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Tennessee football’s top 25 single-game performances in history

By Caleb Calhoun

Peyton Manning #16, Quarterback for the University of Tennessee Volunteers during the NCAA Pac 10 college football game against the University of California, Los Angeles UCLA Bruins on 6th September 1997 at the Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena, California, United States. The Tennessee Volunteers won the game 30 - 24. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Allsport/Getty Images)
Peyton Manning #16, Quarterback for the University of Tennessee Volunteers during the NCAA Pac 10 college football game against the University of California, Los Angeles UCLA Bruins on 6th September 1997 at the Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena, California, United States. The Tennessee Volunteers won the game 30 - 24. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Allsport/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images
Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images /

10. Bert Rechichar

1950 vs. Washington and Lee Generals

Tennessee Volunteers win 27-20

100-yard punt return touchdown; 50-yard interception return touchdown

Yes, we go way back in time for this one. Tennessee football was in the midst of its final dynasty under Robert Neyland. After back to back .500 seasons in his third stint, it appeared Neyland’s single-wing system was done, but he rebounded to go 7-2-1 and finish ranked No. 17 in 1949.

The Vols looked poised to return to national prominence off that momentum with stars like Doug Atkins, Hank Lauricella, Ted Daffer, Bill “Pug” Pearman, But Sherrod and John Michels, and they entered the season ranked No. 4. However, they suffered a horrible upset loss to the Mississippi State Aggies in the second game of the season.

After rebounding to win three straight and get to 4-1, UT was back in the top 10 and back in the national title hunt. The Washington and Lee Generals, though, were 4-1 and in a dream season en route to a Southern Conference Championship.

Well, they nearly pulled off a huge upset against the Vols here. However, Bert Rechichar made sure the game would be in hand. Rechichar had an interception returned for a touchdown and a punt returned for a touchdown, two amazing plays, to spot the Vols a 27-6 first-half lead.

Now, in the fourth quarter, the Generals made a valiant comeback to cut the game to 27-20. However, they couldn’t close the deal, and Rechichar’s second-half play was the reason for that. As the Vols went on to finish 11-1 and win the national title, this game could have derailed them. But it didn’t, and that’s due to Rechichar.

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