And in the process, the Volunteers took out 11 years’ worth of frustration on Florida.
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Joshua Dobbs accounted for five second-half touchdowns Saturday as No. 14 Tennessee erased a 21-point deficit to beat No. 19 Florida 38-28 and end the Vols’ 11-game losing streak in the annual series.
“That first half of football, that wasn’t us”, Tennessee coach Butch Jones said.
A rushing touchdown from Dobbs put Tennessee up 38-21 with 8:27 to go, capping a 28-point scoring spurt that covered 8:32 of game time and sucked all of the wind out of Florida’s sails.
In Knoxville, the University of Florida Gators were flying high after taking a 21-0 lead late in the second quarter.
“Nobody has ever seen a duck pull a truck”, Wilson said.
Tennessee silenced the Gators by reeling off 38 consecutive points. “I’m exceptionally proud of them”. It landed in Tennessee corner Todd Kelly Jr.’s hands.
Dobbs went 16 of 32 for 319 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions.
Four different Vols receivers, including tight end Ethan Wolf, caught touchdown passes from Dobbs.
It didn’t. And Jim McElwain and Doug Nussmeier, who had as good a first half as they have had at Florida prior to the worst second half they have had in coaching the Gators, will be kicking themselves about that for days to come.
“We’re building something special here”, Jones said triumphantly outside the locker room after the game. These are life lessons. “They responded like you would want them to respond”.
“I think there was one “Oh no” moment when I scrambled around a little bit and tried to make too much happen on the pick”, Appleby said.
Florida took an early 21-0 advantage on a pair of Austin Appleby touchdown passes and a 1-yard run by Jordan Scarlett. Gators WR Brandon Powell was ejected in the second half after officials said he threw a punch at a Tennessee player – a ruling that was disputed on replays.
Quarterback Luke Del Rio, who has a sprained MCL in his left knee after taking a low hit from a North Texas defensive lineman, dressed for Saturday’s game against Tennessee.
Florida’s defense dominated the first half, holding the Volunteers scoreless twice when Tennessee had a first down and goal. We’ll get to that. “He goes, ‘We gotta get this thing to the next level”.
“Before the game, guys like Al Wilson and Jamal Lewis, they came up to me and Jalen [Reeves-Maybin], and his message was to keep the team calm, stay calm, stay in the game”, Kamara said.
FLORIDA: Perhaps the Gators’ defense isn’t quite as good as its statistics suggested.
Backup quarterback Austin Appleby, a graduate transfer out of Vanderbilt, seemed overwhelmed as the Gators attempted to play it safe all second half to no avail.
TENNESSEE: Dobbs’ second-half performance answered questions about his accuracy and Tennessee’s downfield passing attack.
Dobbs’ counterpart, Appleby, definitely played winning football in the first half, throwing for 213 yards and two touchdowns in leading the Gators to an impressive 21-0 lead.
Kentucky 17, SC 10: In Lexington, Ky., Benny Snell Jr. scored the go-ahead touchdown from 1 yard out midway through the fourth quarter, Boom Williams broke a 43-yard TD and Kentucky held off SC for its third straight series victory over the Gamecocks.
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.
The Vols forced a three-and-out with a defensive spirit that wasn’t apparent in the wins over Appalachian State, Virginia Tech and OH to start the season. This matched the third-biggest comeback in Tennessee history.
The #BDN gave up 48 plays of 20+ yards in 14 games last season, 3.42 per contest.
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It was an emotional scene after the game as some former Tennessee players even broke down in tears while congratulating the team on finally beating Florida.
