Tennessee Vols Choke Away Lead to Florida; Lose 28-27

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The Tennessee Vols blew a 27-14 lead to the Gators for their 11th straight loss to them 28-27. Aaron Medley missed a game-winner for the Volunteers.


The snake bite continues. And this might be the most heartbreaking one of all.

Aaron Medley barely missed a 55-yard potential game-winning field goal as time expired, and the Vols blew a 27-14 fourth quarter lead to lose to the Florida Gators 28-27.

It was their 11th straight loss in the series.

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After a long drive late in the third and five minutes into the fourth capped off by a touchdown run from Jalen Hurd, Tennessee seemed to be in complete control of the game.

But on the next drive, Will Grier converted three fourth downs to lead an 86-yard drive and cut the score to 27-21.

Then, after the Gators stopped the Vols, they got the ball back, and on a 4th and 14 play, Grier connected with Antonio Callaway for a 63-yard touchdown pass.

Then, Tennessee could have had an easy field goal to win the game after Joshua Dobbs led the Vols down the field. But confusion about the clock and then a penalty forced Medley to kick a 55-yard field goal.

And he just missed it.

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The Vols out-gained the Gators 419 to 392 and 254 to 109 on the ground.

Dobbs was 10 of 17 for 83 yards, rushed 18 times for 136 yards, and caught a pass for 58 yards and a touchdown.

Jalen Hurd rushed the ball 28 times for 102 yards and two touchdowns.

But none of it mattered, as Grier went 23 of 42 for 282 yards, two touchdowns and an interceptions. Five of those completions and 113 of those yards were on fourth down plays.

A major turning point in the game was in the third quarter.

With a 20-7 lead, Dobbs had a critical fumble. Then, after the defense made a stand, Florida was going to kick a field goal, but Butch Jones took a costly timeout.

Coming off of a timeout, the Gators decided to go for it on fourth down, converted, and set up a touchdown run. 20-14 Vols.

Tennessee opened the half with a field goal drive to take a 20-7 lead and took the game into fourth quarter with the 20-14 lead and the ball.

It was almost panic time for Vol Nation after the Florida Gators took a 7-0 lead over the Vols early in the game in The Swamp.

But Butch Jones and the Tennessee Volunteers responded.

The Vol defense spent the rest of the first half shutting down the Gators under John Jancek, and Butch Jones and Mike DeBord used two trick plays to set up both touchdowns.

The first was a backward pass from Joshua Dobbs to Jauan Jennings, a former quarterback turned receiver, who threw the ball back to Dobbs for a touchdown.

Then the Vols later converted a fourth down on a jump pass from Alvin Kamara that set up a Jalen Hurd touchdown run.

And then, on the defensive side, LaDarrell McNeil picked up an interception at the end of the half.

Tennessee contained Grier well in the first half, but he was red hot on fourth down.

Blowing huge leads is becoming a regular thing for Vols fans. They have got to prove they can close games, as Jones is now on the hot seat for many people in Knoxville.

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