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KNOXVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) -- Mark Richt will remember his first game at Georgia that was not played between the hedges. Coaching his first road game, Richt watched freshman David Greene toss a six-yard touchdown pass to Verron Haynes with five seconds remaining as Georgia stunned seventh-ranked Tennessee, 26-24. Hired to replace Jim Donnan as Bulldogs coach, Richt was part of many big games as an assistant at perennial power Florida State from 1990-2000. But on Saturday, Richt may have been part of one of the crazier games of his career as he saw his Bulldogs squander a 20-17 lead with 44 seconds remaining after Travis Stephens scored on a 62-yard screen pass. The Bulldogs, however, were not fazed and took over at the Tennessee 41 with 39 seconds to play. Working against a prevent defense, Greene led the Bulldogs into position, including completions of 27 and 14 yards to tight end Randy McMichael that moved the ball to the Volunteers 5. On 1st-and-goal, Greene executed a perfect play fake and found Haynes wide open in the end zone, giving the Bulldogs a dramatic victory. "I was really proud of our last drive. My heart really hasn't started pumping yet," Richt said. "I'm usually calm in the middle of these things. I was as calm on the sidelines today as I was when Oklahoma was beating our rears last January. I'll lock at the tape tomorrow and probably have a heart attack." "I kind of prepared myself for the moment," Greene said. "I kept telling myself to stay focused. You can't think about winning the game. The whole time I was thinking about that last drive. That squib kick gave us good field position. We started moving the ball and started clicking on the touchdown. It was kind of a trick play. We fake to the fullback and he slides out like he is going to block the middle linebacker and on that play he slid right by him." Georgia (3-1, 2-1 SEC East) snapped a five-game losing streak at Tennessee, winning in Knoxville for the first time since posting a 16-15 victory in 1980 -- Herschel Walker's freshman year. Casey Clausen threw three touchdown passes for the Volunteers (3-1, 2-1 East), who squandered a 14-3 first-quarter lead. "This was a tough loss. Give Georgia credit," Tennessee coach Phillip Fullmer said. "We didn't help ourselves, especially with penalties in the kicking game. There were enough mistakes in the game. I'm looking for our leadership to step up." After a wild first half that featured 34 points, both club's offenses went to sleep in the second half until the Bulldogs took a 20-17 lead with 5:34 remaining on Billy Bennett's 31-yard field goal. On their ensuing possession, the Volunteers drove into Georgia territory before Clausen was intercepted by Terreal Bierria inside the 20 with 1:53 remaining. But the Volunteers stopped Georgia three-and-out and got the back with 1:20 left at its own 15. Georgia also went into a soft defense, allowing Clausen to complete pair of short passes. His biggest completion was the screen to Stephens, who outraced the Bulldogs' defense down the left sideline to give Tennessee a 24-20 lead with 41 seconds to play. Stephens was a huge factor on the ground, carrying 30 times for 176 yards. Clausen completed 24-of-40 passes for 295 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. But Clausen was outdone by Greene, who in his first collegiate road start, went 21-of-34 for 303 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Clausen got things rolling for the Volunteers in the first quarter, throwing touchdown passes of seven yards to Kelley Washington and 17 yards to Leonard Scott that opened a 14-3 lead. Washington had another big afternoon with nine catches for 108 yards. In last week's win against Louisiana State, he had 11 receptions for a school-record 256 yards. After falling into the early hole, the Bulldogs got back into it early in the second quarter when Damien Gary brought back a punt 72 yards for a touchdown. Greene hooked up with Fred Gibson on a 15-yard touchdown pass, giving the Bulldogs a 17-14 lead with 9:18 left before halftime. Alex Walls kicked a 25-yard field goal for the Volunteers with 6:41 left in the half, tying the score, 17-17.
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