Tennessee football: Turning points in Vols’ 38-33 win vs. Florida
It should have been on the 4th down stop on the first play of the game, but Tennessee football never seemed to be able to take control. However, amidst all the highlights, there were plenty of overlooked plays in which they did just that. These are the turning points in the Vols’ 38-33 victory on Saturday against the Florida Gators.
Billy Napier third down trick play fails
The Vols had just been stopped on a 4th down themselves the previous play. Florida had it 3rd and 11 near midfield up 14-10 in the first half with a chance to pounce on their throat. UT’s situational defense was awful all night, and if UF had brought up a 4th and manageable here, they would’ve gone for it and converted.
However, Billy Napier, for reasons nobody can explain, decided to get cute and call a trick play. He had Anthony Richardson take the snap and roll out while the offensive line didn’t move. It didn’t work, and the play was an incomplete pass. Florida was then forced to punt, the only punt of the game for either team.
Hendon Hooker 3rd and 10 completion to Princeton Fant
That punt by Florida took away a chance they had to stomp on Tennessee football’s throat, but it did pin the Vols inside the one-yard line. They had under two and a half minutes to go 99 yards with Hendon Hooker, who had been hurt on the previous drive, if they wanted to retake the lead before halftime.
Two runs by Jabari Small got them to the 11, but then Hendon Hooker threw an incomplete pass, and Small ran for no gain. On 3rd and 10 and with the prospect of giving it back to Florida with a chance to score, Hooker found Princeton Fant. It was just a 10-yard gain, but Fant had fumbled earlier and gave UT a key first down here.
Ramel Keyton 43-yard diving catch
Fant’s catch kept the crucial drive of the game alive. On the very next play, Ramel Keyton reinvigorated the very spark the Vols needed after a sluggish first half that had all the fans upset again. Hooker threw a deep ball down the sideline, and Keyton made an epic diving catch for a 43-yard gain. That sparked the offense.
Six plays later, the Vols were in the end zone. What seemed like an awful first half still ended with them up 17-14 and set to get the ball to start the second half, and it all was sparked by these two passes from Hooker to Fant and Hooker to Keyton.
Hendon Hooker 44-yard run
After that touchdown at halftime, Tennessee football was easily able to coast to a touchdown on the opening drive of the next half. However, Florida didn’t go away, scoring themselves, and with the score now 24-21 in the third quarter, the Vols once again needed a play.
Enter Hendon Hooker, whose mental toughness was on full display. On the next drive, Hooker dropped back to pass, and Florida had him for a sack. However, he was able to get free and roll out for a 44-yard gain. That set up another touchdown drive to put them up by 10 again.
Omari Thomas forces Anthony Richardson fumble
While Hooker’s run put the Vols up 31-21, Florida was driving again. They were set to cut it to 31-28 and keep it a shootout. With the ball set at 1st and goal at the UT 13, Omari Thomas finally made his play. He forced Anthony Richardson to the inside on a rollout and then stripped the ball. Jeremy Banks recovered.
Next. Five takeaways from Vols' 38-33 win vs. Florida. dark
This play allowed Tennessee football to march back down the field and score to take a 38-21 lead. They had control by then. Of course, they almost lost it with the onside kick Florida recovered late, and they needed an interception as time expired to win, but short of too much luck to take in at once, this play was the one that assured their victory.