All for Tennessee
Fansided

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images
Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images /

2. Trevon Flowers secures Vols’ second interception of first half, near midfield.

Despite evening the turnover margin, Tennessee football messed up again. The Vols punted off that first interception and then allowed the Mississippi State Bulldogs to drive for a field goal and make it 7-3. By the way, that was the luckiest field goal ever, as it was a 51-yard kick that hit the crossbar and bounced in.

But a couple of run plays and nice passes by Brian Maurer on the next drive still got them back into MSU territory. Then, on 3rd and 9, he threw another interception, one that came after what looked like a head injury on one of his runs.

Against MSU, it gets harder and harder to win with each turnover, and they now had a 2-1 advantage. So they were driving again looking to get points before the half ended. That’s when Jeremy Pruitt’s defense came through again.

To be fair, the defense stuffed a run play, and then MSU got a false start to make it 2nd and 16. But Stevens, then trying to force something, threw an interception to Trevon Flowers. In the process, Flowers returned the ball to near field goal range.

With Maurer confirmed to be hurt, Jarrett Guarantano came in. And not taking any chances, Jeremy Pruitt and Jim Chaney called three straight run plays. That put them in field goal range for Brent Cimaglia to hit a 49-yard field goal and put the Vols up 10-3 at halftime. But it was all due to the Flowers interception.

Home/Vols Football