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Tennessee Vols Survive Ohio Bobcats 28-19 to Move to 3-0 On the Season

By Caleb Calhoun

Sep 17, 2016; Knoxville, TN, USA; General view during the first half of the game between the Ohio Bobcats and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; Knoxville, TN, USA; General view during the first half of the game between the Ohio Bobcats and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tennessee had another ugly victory to move to 3-0 on the year after the Volunteers beat the Ohio Bobcats 28-19 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville Saturday.

Tennessee took a 21-19 lead into the fourth quarter and had Vol Nation as concerned as ever about them, but they pulled away to defeat the Ohio Bobcats 28-19 in an ugly affair.

Joshua Dobbs completed 20 of 28 passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 58 yards and another touchdown on 14 carries.

Both of Dobbs’s touchdown passes went to Josh Malone, who had five receptions for 69 yards.

Tennessee opened the game with a quick-scoring drive thanks to a long run by Alvin Kamara, who finished with 10 carries for 70 yards, and then Dobbs’s first touchdown pass to Malone.

However, a series of errors and mistakes plagued them the rest of the game.

The Vols committed multiple penalties on the next drive, including one on an Ohio punt, that spotted the Bobcats a field goal.

Dobbs then threw an interception to spot them another field goal. Still, Tennessee was able to move the ball down the field and score another touchdown to make it 14-6.

From that point until about midway through the third quarter, though, the Vols looked atrocious.

Ohio cut the lead to 14-12 with two more field goals behind Greg Windham at quarterback. But they could only punch it in the end zone once.

Windham finished 23 of 46 for 230 yards and one touchdown while also carrying the ball nine times for 39 yards. He helped Frank Solich’s team give the Vols a huge scare.

Tennessee finally put together a nice drive in the third that ended with a 13-yard touchdown run by Dobbs.

However, Ohio cut it to 21-19 with a touchdown drive of their own. Then the fourth quarter came, and the Vols mounted a 90-yard touchdown drive. Another Dobbs to Malone pass gave the Vols a 28-19 victory and the insurance they needed.

The ugly win is a concern for the Vols, who struggled twice in three weeks to beat mid-major teams. However, it’s not even the greatest concern.

That would fall to injuries.

Already entering this game with Darrin Kirkland Jr. hurt, Cameron Sutton and Jalen Reeves-Maybin, both went out. They are the two stars of Tennessee’s defense, and their status for next week is unknown.

With Josh Smith, Chance Hall, and LaTroy Lewis already out, the Vols are starting to suffer injuries at key spots.

Malik Foreman’s suspension today didn’t help matters.

But Derek Barnett came up big all day for Tennessee’s defense, and the Vols still came away with a win.

Tennessee is now 3-0 set to face the Florida Gators next week. That’s the first time since Butch Jones arrived in Knoxville that the Vols will be undefeated for the game.

However, expectations are likely low once again with this ugly victory. Still, their real season is about to start.

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