Tennessee’s comeback prevented Appalachian State from producing another shock nine years to the day after the Mountaineers stunned No. 5 MI in one of the greatest upsets in college football history. Gilchrist’s tackle forced Dobbs to fumble the ball over Gilchrist’s body and into the end zone.
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“On a night where anything and everything went wrong, we found a way to win”, Jones said.
He completed 17 of 23 passes for 286 yards and rushed 11 times for 119 yards, including a 36-yard TD run on Louisville’s opening drive. The Mountaineers didn’t practice great clock management on that last possession in regulation and quarterback Taylor Lamb couldn’t get out of bounds before the clock expired and momentum shifted back to the home team.
(At) Ferris State 41, Ohio Dominican 0: Jamel Lockett scored two touchdowns as Ferris State won its opener. In a wild game that went to overtime, the Vols managed to keep themselves in the Top 25, for now. Tennessee linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin was ejected for targeting with 3:09 remaining in the first quarter. “Again, we found a way to win”.
It wasn’t until the fourth quarter that the App State defense surrendered a touchdown.
It’s another reminder to all of us – fans, coaches, players, media – that games aren’t played on paper. Senior running back Marcus Cox rushed for 115 yards on 24 carries and also had a 33-yard scoring reception. However, redshirt freshman Michael Rubino missed the extra point leaving the game 13-3. They never got out of September with a winning record.
Seeing Hurd with control of the football was a welcome sight to Dobbs.
Appalachian State was trying to stage a repeat of its 2007 upset of No. 5 MI, which marked the first time a Football Championship Subdivision program had beaten a Top 25 team. “That is what happened”.
They definitely stayed close with strong performances from both the defensive and offensive line. The Mountaineers scored on the ensuing drive to put the Vols in an early 7-0 hole.
“I can’t say enough about the guys up front”. Aside from a 67-yard touchdown reception by Josh Malone, Dobbs struggled to consistently hit receivers. These were the big, bad Vols we were hearing about all preseason? “We can’t make that throw and have to take the three points in that situation”, noted Jones.
You could blame this loss on a freshman kicker who missed an extra point and a 42-yard field goal. “When you are underestimated, you come in with a chip on your shoulder”.
I will give him a break since he was facing a very quick defense, but Lamb was only 15-of-23 for 108 yards. If he will just swing and kick it, he has a great leg. So we have to get those things corrected. App State nearly certainly could have earned another myth-making win last night, had their own coach not blown it for them.
Cameron Sutton fumbled a punt and the Mountaineers smothered the ball at Tennessee’s 36-yard line in the first quarter. “I thought I was in but then I saw the replay and realized I wasn’t but a touchdown is a touchdown”. I think I snapped it at probably about 13.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee barely survived in its season opener and the ninth-ranked Volunteers understand they likely won’t be so fortunate in their next game if they don’t play any better. But I just spent the last few hours of my life staring into the depths of the SEC East abyss, so there are no winners right now.
Jalen Hurd recovered quarterback Joshua Dobbs’ overtime fumble in the end zone and No. 9 Tennessee overcame a 10-point halftime deficit to escape with a 20-13 victory over Appalachian State on Thursday night. “But we have to get a lot better”. People weren’t really expecting us to come in and play like this, but we played with everything we had. It’s a good thing this time. And they let the rest of the football world know it. “We knew that would be a challenge”.
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Yes, in hindsight you would not have swallowed your last timeout, though anyone who was watching the game in real time would quibble with Satterfield’s use of “in hindsight”.
