will kick off at 7pm.