The fourth-quarter score came when most fans in Sanford Stadium had headed home on a day when temperatures hit the triple-digits and the game was long decided.
For the Georgia football team and Jeremy Bell , the wide receiver's touchdown in a 63-3 thrashing Saturday of Tennessee State meant everything.
It had been a difficult few weeks for the player who came to Georgia as a walk-on.
His brother, U.S. Army Specialist Elijah Tiller, died on Aug. 19, at the age of 22.
Coach Kirby Smart said Bell went home last week to "take care of his family. He's been dealing with extreme emotions, extreme emotions at the point I didn't even want him to practice, but yet he wanted to practice."
Smart had a moment on the sideline from Bell after his 54-yard touchdown catch on a throw from Ryan Montgomery on Saturday.
Smart smiled as he approached Bell, high fived him and gave him a hug.
Bell also had a 21-yard run on an end around.
"He's been developing a couple of years now and he's starting to come into his own," Smart said Tuesday.
Bell is in his third season with the Bulldogs . Georgia saw the three-star prospect s a "tremendous athlete," from its own state from a "very rural area," who coaches heard about from connections at his high school, Smart said.
The touchdown catch Saturday that came in his sixth game as a Bulldog was just his second catch since he played at Clinch County High back home in Homerville.
"He was not fortunate enough to play in some elaborate scheme passing offense," Smart said. "He worked really hard at what he did. He continued to hone his skills since being here."
Tiller played for Clinch County, too.
He played running back, wide receiver and cornerback, current Clinch County coach Rance Morgan said. He went on to play at Minnesota North College-Mesabi Range.
In 2023, he enlisted in the Army where he was stationed at Fort Campbell in Tennessee, according to his obituary.
The U.S. Army has not responded as of late Tuesday afternoon with comment when asked about circumstances surrounding Tiller's death.
"His service represented an important chapter in his life as he stepped into adulthood, pursued his own path, and made his family proud," it said. "Elijah was fun-loving, full of life, and the life of the party. Affectionately called "Hollywood" because of his love for the spotlight, Elijah wasn't one to disappear into the background. He loved music and dancing, and he knew how to bring energy into a room. His personality had a way of making moments memorable.
"Above all else, Elijah loved his family. Some of his happiest times were not defined by where he was or what he was doing, but simply by having his family together. Those gatherings—the music, dancing, laughter, conversations, and memories made with the people he loved—were where Elijah was truly at home."
Tight end Elyiss Williams said Bell's teammates learned about his brother's death in the lead up to the season opener.
"We all just tried to reassure him," Williams said. "He works his butt off every day. Just seeing him score Saturday, it's a great thing to see."
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Jeremy Bell's Georgia TD came after dealing with 'extreme emotions' from brother's death
