Last year, Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs and running back Jalen Hurd ran wild against Florida (254 combined yards), that set up a couple of trick played in the passing game for the Vols.
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“(Tennessee’s players) could have folded … and they didn’t”, Jones added.
Tennessee (4-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) beat Florida (3-1, 1-1) for the first time since a 30-28 victory in 2004. But the way the Vols stormed back from a huge deficit – they were booed off the field at halftime, trailing 21-3 – to emphatically end that 11-game losing streak to Florida might pay dividends in Jones’ rebuilding process.
The Gators take the field against the Vanderbilt Commodores on October 1 as they look to turn things around.
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). Tennessee won 38-28 in a game that not only saved their season and took the heat off Butch Jones, but felt like so much more.
As his teammates erupted in jubilation around him and 100,000-plus orange-and-white clad fans released 11 years of pent-up frustration, Tennessee defensive end Derek Barnett stoically strolled across the Neyland Stadium field. “I’m exceptionally proud of them”.
After a big third-down interception by Todd Kelly Jr. gave Tennessee the ball at Florida’s 42-yard line, Dobbs connected with Malone down the right sideline for a 42-yard touchdown strike to push the Vols’ lead to 31-21.
Dobbs finished the game 16 of 32 passing for 319 yards and four touchdowns.
Josh Dobbs finds Ethan Wolfe over the top for the 20 yard pass and catch.
“They came in and took it to us”, UF coach Jim McElwain said. Tabor’s day was not all rainbows-and-puppy-toes as a former quarterback Jauan Jennings beat the “Star” defensive back by 10-yards to catch the football and go down the field for a score.
“I think what it does is really test who you are as a person, really test who you are as a man”, McElwain said. Florida’s Austin Appleby, who was making his first start in place of an injured Luke Del Rio, was 23-of-39 for 296 yards and three TDs.
Seven of Florida’s eight drives were four plays or fewer in the second half.
“We came into the locker room and we said, ‘Don’t panic, ‘” Dobbs said. “That’s something we’ve got to get corrected”. Callaway was shaken up after the play, but got up under is own power. “We were moving the ball on them the whole game”.
“Now we’re 4-0”. Starting tailback Damien Harris went down on the opening drive with a sprained right ankle and didn’t return.
But UF’s defense, a unit that entered Knoxville allowing a nation-low 129.7 yards per game, was torched by big plays in the last two quarters.
Georgia (3-1, 1-1) lost for the first time under new Coach Kirby Smart and looked overmatched. On the ground, Mark Thoompson rushed for 85 yards and a touchdown in 11 carries while Jordan Scarlett had 62 yards and a touchdown in 11 carries.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Drew Lock threw a school record-tying five touchdown passes, and Missouri shattered its school scoring record Saturday, dismantling Delaware State 79-0.
The second half was a totally different story for both teams as the Volunteers found some life in themselves and never looked back. Jackson’s scoring passes covered 71, 8, 30, 8 and 51 yards.
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Three plays, minus-2 yards.
