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Tennessee football: Turning points in Vols’ 20-10 win over Mississippi State

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 12: Tyler Byrd #10 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates his thirty-nine yard reception for a touchdown during the second half of a game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 12: Tyler Byrd #10 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates his thirty-nine yard reception for a touchdown during the second half of a game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images
Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images /

1. Tommy Stevens throws interception to Kenneth George Jr. in Tennessee territory.

Brian Maurer threw an interception in the red zone on Tennessee football’s first opening possession after the Vols’ defense got a stop. They then got another stop, and UT drove the length of the field for a Tim Jordan touchdown run to put them up 7-0.

However, there was still cause for concern. The Mississippi State Bulldogs were winning games this year not by gaining lots of yards or being out-gained but by forcing turnovers. So with the margin 1-0 in their favor, law of averages said it would eventually work to their advantage.

And while UT should have been up 7-0, MSU was driving with the ball on their third offensive possession. A good mix of run and pass behind Tommy Stevens easily got them to the Tennessee 32-yard line with under five minutes to go in the first quarter. And then it happened.

Stevens threw down the right side and overshot his target, as the ball landed right in the hands of Kenneth George Jr., who intercepted it at the UT 10 and returned it to the 34-yard line. All of a sudden, the margin was 1-1.

Since the Vols had already lost two games this year solely due to turnovers, Mississippi State’s playbook had to be winning that battle in order to win that game. By allowing this one to happen, they lessened those chances. Jeremy Pruitt’s team took a field goal off the clock, and that was a huge deal.

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