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Tennessee football: Vols shock No. 21 Auburn Tigers on the road 30-24

By Caleb Calhoun

AUBURN, AL - OCTOBER 13: Quarterback Jarrett Guarantano #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers looks to throw a pass during the first quarter of their game against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)
AUBURN, AL - OCTOBER 13: Quarterback Jarrett Guarantano #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers looks to throw a pass during the first quarter of their game against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) /
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Tennessee football pulled off a huge upset on Saturday. The Volunteers beat the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare 30-24 to get their first SEC win since 2016.

Thanks to a strong second half, Tennessee football was able to pull off its first SEC win in two years and definitely the biggest win the Vols have had so far under Jeremy Pruitt. Rocky Top shocked the Auburn Tigers BLANK

With the win, Tennessee moved to 3-3 on the year and 1-2 in the SEC, while Auburn lost its second straight game after a 23-9 loss to the Mississippi State Bulldogs last week. They fell to 4-3 on the season and 1-3 in the conference.

Down 17-13, Tennessee football took the lead on the second drive of the second half. After getting stopped near midfield on fourth and one the first drive, the Vols defense got a major stop. On the next drive, Guarantano converted four third downs, the final one being a 25-yard touchdown pass.

Right after that, they scored a touchdown after Alexis Johnson strip-sacked Jarrett Stidham, and Alontae Taylor recovered the ball in the end zone for a score. That made 14 points off turnovers for the Vols. Another Cimaglia field goal late in the fourth made it 30-17.

Auburn scored a touchdown with 37 seconds left,

The Tigers took the early lead by taking the ball down the field on the opening drive for a touchdown. However, the Vols made it clear that they were a different team off the bye, as they responded by getting into Auburn territory before settling for a field goal, which Brent Cimaglia hit from 42 yards.

The Tigers then drove into the red zone again before getting stopped. But the Vols followed that up by driving into Auburn territory again before a 48-yard field goal was blocked. A Bryce Thompson interception, however, set up Tennessee football’s game tying touchdown, in which Jarrett Guarantano hit Ty Chandler for a 42-yard touchdown pass.

After another interception, the Vols’ next drive stalled, and Auburn followed that up with another touchdown. But Cimaglia was able to hit a 45-yard field goal late in the first half to send the game into halftime with the score at 17-13.

Guarantano had his best game of his career, completing 21 of 32 passes for 328 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. He was able to spread the ball around, as Josh Palmer had three receptions for 84 yards, Jauan Jennings had five receptions for 71 yards and that touchdown, and Ty Chandler had five receptions for 62 yards and the Vols’ first touchdown.

Once again, Chandler showed his versatility as a running back. The Vols struggled to run the ball, but he still led with 16 carries for 50 yards to have 112 total yards on the day. Tim Jordan carried the ball 13 times for 26 yards.

Meanwhile, the defense forced three turnovers, including two interceptions from Jarrett Stidham. Tennessee football clearly had a successful bye week to end their 11-game SEC losing streak, and the second half was the first time they led all year against a Power Five team.

Up next for the Vols are the Alabama Crimson Tide in Knoxville, and then they face the South Carolina Gamecocks on the road. Auburn will visit the Ole Miss Rebels before going into their bye week ahead of their November stretch.

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