Following targeting, Jeremy Pruitt takes frustration out on official, gets called for unsportsmanlike penalty
By Keith Farner
Published:
Tennessee is having a tough run of it lately with officiating.
The latest came late in the first half against South Carolina when Darel Middleton was flagged for targeting on a hit against South Carolina QB Ryan Hilinski, which was reviewed and confirmed.
The play happened at the Tennessee 17-yard line, and gave South Carolina the ball at the 8-yard line, but coach Jeremy Pruitt then added another flag when he continued to argue the call with multiple officials. The referee then dropped a flag at his feet as the arguing continued. Three plays later, South Carolina scored to take a 14-10 lead with 2:23 left in the first half.
However, Tennessee responded with a two-play drive when Jauan Jennings caught two passes, one for 27 yards, and another for 48 that he muscled into the end zone by shedding tacklers to re-take the lead, 17-14.
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
