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Tennessee football: Key moments and turning points in Vols loss to Florida

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 22: Jeremiah Moon #7 of the Florida Gators celebrates a safety during the second quarter of the game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 22: Jeremiah Moon #7 of the Florida Gators celebrates a safety during the second quarter of the game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /
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Tennessee football’s 47-21 loss to the Florida Gators had many notable moments. Here are the key incidents that cost the Volunteers.

Despite losing by four touchdowns, Tennessee football was within 25 yards of the Florida Gators when it came total offense. How could that happen? Well, Florida took advantage of far too many big plays.

In fact, Florida took Gen. Neyland’s second game maxim to heart and maximized that key: Play for and make the breaks and when one comes your way – SCORE.  They had 24 points off turnovers, and another nine came off a safety and subsequent touchdown.

Simply put, the Gators took advantage of every opportunity. And let’s be clear, they forced many of those opportunities. So they deserve credit. But let’s break down what actually happened. Here are the five key moments from Tennessee football’s blowout loss to Florida.

1. Jarrett Guarantano fumble on opening drive.

This was a momentum killer. Tennessee football stopped the Florida Gators on their opening drive and was moving the ball the other way. But the Vols pass protection, which has been inconsistent all year, allowed a brutal hit on Jarrett Guarantano that caused their first turnover. Florida took that momentum and scored a touchdown to take a 7-0 lead.

2. Florida Gators force a safety

After falling behind 14-0, the Vols got a field goal and then a stop on defense. So when they got the ball back, albeit being backed up on their own five-yard line, they had a chance to cut into the lead. Instead, the opposite happened. On a simple running play on second down, with nothing fancy, the Gators tackled Tim Jordan in the end zone for a safety to go up 16-3. They scored on the next drive to break the game open 23-3. But the breakout started from this play

3. Austin pope fumble out of the end zone

It’s the stupidest rule in college football, and that’s been the case for years. On Saturday, the rule got the best of Tennessee football. Down 23-3, they had a shot at a comeback, and things seemed to trend upward for the Vols when Jarrett Guarantano hit Austin Pope on a fourth down pass that was a brilliant call by Tyson Helton and Jeremy Pruitt. But heading into the end zone, Pope was hit and fumbled the ball out of the back of the end zone. So Florida got the ball back and cost another UT score.

4. Shawn Shamburger fumbles kickoff to open second half

Tennessee football went into halftime down 26-3, but given all the miscues, there was reason to believe that the Vols could lead a comeback if they could just avoid mistakes. Those mistakes, however, were unavoidable. Shamburger fumbled on the opening kickoff to give Florida the ball, and the Gators scored right after that to go up 33-3. This went from the Vols being in position where they need a big comeback to them needing a miracle.

5. Feleipe Franks touchdown pass to Tyrie Cleveland

This play slammed the door on any miracle the Vols might have had. Tennessee football had cut Florida’s lead to 33-13 late in the third, and although that’s still a big deficit, larger comebacks have happened. There was the hope that Keller Chryst coming in for an injured Jarrett Guarantano  could spark a Baker Mayfield-style comeback. But on the very next drive, Florida’s offense finally legitimately moved the ball. It was capped off with a beautiful 38-yard touchdown pass from Franks to Cleveland to give the Gators a 40-13 lead. The two teams traded touchdowns afterward, but it was this touchdown that clearly sealed the door shut.

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