Schultz

play from scrimmage. Georgia blew a 24-3 lead, was boatraced by a previously struggling Tennessee team 35-7 for the remainder of the game and lost 38-31, as “Rocky Top” on loop blared from the speakers at Neyland Stadium.

After a 4-0 start with a seemingly high ceiling, Georgia has lost consecutive conference games and has that Liberty Bowl look about them. Nothing against No. 2 running back Sony Michel or any other player, but results the rest of the season likely hinge largely on Chubb because, fact is, this too often looks like a mediocre team without him.

Georgia coach Mark Richt was noncommittal about Chubb’s future after the game. He said the sophomore “was in pain, physical and mental pain.” But Richt added, “I really don’t know for sure. I’m optimistic it won’t require surgery. But I can’t say that 100 percent.”

If Chubb is done, it will be the second consecutive season Georgia lost a Heisman Trophy candidate at running back, following Todd Gurley’s torn ACL a year ago.

Richt’s somewhat optimis- tic words aside, it looked gruesome. Dr. David Chao, a former NFL trainer, saw the replay and speculated on Twitter, “Multiligament tear. Worse than Todd Gurley last year.”

Chubb was given the ball on the first play from scrimmage. He took a handoff from Greyson Lambert at the Georgia 16, started his run up the middle, saw no room and cut left. He gained two yards before being hit by Tennessee cornerback Emmanuel Mose- ley near the sideline, and then was hit again by linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin. The second hit spun Chubb around again and his left leg contorted and bent backwards.

It was a while before medical personnel lifted Chubb and carried him to the sideline and onto the training table. Several minutes later, as they tried to load Chubb onto a cart to be carried off the field, he passed out and collapsed, according to a report by CBS sideline commentator Allie LaForce, then soon regained consciousness. He returned in the second half, watching from the sideline in sweats.

“He was trying to keep me up, and I was trying to keep him up,” said Michel, who finished with 145 yards, including a 66-yarder, in Chubb’s absence.

Things tend to go horribly wrong for Georgia in Knoxville. Even in scrambling to win 34-31 in overtime last year after blowing a lead, the Bulldogs lost running back Keith Marshall and wide receiver Justin-Scott Wesley to torn ACLs, plus others to injuries.

On Saturday, without Chubb, Georgia’s offense mostly struggled for three quarters. The Bulldogs netted 15 yards on their first 11 plays. Even as Georgia led 24-3, 14 points had come via linebacker Leonard Floyd’s 96-yard fumble return and Reggie Davis’ 70-yard punt return.

An implosion seemed inevitable, and it happened. Tennessee scored two touchdowns in 37 seconds late in the first half, one following a Michel fumble on a kickoff. The Volunteers scored four touchdowns in a span of five possessions. They shredded Georgia’s defense for 519 yards in offense.

The Dogs’ had one final great chance to tie the score with less than four minutes left, but Davis dropped a would-be 44-yard touchdown pass. Tennessee celebrated.

“I have to make that play,” Davis said. “Then maybe we go to overtime or kick a field goal and win instead of me sitting here wishing I scored a touchdown.”

The rest of the season may be filled with more wishes than wins.

Running back Sony Michel was able to stay on his feet for a 66-yard run after being tripped up by Tennessee defensive back Cameron Sutton during the first half Saturday.