All for Tennessee
Fansided

Tennessee football: 10 memorable game-winning touchdown drives in Vols history

By Caleb Calhoun

14 Nov 1998: An overall view from inside Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee during a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Arkansas Razorbacks. The Volunteers defeated the Razorbacks 28-24. Mandatory Credit: Tom Hauck /Allsport
14 Nov 1998: An overall view from inside Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee during a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Arkansas Razorbacks. The Volunteers defeated the Razorbacks 28-24. Mandatory Credit: Tom Hauck /Allsport /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 12
Next
Photo by Doug Pensinger/ALLSPORT
Photo by Doug Pensinger/ALLSPORT /

9. Sept. 21, 1991

No. 23 Mississippi State Bulldogs at No. 6 Tennessee Volunteers

Final score: Tennessee wins 26-24

Andy Kelly was known for leading Tennessee football back in games throughout his time as the Vols’ starter in the late 1980s and early 1990s. But this one game in particular included a stroke of beauty when it came to game-winning drives.

The Vols built a 17-3 lead over the Mississippi State Bulldogs, who had gotten off to a 3-0 start and into the top 25 under first-year head coach Jackie Sherrill, a protege of the Vols head coach that year, Johnny Majors. But MSU fought back and took a 24-17 lead.

In the fourth quarter, Kelly led the Vols down the field and cut the lead to 24-20 with a field goal. But it was midway through the fourth quarter, so time was running out. So all he needed was one more possession.

He got it, with the Vols taking over on their own 12-yard line and less than six minutes to go. Kelly then led a beautiful nine-play, 88-yard drive to avoid the upset loss. He capped it off by connecting with Mark Adams for a 10-yard touchdown with under two minutes to go.

Given that both teams were undefeated at the time, UT certainly had a lot to lose here, as they had SEC title aspirations. So this was an incredibly clutch drive. The length of the drive and how late it was allow it to be on the list. It was Kelly at his best.

Home/Vols Football