Rapid Reaction: Tennessee rallies to top Kentucky
Kentucky had a wide receiver with limited passing experience playing quarterback.
But Tennessee was the offense that could not get moving.
Then Jarrett Guarantano entered the game at quarterback for the Vols in the second half.
Guarantano sparked a 7-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to start the third quarter then led another TD drive later in the third to give Tennessee the lead for good as the Volunteers defeated the Wildcats at 17-13 Saturday night at Commonwealth Stadium.
UK (4-5, 2-5 SEC) had 40-plus minutes in time of possession and outgained the Vols 327-296 despite having just 25 passing yards.
But the Vols (5-5, 3-3) held when it mattered most, denying the Wildcats on three 4th-down attempts in the second half including the most critical one when they stuffed Lynn Bowden on an option run at the UT 2-yard line with just more than a minute remaining.
In addition to Guarantano giving the UT offense a boost, the Vols defense, which started the game poorly, stepped up in the second half. That was especially true when the Vols denied the Wildcats on a 4th-down play in UT territory with 8:23 left in the fourth quarter.
UK could not maintain its first-half momentum, when it went on touchdown drives in its first two possessions.
On Tennessee’s first drive of the third quarter, Guarantano hit Marquez Callaway for a 17-yard score; Callaway also had a 33-yard catch on the drive.
The Vols went ahead 17-13 on Guarantano’s 12-yard strike to Josh Palmer. The play was initially ruled a no catch but replay showed Palmer got his foot in bounds with possession. That capped a 7-play, 68-yard drive.
Bowden, who had an SEC-leading 498 rushing yards in his previous 3 games coming in, and the Wildcats rushing attack was nearly impossible for UT to stop in the first half even though the Vols had to know UK would run on nearly every play.
The first Kentucky drive was a bad start for the Vols defense. The Wildcats drove 17 plays, their longest possession this season, for the opening touchdown.
Kentucky converted on 3rd and 2 early; the Vols helped by jumping offside on the previous play. Sawyer Smith entered the game at quarterback and ran a sneak for a first down on 4th and short.
Kentucky was full of interesting wrinkles early. Asim Rose converted on a 3rd-and-short run near the goal line, then ran for a 2-yard TD out of the wildcat formation for a 7-0 Wildcats lead. Rose surpassed 1,000 career rushing yards later in the first half.
It got worse quickly for Tennessee. UT had a quick 3 and out with Brian Maurer starting at QB, compounded when punter Paxton Brooks dropped a snap and had the punt blocked.
UK took over at the UT 24 and scored two plays later on Kavosiey Smoke’s rush from 22 yards. UK’s season-long kicking woes continued when the Vols blocked the point after to keep the deficit at 13-0.
Early in the second quarter, Maurer twice converted third downs by hitting Palmer on passes. Maurer then ran for 17 yards on 3rd and 20 to lead to a chip shot 26-yard field goal by Brent Cimaglia, putting the Vols on the board.
Bowden, on just his 4th pass attempt of the game, was intercepted. Vols linebacker Nigel Warrior picked off a pass intended for tight end Justin Rigg. Warriors ran the pick into the end zone but upon review he was ruled out at the UT 46-yard line.
UT wound up punting and did not threaten again until very late in the first half. Maurer’s 34-yard pass to Callaway, who led the SEC in yards per catch coming in, set up an unsuccessful Hail Mary pass to end the first half.
Kentucky dominated the first half more than the 13-3 lead would indicate; the Wildcats had 21:16 in time of possession for the first two quarters.
Great game! Some real boneheaded penalties though.
Congrats UT, but I’m convinced if we had any other OC, we’d win that game by at least 3 points. Gran needs to go, sick of him
lol, and all he’s done to develop of high school recruits at quarterback.
Tennessee exposed our running game.
I don’t know. Dude got as creative as possible given the situation. Multiple offsetting looks and unique play calls. He had a great game plan dialed up, and it showed in the first half
Yeah, but he cant adjust. I also think they should have injected a west coast style offense for bowden. He is capable of making quick short passes, but they refuse to.
I think you all had a good game plan… the breaks just didn’t go your way when you need them…
I think Gran called a pretty good game for a guy with a wr for a qb and no receivers. He played the only hand he had as good as he could.
