Tennessee football: Turning points in Vols’ 45-20 win vs. South Carolina Gamecocks
Another strong first-quarter start made sure Tennessee football would be in control of the game in its dominant 45-20 win over the South Carolina Gamecocks. The Vols scored 28 points in the first for the second straight week. Last week, in their 62-24 win over the Missouri Tigers, they were up 28-3 in the first. This week, they were up 28-0 in the first.
UT actually extended its lead in this one to 35-0. However, South Carolina did threaten, and the final score was only 45-20, meaning the Vols were outscored after the first. As a result, the game-defining plays didn’t always happen in the first quarter.
Just like always, some of the plays that defined the game weren’t the highlights. Sure, a few had to do with the Vols’ big lead in the first quarter, but others came in the second half. After all, South Carolina did cut it to 38-20 at one point. Let’s break down which plays kept UT in control. These were the turning points and key moments in Tennessee football’s win over South Carolina.
Jaylen McCollough intercepts pass in red zone.
In the first quarter, the Vols were already up 14-0. However, that wasn’t any surprise, as they rely on building huge first quarter leads. South Carolina was threatening, though, and they had driven 73 yards to the UT 2-yard line on nine plays.
Then, the Gamecocks inexplicably called a trick play, as Luke Doty threw it to Jordan Burch behind the line of scrimmage for a wide receiver pass. Jaylen McCollough intercepted the pass in the end zone, and that killed South Carolina’s one chance to make this a game.
Aaron Beasley recovers a fumbled snap.
After Jaylen McCollough’s interception, the Vols drove down the field for another touchdown to go up 21-0. That broke the game open, but it got even worse on the next drive. Doty fumbled the snap, and Aaron Beasley quickly jumped into the backfield to recover.
That was on the first play of their next drive, and it spotted Tennessee football the ball at the South Carolina 24-yard line. Three plays later, Hendon Hooker found Velus Jones Jr. for a 21-yard touchdown, and that’s what made it a 28-0 first quarter, but the fumble set that up.
Cedric Tillman catches 15-yard 3rd and 8 pass from Hendon Hooker.
UT’s first punt came on its fifth offensive drive and its first in the second quarter. The Vols were still up 28-0, but everybody following this team had to worry that it would begin to falter, as it has. Although the Vols got a second straight stop, a 3rd and 8 from their own 40 came up.
This is when they proved they could continue the onslaught into the second, at least seemingly proved it at the time. Hendon Hooker found Cedric Tillman for a key 15-yard pass. On the very next play, Tiyon Evans ran it 45 yards into the end zone, and that put UT up 35-0.
Vols stop South Carolina on fourth down up 38-20.
Things began to get interesting in the second half. Tennessee football’s offense stalled, and South Carolina fought back. They made it 38-20 in the fourth quarter with just under 10 minutes to go and had the ball with a chance to cut it to two scores.
This is when the Vols’ defense stepped up. After giving up a first down, the Vols forced two incomplete passes and came away with a sack. South Carolina then had a false start and was stopped on 4th and 16. This gave UT the ball back and assured the game wouldn’t get tight.
Hendon Hooker converts 3rd and 7 with 21-yard run.
Right after the Vols got the ball back, they needed an insurance score to make sure the game wouldn’t be in question. Well, a 3rd and 7 came up on the South Carolina 38-yard line. That’s where Hendon Hooker was able to step up.
Hooker had an extremely impressive 21-yard run on that play, and he drew a facemask on top of that. Three plays later, Len’Neth Whitehead had a two-yard touchdown run. That put Tennessee football up 45-20 and made sure the game was in hand.