Tennessee football’s biggest enemy can’t be itself at Missouri

First-half Tennessee football was at it again in The Swamp. The last time Vol fans felt that kind of hope was back in 2016, when Joshua Dobbs hit Jauan Jennings in the Georgia Bulldogs end zone for a thrilling win to get to 5-0 at the time.

Toward the end of the second quarter, the Vols took a 14-10 lead against the Florida Gators and then got the ball. However, Florida scored the final 28 points, including a 21-0 run in the second half en route to a dominant 38-14 win.

Last week proved Tennessee football is capable of getting there, but maintaining the lead is the key moving forward. How can they do that as they get set to visit the Missouri Tigers? They have to avoid being their own worst enemy.

Chase McGrath missed a field goal at the end of the first half that would’ve tied it at 17. Jimmy Calloway dropped a perfect pass and call on 4th and 5 on UT’s first possession of the second half that would have gone for a touchdown. While these issues aren’t the reason the Vols didn’t pull off the upset, they could have affected the flow of the game in the second half.

Right now, the Vols’ biggest struggle is themselves. They were hit with so many penalties throughout the game and failed to re-establish themselves in the second half, which is why Florida was able to take advantage and dominate. On a punt in the first half, they committed two penalties and surrendered 30 yards on them, part of the 10 they committed for 85 yards.

Traveling to Mizzou on Saturday, UT has an opponent it’s much more evenly matched with. As a result, they need to be cleaning up their act and have more control. The unnecessary penalties have to be eliminated in order to win games, and this is a winnable game.

Here’s the good news. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Josh Heupel appears to be doing a great job of getting the program back on track, and that provides reason to have faith in him as the Vols try to rebound Saturday.

Part of that good news is that the Vols should know who their quarterback is. Hendon Hooker proved he is the guy, assuming he’s healthy, by completing 13-of-23 passes for 221 yards, two touchdowns and no turnovers. Joe Milton III’s struggles late in the game further proved it.

Rocky Top is clearly improving, and that’s good to see. If Hooker is good to go for the noon kickoff Saturday, Tennessee football should be in good shape. The Vols could actually run away with this one with him starting at quarterback. With Milton, it’ll be a fight to the finish.