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Tennessee football: Key moments and turning points in Vols win vs. Kentucky

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 10: Marquez Callaway #1 of the Tennessee Volunteers catches a last second pass over Derrick Baity Jr. #8 of the Kentucky Wildcatsduring the first half of the game between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 10: Marquez Callaway #1 of the Tennessee Volunteers catches a last second pass over Derrick Baity Jr. #8 of the Kentucky Wildcatsduring the first half of the game between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /
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Tennessee football scored a huge 24-7 victory over the Kentucky Wildcats to move to 5-5. Here are the key moments for the Volunteers.

Even in a year in which the programs are at opposite stages, Tennessee football still managed to dominate the Kentucky Wildcats. The Vols moved to 5-5 on Saturday with a BLANK victory in the game, getting themselves one game closer to a bowl.

Meanwhile, UK fell to 7-3 on the year and 5-3 in the SEC. UT did lose to UK last year, its worst year in program history. But they showed that when the teams are on reasonable levels, the series still belongs to them.

Jeremy Pruitt’s defense proved itself more than ever before, and the Vols used big running plays and beautiful passes from Jarrett Guarantano to win. Here are the key moments and turning points in what was a huge win for UT.

Jarrett Guarantano 38-yard pass to Jordan Murphy

Tennessee football and Kentucky were predictably locked in a defensive battle. But this play allowed the Vols to strike first. Tyson Helton knew to try this team deep, and he used Jarrett Guarantano to hit Jordan Murphy on a 38-yard pass to set up the Vols’ first score of the game. Going  up 3-0 didn’t seem like much at the time, but it helped them set the tone of the game. And this was the play that allowed them to do that.

Marquez Callaway catches 39-yard Hail Mary touchdown  pass

Only up 10-0, the Vols were still locked in a battle with the Kentucky Wildcats. But with the first half winding down, the question was whether or not they could get a 13-0 lead going. Jarrett Guarantano had other goals in mind. He got aggressive and chucked it to the end zone as time expired. Marquez Callaway caught it and gave the Vols a 17-0 lead going into halftime. It solidified UT’s control in this game.

Jordan Murphy 59-yard run

As if a 17-0 lead wasn’t enough, Jeremy Pruitt and Tyson Helton made sure that this team wasn’t going to let up. And Jordan Murphy delivered. A reverse to Murphy went for 59-yards that set up a touchdown pass from Jarrett Guarantano to Dominick Wood-Anderson. With this play, UT was in control 24-0. And it solidified their dominance.

Tennessee blocks Kentucky field goal attempt

Kentucky was hinting at a comeback after the Vols’ 24-0 lead. It was 24-7, and they were in UT territory early in the fourth quarter. However, they had to settle for a field goal to make it 24-7. But the Vols blocked a field goal attempt for Chance Poore’s second miss of the day. That assured that they could keep control and a three-score lead to not allow this to be a game.

Darrell Taylor strip-sacks Terry Wilson

This was the final play to keep them in control. Kentucky was driving again only down 24-7 early in the fourth. A touchdown could have made the game interesting. But Darrell Taylor came through and got a strip-sack on Terry Wilson. The play assured a victory for Tennessee football. Jeremy Pruitt’s team would walk away with a huge win and prove they still own Kentucky.

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