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College Football

Rapid Reaction: Tennessee pulls off thrilling comeback to beat Indiana in Gator Bowl

SDS Staff

By SDS Staff

Published:

Tennessee managed an incredible fourth-quarter comeback to beat Indiana 23-22 to win the Gator Bowl.

The Volunteers led 6-3 at halftime but quickly found themselves trailing by double digits in the second half. The Hoosiers led 22-9 as last as the 3:51 mark in the fourth quarter. UT had not scored a touchdown all night, but the offense came alive at just the right time as two rushing touchdowns bookended a key onside kick recovery.

The Volunteers finished the 2019 campaign 8-5 on a six-game win streak.

After the UT defense picked off Indiana QB Peyton Ramsey, Jarrett Guarantano marched the UT offense down the field, ut the five-play, 51-yard drive ended with a turnover on downs as the Vols failed to score on fourth-and-goal.

Tennessee’s first points came on the following drive. The Vols again managed to threaten deep in Hoosier territory, but couldn’t score the touchdown, only a field goal courtesy of Brent Cimaglia. Jeremy Pruitt’s squad would manage to only score on field goals in the first half, taking a 6-3 lead into the locker room at the break despite out-gaining Indiana 202-69 in total yards.

The second half got off to a disastrous start for the Vols as a three-point lead became a 10-point deficit in the third quarter. The Hoosiers opened the half with a 12-play, 69-yard touchdown drive to put Indiana up 10-6 after the extra point.

On UT’s first series of the quarter, Jarrett Guarantano tossed a pick-six that extended Indiana’s lead to 16-6.

After the interception, Guarantano was benched for freshman QB Brian Maurer. The Vols went on a 10-play, 49-yard drive on Maurer’s first possession, but still couldn’t manage a touchdown. Cimaglia’s first field goal cut it to 16-9. Guarantano returned with the Vols trailing 19-9 after another IU field goal.

Tennessee rallied in the fourth quarter. Quavaris Crouch came in to help the Vols punch it in over the goal line, capping off a 10-play, 82-yard drive, cutting Indiana’s lead to 22-15. The Vols went for one, with Cimaglia cutting it to 22-16.

UT then rolled the dice with an onside kick and recovered with 4:19 remaining in the game.

The Volunteers managed to score quickly, needing only three plays to go 54 yards. Eric Gray ran 16 yards for the game-tying score. Cimaglia’s extra point gave UT a 23-22 lead with 3:51 remaining.

Indiana drove into Tennessee territory, but Justus Logan missed a 52-yard field goal attempt with 2:12 left. Indiana got one more possession, but turned the ball over on downs with 18 seconds remaining, allowing Tennessee to take a knee in the victory formation.

SDS Staff

Saturday Down South reports and comments on the news around the Southeastern Conference as well as larger college football topics.

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