The Vols might not have won against Vanderbilt had it not been for Cam Sutton’s pivotal punt return touchdown. PHOTO: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
The Tennessee Volunteers eked out a victory Saturday night in Nashville over lowly Vanderbilt, 24-17. The Vols were down several players and lost a couple more during the game that hampered the offense. The defense stood strong and forced a few turnovers, and punter Matt Darr helped flip field position with his best performance of his UT career.
But it was one player in particular on special teams that gave the Vols a decisive score that proved the difference in a closer-than-anticipated in-state game.
Cam Sutton is the recipient of this week’s All For Tennessee Game Ball, but it has very little to do with his defensive performance. Sutton wasn’t one of the three Vols with an interception, and he totaled only 2 tackles and a pass break up. But it was his ability in the punt return game that made a difference.
In the first quarter, Sutton ripped off a 76-yard punt return for a TD, the first time a Vol had returned a punt for a score since Cordarrelle Patterson did so in 2012. The score gave the Vols a 7-0 lead, and it couldn’t have come at a better time because the offense had totaled just 35 yards on two drives to open the game.
Coming into the game, Sutton only had 72 total punt return yards in 11 games prior. He more than doubled his total in just one return against Vanderbilt.
Tennessee’s offense sputtered most of the night with starting running back Jalen Hurd going down early in the game, and Sutton’s punt return score made the difference in an ugly game. Without Sutton’s score, the Vols might not have won that game.