No. 1 Georgia shuts down QB Hendon Hooker, No. 2 Tennessee

ATHENS, Ga. — Stetson Bennett threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score, and No. 1 Georgia shut down No. 2 Tennessee’s high-powered offense, dominating the Volunteers, 27-13, on Saturday in an SEC showdown of the nation’s top-ranked teams.

Georgia (9-0, 6-0 SEC) turned the 25th regular-season matchup of the top two teams in the AP poll into a rout that made clear the defending national champions are still the team to beat.

In a deafening and soggy Sanford Stadium, Georgia led 27-6 before Tennessee scored its first touchdown with 4 minutes, 15 seconds remaining.

Hendon Hooker, who entered as the Heisman Trophy front-runner after taking down Alabama last month, passed for only 195 yards for Tennessee (8-1, 4-1) and was sacked six times by star defensive tackle Jalen Carter and the Bulldogs defense.

Hooker threw an interception, lost a fumble that nearly resulted in a safety for Georgia and didn’t throw a touchdown pass.

Tennessee’s final possession ended with Hooker dropped for no gain on a fourth-down run with less than 3 minutes remaining. The Volunteers came in averaging almost 50 points per game.

The Volunteers rode that Alabama victory to the top spot in the first College Football Playoff ranking. Georgia was No. 3.

That will change Tuesday. The Bulldogs also took control of the SEC’s East Division. They should cruise to another conference championship game.

Hooker and his potent top receivers, Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman, were contained by Georgia. The Vols were held to two first-half field goals as Georgia took a 24-6 halftime lead. Rain in the second half made it only more difficult to move against the Bulldogs defense.

Bennett threw scoring passes of 37 yards to Ladd McConkey and 5 yards to Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint in the first half. Bennett also had a 13-yard scoring run.

There were more big plays in Georgia’s passing game. Bennett had completions of 52 yards to Arian Smith and 49 yards to running back Kenny McIntosh.