Tenth-ranked Georgia let now 2-4 Tennessee hang around for much of the contest Saturday in Athens, but did enough to claim a 26-14 win.

Fullback Brannan Southerland’s return started off with a score, as the senior finished Georgia’s first drive with a one-yard touchdown run. That was set up by a 37-yard completion on a screen pass to backup fullback Shaun Chapas, who finished the game with 64 receiving yards.

“It feels great to be back, I’m happy that coach was still confident in me,” Southerland said of his first touchdown of ’08. “It’s pretty easy when the line blows the defense up like that, you pretty much just fall into the end zone.”

The Bulldogs added field goals on their next two drives before quarterback Matthew Stafford, who threw for a career-high 309 yards, was intercepted with the Bulldogs driving again in Tennessee territory.

The Volunteers scored on their ensuing possession, with the big play coming on a 60-yard Nick Stephens pass to Denarius Moore.

Stafford would add another touchdown of his own to Mohamed Massaquoi, who had five catches for 103 yards, to give the Bulldogs a 20-7 halftime lead.

Just over four minutes into the second half, Stafford was again intercepted after a long Georgia drive, this time by Tennessee safety Eric Berry, who returned it to the Georgia 46.

When asked if he might remember the interceptions more than the 300-yard game, Stafford smiled and said, “Yeah.”

Stephens led the Vols the rest of the way after the pick, completing a touchdown drive with a 12-yard completion to Lucas Taylor and making the score 20-14.

Freshman kicker Blair Walsh, who had a migraine and was on IVs earlier in the day, added his third field goal in the third quarter before an 11-minute, 17-play drive set up his fourth, a 28-yarder that put the Bulldogs up 26-14 for good.

“I thought that our offensive line grew up to certain degree, I thought they protected better,” Richt said. “To have two drives like we had, to get out of the hole deep right before the half after Tennessee cut the lead to six was huge. And then that 11-minute drive was pretty spectacular I thought too.”

Overall, the Bulldogs found the red zone seven times, but came away with just a pair of touchdowns, three field goals and two interceptions.

“I’m thankful we didn’t lose the game because of it,” Richt said.