By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
ATHENS, Ga. – Facing the top-ranked team in all of college football is a daunting task to say the least. And while the 48-3 result against No. 1 Georgia still puts another notch in the loss column, the Tennessee Tech football team accomplished its goal against the Bulldogs with a respectable effort.
Injuries were kept to a minimum, the Golden Eagles (0-2) kept the game respectable in the first half, Tech scored its first-ever points against the Bulldogs (2-0) in the third meeting and the team is coming back with a decent payday to help improve the program's future.
It isn't the ideal result, but with the two Football Bowl Subdivision contests out of the way and the Golden Eagles taking their bye week before opening up Big South-Ohio Valley Conference play, Tech has a chance to rest up and start fresh in league play.
Tech ended the game with 116 rushing yards, led by Aidan Littles with six carries for 45 yards with Torin Baker collecting 26 yards and Kyron Cumby 20,
The Golden Eagles did not take to the air often with Jordyn Potts collecting 18 yards on 5-for-8 passing, including a 12-yard connection to D.J. Linkins.
On defense, Kalvyn Crummie led the team with six tackles, including a tackle-for-loss. Tim Coutras, Jalin Shephard and Cayman Spaulding each had five stops. Kanstin Brooks and Daniel Rickert also had tackles-for-loss.
Reigning Big South-OVC Freshman of the Week Spencer Ashby had a solid day punting with eight kicks for 315 yards, an average of 39.4 yards per punt. He had a long kick of 46 yards with one inside-the-20 and one for a touchback.
Tech's score came on the final play of the shortened fourth quarter as Hayden Olsen split the uprights as time expired on a 32-yard kick.
The Golden Eagles held Georgia to 14 points in the first quarter, scoring first as Dillon Bell caught a 22-yard touchdown pass from Carson Beck to end a one-play, six-second score after the Bulldogs created great field position on a return.
Beck threw his second touchdown with a six-yard connection to Colbie Young for the final TD of the quarter.
Peyton Woodring added a 27-yard field goal to open up the second quarter, then the Golden Eagles put together an 11-play drive against a stingy Bulldog defense. Tech, however, saw the drive come to a close and Georgia responded with Beck's third touchdown pass, a 10-yard strike to Dominic Lovett to take a 24-0 lead into the intermission.
Beck ended the day with his fourth and fifth touchdown passes in the third quarter as Arian Smith caught a 50-yard score and Lawson Luckie found paydirt on a 37-yard connection. Branson Robinson scored the Bulldogs' final touchdown on a 13-yard rush in the third quarter, then Georgia added a 32-yard field goal with three minutes left in the game to close out its scoring.
Trevor Etienne led the Bulldogs with 78 yards rushing, while Nate Frazier rushed for 28. Beck ended the game with 242 yards and five touchdown passes on 18-for-25 passing, while Gunner Stockton was 10-for-12 for 90 yards. Smith caught four passes for 73 yards, while Bell had four catches for 46 yards.
C.J. Allen led the Bulldog defense with five stops, while Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins had four stops – including three for-loss. Christen Miller, Jordan Thomas and K.J. Bolden each had a sack in the game.
The Golden Eagles are idle next week, then return to action on Sept. 21 as they open home conference action against Tennessee State.
Season tickets for Tech Football are on sale now – call (931) 372-3940, visit the Hooper Eblen Center ticket office or order online at TTUsports.com.
