Vanderbilt edges Vols to end bowl dreams
Despite getting four turnovers, great play from the defense and a good running game the Vols fall short of beating Vandy 14-10.
The Vols looked to be behind the eight ball for much of the game, but a third quarter rally put the Vols in a position to win with a 10-7 score going into the forth. The defense traded blows all game whether that meant causing turnovers (seven total) or forcing quick drives. The game actually came down to a play in the final minute on 4th and inches.
The Vols actually stopped the Commodores from converting, but a late challenge ended up overturning that call despite conclusive evidence according to most. At that point, the Vols lost all energy and let Vanderbilt march down the field and score the game’s final points.
While no one on either roster really stood out as a playmaker, several players seemed to establish themselves as liabilities. For Vanderbilt, quarterback Austin Carta-Samuels wasn’t effective as a rusher or a passer and threw a gut wrenching interception to really shift the tide in favor of the Vols.
For Tennessee, quarterback Joshua Dobbs looked like a liability (11 of 19 for just 53 yards and two INTs) and he will have a long way to go to convince the coaching staff that he should remain the starter next year.
The Vols loss to Vandy was more than just a loss to a rival, it was a loss that put them out of bowl contention. Now Butch Jones will have his first year marred with the fact that he didn’t get to a bowl game; despite all the good he has done like beating a ranked team and pulling in a monster recruiting class.
The Vols play Kentucky in a redemption matchup Saturday, and expect the Vols and Butch Jones to try to make a statement in a game that everyone expects them to win.
