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Tennessee football 2019 recap: Vols top 15 plays of the season

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 30: Eric Gray #3 of the Tennessee Volunteers runs a ninety-four yard touchdown against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the second quarter 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 a ninety-four yard touchdown against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the second quarter at Neyland Stadium on November 30, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images) /
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15. Chattanooga Mocs

Brandon Johnson returns Tyler Byrd blocked punt for a touchdown

Tennessee Volunteers win 45-0

Not much was important in this game. Darrell Taylor did have an interesting fumble recovery, and Jarrett Guarantano had a couple of touchdown passes against a Chattanooga Mocs program that was clearly no threat to Tennessee football. However, at the time, the Vols were struggling, so anything could have happened.

This play made sure that wasn’t the case. It only made the list because of how spectacular it was. After all, it wasn’t in an important game and didn’t really contribute to the win. A blocked punt returned for a touchdown, however, is always an exciting play, and that it involved two seniors only made it better.

Up 7-0, the Vols forced a three-and-out their first time on defense. As Chattanooga got back to punt on 4th and 5 from their own 40-yard line, Tyler Byrd rushed through the line of scrimmage and dove out to block the punt. He did just that, and Brandon Johsnon came away with the recovery, running it back 24 yards for a touchdown.

That block put the Vols up 14-0 en route to a 45-0 win. It involved a senior receiver getting the block and another senior, who has now taken a redshirt for this year, recovering it and running it back for the touchdown. So it was a great play worthy of mention on this list, even if it wasn’t that meaningful and came in a meaningless game.

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