Massaquoi bounces back from big hit with big game

ATHENS -- Georgia receiver Mohamed Massaquoi wanted to make sure Bulldogs fans knew the hard hit he suffered after nabbing a sideline pass wouldn't stop him.

Tennessee safety Demetrice Morley drew a helmet-to-helmet penalty for a hit that left Massaquoi on the ground near the Georgia sideline.

Fans watched nervously as trainers knelt around Massaquoi. Suddenly, the senior was on his feet and bouncing up and down, surprising those around him.

Massaquoi said the hit knocked the breath out of him, and he felt he couldn't catch it with so many people crowding him.

``You have a lot of people surrounding you and you can't breathe and you kind of want a little space,'' Massaquoi said.

Massaquoi returned to the complete the drive with a 9-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford. It was part of a strong day for Massaquoi, who had five catches for 103 yards to lead the No. 10 Bulldogs to a 26-14 victory over the Volunteers. It was his second career game with more than 100 yards, and his first since he had 108 yards against Auburn in 2005.

The TV replay indicated Morley's hit on Massaquoi may have come with his shoulder pads instead of his helmet.

``If it was his helmet, it wasn't intentional,'' Massaquoi said. ``He spoke to me later on in the game and he wanted to see if I was all right. He's out there playing hard, just like we were, and he was trying to make a play.''

Georgia coach Mark Richt said the Bulldogs were motivated by seeing Massaquoi return to the game.

``When one of your best players and finest leaders is hit like that and lays on the ground for a while, nobody likes that,'' Richt said. ``And it creates energy and emotion to defend your man, and that's what our guys did.''

SEC DEBUT: Tennessee quarterback Nick Stephens' first Southeastern Conference start included an early welcome from Georgia defensive lineman Corvey Irvin, who sacked the sophomore just four plays into the game.

Stephens completed 13 of 30 passes for two touchdowns and 208 yards.
The biggest gain was a 60-yard pass to receiver Denarius Moore, setting up the Volunteers' first touchdown. His second touchdown pass cut Georgia's lead to 20-14 in the third quarter.

``I felt like we were going to close the gap at one point,'' Stephens said.

Stephens had a quick response when asked if he had learned anything from the game.

``The SEC's tough,'' he said. ``At the same time, I feel like we have enough talent, we have the coaching staff. We just need to put everything together.''

MORE FLAGS: Richt said last week he was wearing out his players to press the point home that more penalties wouldn't be tolerated.
Georgia began the day ranked last among Bowl Subdivision teams with 53 penalties in five games.

The lessons seemed to be sinking in when Georgia had only two penalties for 10 yards in the first half. Georgia finished with 11 penalties for 76 yards.

``There was a couple of times we helped them along a couple of drives with penalties,'' Richt said. ``Unfortunately, our boys are going to get worn down on Monday. Maybe that will slow (the penalties) down a bit.''

Tennessee drew 10 penalties for 97 yards including two personal fouls that prolonged Georgia's 97-yard march in the closing minutes of the first half.

``The frustration from the season is showing through,'' Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer said. ``Being competitive versus being stupid, that's part of it.''

KICKING BACK: Georgia freshman Blair Walsh accounted for more than half of Georgia's points. He had 14 points four field goals and two extra points.

Richt said Walsh almost didn't play. Walsh, suffering from a migraine, was taken to the university's health center and was given an IV on Saturday morning.

ANOTHER LINEMAN HURT: For the second time this year, Georgia is waiting to see if it has lost a starting left tackle to a season-ending knee injury. Georgia lost Trinton Sturdivant to a knee injury before the season, and Vince Vance left with an injured right knee midway through the second quarter.

``It's tough,'' offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said. ``We've lost two left tackles now.''