In a confounding, resounding game of role reversal, the Vols ended their 11-game losing streak to Florida by rallying from a 21-0 deficit and scoring 38 straight points – the biggest blown lead for Florida since Ron Zook’s Gators blew a 23-point lead to Miami in 2003.
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However, the Tennessee coaching staff made the adjustments at the break and Dobbs accounted for the next five touchdowns (four passing, one rushing) as Neyland enjoyed repeated playings of “Rocky Top” en route to a 38-21 lead.
Florida quarterback Austin Appleby (12) throws to a receiver during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Tennessee Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, in Knoxville, Tenn. Later, on Tennessee’s most promising drive of the first half, Quincy Wilson intercepted a Josh Dobbs pass in the end zone on third down to end the threat. The Volunteers’ next two games are at Georgia and at Texas A&M, followed by top-ranked Alabama at home.
“I hope they take a big lesson”, McElwain said.
After a week of chirping, the Gators were burping up a lead in the second half. Florida took a comfortable 21-6 lead into the half racking up 97-yards of offense.
“I didn’t see anybody blink”, Tennessee coach Butch Jones said.
I know that sounds like double-talk, but if this game showed us anything, it’s that Tennessee is essentially two teams.
Students of this rivalry will recall the 1995 Florida-Tennessee game, when Danny Wuerffel’s Gators trailed Peyton Manning’s Volunteers 30-14 and scored 48 consecutive points.
In the first half, Florida came out guns blazing on both offense and defense, especially defensively. After halftime, Dobbs is completing 65.2 percent of his passes with seven touchdowns and two interceptions, and he’s averaging 5.5 yards per rush.
“My hat’s off to them on how they came out at halftime and really took it to us with explosive plays”, Florida coach Jim McElwain said. Justin Martin then got beat for a long Touchdown pass and that set the tone early for the first half.
“We came into the locker room and we said, ‘Don’t panic, ‘” Dobbs said.
The 11th-ranked Volunteers have trailed by double-digit margins in three of their four games this season, yet they remain undefeated.
With the Gators leading 21-0, the chances of Florida extending its mastery to 12 years looked probable.
Meanwhile, Tennessee turned those into 35 second half points.
After hearing months of trash-talking from the Gators and the disapproval of their own fans in the first half, Tennessee had no choice but to respond and play with desperation.
The Vols should absolutely be the favorite going forward in the SEC East, and it feels like a win next week against Georgia would unofficially clinch the division title (considering they would have head-to-head wins over the Bulldogs and Florida). But whatever you want to call him, he’s one of the top corners in the collegiate game.
To end the streak, Tennessee must find a way to move the ball against a Florida team that leads the nation in total defense and scoring defense. What did they feed them at the half – brick sandwiches?
He found tailback Jalen Hurd in the right flat for a 23-yard touchdown with 7:29 left in the period.
Barnett passed for 55 yards and a touchdown. The Tennessee offense woke up and scored 14 points in the third and fourth quarters.
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Florida up 21-0 on Tennessee.