Well, with all that said, this team is still capable of finishing 7-5 with who we have left on the schedule. Vandy is hot garbage, UTM is not beating a p5 team, and UL has zero dense. Bowden may even rush for 300 against them.
I heard UGA wants him.
That was entertaining.
Tennessee earned that win, but our OC has absolutely no imagination or ability to adjust to the other team.
It’s hard to adjust when you can’t trust the pass
I absolutely blasted JG multiple times in the early part of the year, but he saved that game, and maybe the season. I can’t remember seeing another quarterback come back from such a bad start to a season.
One of his best games. Great job leading the offense to the win.
Yea, I said some mean things about him early on, but Im eating those words rights now. Glad to see him find success.
Lol Kentucky. Stick to bourbon.
That ending stressed me out.
This one hurt
You’ll probably have a winning record against the basketball team this year anyway. Unlike last season.
Or the season before last…
Even a blind dog finds a bone every now and again.
SweetT you haven’t felt anything back there in a while so the tip ain’t gonna hurt girl. Bet you don’t even have to wipe anymore. Maybe Tucky has a good chess team girl.
Great game. Kentucky played a good game especially considering there QB situation. Personally feel like they should have thrown in a few more short passes. We should have sold out more on the run. G saved the game for us.
Congratulations to the Vols. I’m still bleeding UK blue till the last second of the last game but man that one did hurt tonight.
I was impressed with the TN receivers ability to go up and make the tough catches. Yes, we miss our starting QB but not having our top 6 DBs from last year’s team showed up tonight.
‘Cause your 6 db’s from last your made the game so much closer.
My point is they would have probably defended those 50/50 passes much better, especially given the height of the CBs ( 6’4″ & 6’3″) and the fact they were 3 year starters.
It was a good game. Congrats Tennessee, you’ll be bowling mostly likely. From the way y’all started your season to finish possibly 7-5 now & go bowling is remarkable. I’m more annoyed than anything. Until we get rid of Eddie Gran at OC, it’ll be the same thing all over again. What idiot calls a 20 yard throw when it’s 4th & 3 & you have to get a first down?
Your QB looked just as disgusted with that play call as the rest of the nation did. I mean WTF shipmate….
I thought the same thing. That was a gift from the UK coaches. I don’t know why they didn’t run the ball, but I’m glad they didn’t.
Great win but officiating sucked. Did anyone else notice that when Warrior intercepted that pass that he stepped out at the 34 yard line and they placed the ball on the 48? They even showed the replay it was the 34 but no one said anything to stop it.
To the UK fans: great game and good luck going forward. I thought it was going to be a repeat of 2011. Also I appreciate the UK folks keeping the comments civil…more than I can say for some UTers. I had the opportunity to tune into the UK broadcast on XM because I didn’t feel like going through the hassle of feeding the live stream through my car while driving (my edition of XM didn’t have the UT feed in the car). I grew up on John Ward who always appreciated a good play from the opposing team, and you could tell it by his voice. The UK broadcast team was a pleasure–obviously for the Cats but even-handed for the Vols.
A good win that was sorely needed. Glad to see G play well. Want to see him start vs Mizzou. Maurer has some talent but G is providing the best chance to win right now. Some bad play calls by ky in some instances really helped us. Bowden and ky really need a true QB. It’s hard to win when you are that one dimensional but ky has done as well as about anyone could under the circumstances. Good luck the rest of the season. Hope we both go bowling.
Kentucky’s OC was so stupid. Ball on the 1 or 2 yard line twice and you are in shot gun 5 yards behind the ball. What happened to going under center and QB sneaking it? UT DL had great and easy penetration especially when you are handing the ball to your RB 5 yards.
I’m more than happy to get a win but I’m surprised that no one has brought up the fact that if UK hadn’t missed that extra point in the 1st quarter, all they would have needed was a FG to send the game to overtime. Even the announcers on the broadcast didn’t bring it up. Usually announcers would hone in on that and make it a talking point the entire 4th quarter.
I was at the game
It looked like the kick was blocked
Our kicker has struggled all year
Yes it was blocked. Looked real low.
Both of these coaches have done a great job imo by having their players play hard every game this season. Even when the deck has been stacked against them. Much respect…a lot of teams would mail it in with the injuries and tough losses earlier in the year.
Agree Wade and impressive run by UT after a rough start. Hope Coach Stoops stays at UK and keeps building them up instead of jumping into the Tally dumpster.