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Tennessee football: Five takeaways from Vols’ 41-21 win over Gamecocks

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 26: Jarrett Guarantano #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers warms up before the game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Neyland Stadium on October 26, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 26: Jarrett Guarantano #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers warms up before the game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Neyland Stadium on October 26, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images
Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images /

1. Special teams won the game for Tennessee football.

We always talked about Brent Cimaglia being the difference for Tennessee football in a positive way. So if there was a game in which he missed his first field goal from within 40 yards, it was pretty clear that the Vols would not win that one. Well, the opposite happened in Saturday’s matchup at Neyland.

Cimaglia did indeed miss his first field goal within 40 yards. And not only did UT win, but they won because of special teams. Marquez Callaway gave them their first lead of the game with his first punt return for a touchdown this year. That put the Vols up 10-7 in the second quarter. But it got even better after that.

With a 34-21 lead late, Daniel Bituli blocked a South Carolina punt, and then he recovered it in the end zone. That was the moment the Vol Nation was confident in their chances of actually winning this game. It was a huge play, as was the Callaway play earlier on.

Now, this isn’t to knock Cimaglia. He still made two field goals, one of which was from 46 yards. So his leg was crucial as well. But it’s still shocking that the Vols would not have been in control of the game late without other special teams plays.

When you consider the fact that Punter U finally returned to Rocky Top with Joe Doyle and Paxton Brooks averaging 44 yards a punt, Brooks hitting one 51 yards and nailing two inside the 20, it was the Vols’ night on special teams. They deserve credit for that.

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