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Tennessee football: Vols top 10 memorable plays in 2010s decade

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 24: Jauan Jennings #15 of the Tennessee Volunteers runs into the end zone with a 67-yard touchdown reception against the Florida Gators in the fourth quarter at Neyland Stadium on September 24, 2016 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee defeated Florida 38-28. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 24: Jauan Jennings #15 of the Tennessee Volunteers runs into the end zone with a 67-yard touchdown reception against the Florida Gators in the fourth quarter at Neyland Stadium on September 24, 2016 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee defeated Florida 38-28. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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3. 2013 vs. No. 11 South Carolina Gamecocks

Marquez North 39-yard one-handed catch

Tennessee Volunteers win 23-21

From one Marquez to another, we go to the player who should have provided the first sign of how Butch Jones wastes the potential of receivers. In his first year, Tennessee football fans had still bought in, and this was a play that helped them buy in. It actually helped deliver the biggest quality win of the decade for Rocky Top.

In a back and forth game with the South Carolina Gamecocks, UT was trailing 21-20 late. They got the ball and brought up a 3rd and 10 with two and a half minutes to go on their own 35-yard-line. Because they were 3-3 at the time, blew a two-score lead and in that game, hadn’t made a bowl since 2010 and hadn’t beaten a top 25 team since 2009, it looked like they had no shot.

But things worked out differently. Justin Worley dropped back and threw it down the sideline to Marquez North, a freshman receiver with a ton of promise. North caught the ball against his helmet with one hand to secure the first down. It was one of the most impressive plays of the century for Rocky Top, and put the Vols in field goal range.

UT was then able to run the ball down and run out the clock, setting up a 20-yard field goal by Michael Palardy with three seconds left. Palardy drilled the kick to secure the win. That play could have been memorable as a game-winning kick, but the North catch was the crucial play to set up the win. With S.C. ending up finishing in the top five, it only looked better at season’s end.

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