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Tennessee football: Turning points in Vols 28-10 Vanderbilt win

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 30: Eric Gray #3 of the Tennessee Volunteers runs with the ball to score a touchdown against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the first quarter of the game at Neyland Stadium on November 30, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 30: Eric Gray #3 of the Tennessee Volunteers runs with the ball to score a touchdown against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the first quarter of the game at Neyland Stadium on November 30, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images) /
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A blowout win for Tennessee football with weather delays had many notable plays. Here are key moments in the Volunteers’ victory over the Vandy Commodores.

They came back to win their fourth straight SEC game. Tennessee football finished the regular season 7-5 and 5-3 in the SEC with a 28-10 victory over the Vanderbilt Commodores to end a three-game losing streak to them in the series.

In addition to ending that losing streak, the win clinches the Vols’ first winning season and bowl appearance since 2016 and their first winning record in the SEC since 2015. But with a weather delay to start the game, a turnover on the opening drive and a weather delay in the second half, it did not come easy.

Jeremy Pruitt’s second team has very high bowl prospects because of this strong finish. Numerous key plays resulted in their win over Vanderbilt, despite the game being ugly. Let’s take a look at the turning points for Tennessee football in their Senior Day win.

Defensive stop on 3rd and 2

To open the game, Jarrett Guarantano threw an interception on third down. It was reason for the Vols to panic given their history, as mistakes had cost them earlier in the year. Vanderbilt then brought up a 3rd and 2 at the UT 23.

However, Keyon Brooks was stopped for no gain on a run. The Commodores then kicked a field goal to go up 3-0. But don’t forget the Georgia State Panthers game early in the year, when they allowed a touchdown after a fumble on the opening drive. So this stop represented the development of the program, and that’s a big deal.

Eric Gray 56-yard touchdown run

He was recruited as a big-play guy for Tennessee football, but Eric Gray still had not proven himself yet with big plays. Pruitt and Jim Chaney kept waiting for him to break the big one, and when they turned to the running game, it was time.

After six plays on one drive netted them 28 yards, five of which were handoffs to Tim Jordan and one being a pass to Jauan Jennings, Gray broke loose. He took a handoff and ran it 56 yards to the house for a touchdown to put the Vols up 7-3. It was a huge play to put them in control.

Jarrett Guarantano 3rd and 6 pass to Dominick Wood-Anderson

UT was up 7-3 and got the ball back, but they needed a touchdown to truly be in control of the lesser opponent. That’s where this drive came into play. Only needing 47 yards from where they started, a touchdown would make the difference.

However, they only got to the Vandy 26 before 3rd and 6 came up. A field goal seemed inevitable. But Jarrett Guarantano found Dominick Wood-Anderson for a 14-yard conversion. Then there was a penalty that moved the Vols to the six, and two plays later, Guarantano hit Wood-Anderson, a senior for his first touchdown of the game. But that conversion was everything.

Eric Gray 94-yard touchdown run

We don’t really have to explain this one. Tennessee football was up already 14-3, but another touchdown would break the game open and assure they were in control. Enter Eric Gray, the star of the night, again.

After another stop, the Vols got a five-yard loss on their punt return and then an illegal block in the back. It didn’t matter to Gray, though. He took the handoff and ran it 94 yards to the house for a touchdown to put UT up 21-3. The Vols had then scored on three straight drives in the first half after being down 3-0, and Gray had two of them. This was the play of the game.

Marquez Callaway and Jauan Jennings catches on touchdown drive

Despite being up 21-3, the Vols got a scare in the second half. Vanderbilt had a 90-yard drive to cut the lead to 21-10. So with under 12 minutes to go in the fourth, UT needed to take back control. Enter Marquez Callaway and Jauan Jennings. The two had a combined one catch, a six-yard pass to Jennings, in the game before this drive. But then they both came up big.

Next. Five takeaways from Vols' 28-10 win over Vanderbilt. dark

Callaway got things started. He caught a pass and ran it 19 yards to midfield. But then came a 3rd and 12. That’s where Jennings came in. Guarantano found him for a 50-yard gain. That set up Gray’s third touchdown run. It happened just before the next weather delay, but it didn’t matter. Up 28-10 in the fourth, the Vols secured the win. And Callaway and Jennings helped here.

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