Wild Night in Neyland. Aside from all the last minute theatrics, Tennessee battled its tail off. It was shorthanded going into the game and lost its best offensive lineman five minutes in. It was down 15 points at one time, but had a chance to win it twice late in the fourth quarter. Once Hooker finally got involved in the run game in the second half, it was a new ballgame. Defense battled its tail off, despite its one flaw in defending the QB draw, as Corral had a highlight reel game. A special teams blunder gifted Ole Miss with 7 right out of the gate.
Tennessee could have won this football game and of course had to battle things outside of its control at times. I thought Hendon Hooker gave it everything he had. Others that stood out to me where: Velus Jones (after the mistake), Cedric Tillman, Darnell Wright, Omari Thomas, Byron Young, and the LBs.
TN Explosive plays (>20yds): 1 (1Q, Jabari Small rush of 22 yds), 2 (2Q, Hooker to Velus for 30 yds), 3 (3Q, Jabari Small rush of 26yds), 4 (3Q, Hooker to Jones for 29 yds – FREE PLAY), 5 (4Q, Hooker rush of 20 yds), 6 (4Q, Hooker run of 21), 6 (4Q, Hooker to Warren for 23 yds)
TN Penalties: 1 (1Q, Illegal formation), 2 (1Q, False start, Dayne Davis), 3 (3Q, holding on KOR, Garland), 4 (4Q, Holding – Princeton Fant)
TN Injuries: Cade Mays, Alonate Taylor 2X (returned), Ja’Quain Blakely 2X (returned), Warren Burrell (returned), Omari Thomas, JaVontez Spraggins (returned), Hendon Hooker
Matt Corral 1st down runs on 3rd or 4th down: 7 (one more on 4th down, but was called back for a hold)
First Quarter: Ole Miss 10, Tennessee 9
D1 (OM) -22: 10 plays, 31 yards, 4:09…..PUNT
Rebels pick up two first downs on opening drive but stalls out following two holding penalties. Tennessee got great push up front but let Corral scramble once for a first down. Vols were amped up and playing with an edge this first drive. Ole Miss punts, Velus Jones muffs on return, and Rebels take over on the +11.
D2 (OM) +11: 4 plays, 11 yards, 00:58, TOUCHDOWN
For the fourth week in-a-row, Tennessee commits a massive Special Teams blunder as Velus drops the punt, giving it back to Ole Miss for a gift-wrapped touchdown to come. Blakley comes up field strong for TFL on sweep, play one. Sanders nearly reels in one-handed catch on play two. Tennessee gets called for defensive holding on 3rd down incompletion, awards Ole Miss 1st & goal at the 7yd line. Snoop Conner gets in for 1yd TD. Ole Miss 7-0
D1 (TN) -25: 3 plays, 9 yards, 00:55, PUNT
Small gets a nice pickup of five on first down. Hooker misfires looking for Payton on second. Throw looked to be just a tad out in front, close. Hooker hits Jones right at the marker on third down, they spot him a yard short almost. I think he was just short, but still a bad spot. Vols punt. 52 yards from Paxton Brooks. Cade Mays goes down, injuries knee it appears on the no-play (Vosl trying to hurry up to snap on fourth down prior to review)
D3 (OM) -14: 9 plays, 36 yards, 3:14…TOD
Matt Corral picks up 23 yards on design QB draw on third down. Pearson drops a walk-in touchdown later in drive. Aaron Beasley a great stop on touch pass (sweep) to Plumlee on 3rd and short for no gain. And then, on fourth down, the first horrific call of the game when they rule forward momentum had stopped on Corral and that there was no fumble, thus no scoop n' score. Heupel said after the game that the play was not reviewable.
D2 (TN) 50: 3 plays, 1 yard, 00:37….PUNT
Vols take a shot on first down – great throw from Hooker, Payton just doesn’t bring it all the way in. Hooker overthrows Jones badly on third down.
D4 (OM) -7: 2 plays, -7 yards, 00:29….SAFETY
A false start backs up the Rebels to their own 3. Omari Thomas with a nice swim move to olay o-lineman and sling Corral down for the sack. SAFETY…Ole Miss 7, Tennessee 2.
D3 (TN)+49: 3 plays, 49 yards, 00:37….TOUCHDOWN
Jabari Small gets gains of 11 and 22 and then Hooker tight ropes skinny post to Tillman for 6. Tennessee answers and it’s a 9-point swing in 44 seconds of game time…Tennessee 9, Ole Miss 7
D5 (OM) -30: 11 plays, 57 yards, 3:01….FG
Ole Miss picks up four first downs on the drive, but Tennessee bows its back on 3rd & 8 from the +13. The line continues to move the pocket backwards. Costa is GOOD form 30 yards. Ole Miss 10, Tennessee 9
D4 (TN) -25: 3 plays, -17 yards, 1:47…PUNT
Just a disastrous drive for Tennessee. Two penalties and two sacks. -17 yards on the drive as it goes into the second quarter of play.
Second Quarter: Ole Miss 24, Tennessee 12
D6 (OM) -46: 8 plays, 54 yards, 2:30…TOUCHDOWN
Corral runs three more times, two of which were designed runs. Alontae Taylor bites on the pump fake and Corral hits Jackson wide open for the 33-yard score. Ole Miss 17, Tennessee 9
D5 (TN): -25: 6 plays, 12 yards, 2:20….PUNT
Tennessee gives Jabari Small four times. Pick up first down but that’s all on drive. Paxton Brooks punt of 52 yards.
D7 (OM): -9: 12 plays, 91 yards, 3:37…..TOUCHDOWN
Matthew Butler sacks and forces fumble, but Ole Miss recovers. Corral runs for first on 3rd down after nearly being taken down twice – drive continues. Drummond 50 yard rec the big hitter on drive. McCollough a missed tackle on the play. Snoop Conner in from the 2yd line…Ole Miss 24, Tennessee 9.
D6 (TN) -25: 8 plays, 35 yards, 2:58….PUNT
Vols get a free play, go deep to Tillman. DPI and Vols get 1st & 10 from -41. Ole Miss also charged with substitution infraction on drive. Tennessee can’t do anything with it. Paxton Brooks punts for 32 yards inside Ole Miss 10.
D8 (OM) -8: 6 plays, 25 yards, 1:33….PUNT
Byron Young a great TFL on twist on second down. Confused OL. Corral a gain of 16 yards and a first down on second play of drive. OM called for intentional grounding. Vols hold on third down and get another chance before the half ends. Great PBU by Theo Jackson.
D7 (TN): -16: 6 plays, 62 yards, 00:53….FG
Facing 3rd & 8 after going nowhere on first and second down, Vols convert. 18 yds to Hyatt. Tennessee picks up additional 12 and 30 yards on passes to Jones and that sets up field goal. Great use of 2-minute after slow start to the drive. Kiffin burns all 3 timeouts before McGrath hits 39yd FG as time expires. Ole Miss 24, Tennessee 12
Third Quarter: Ole Miss 31, Tennessee 19
D8 (TN) -23: 8 plays, 77 yards, 2:18…TOUCHDOWN
Really nice catch by Cedric Tillman coming back to QB on hitch for first down catch. Jabari Small a big run of 26 yards on great blocking from Darnell Wright and Javontez Spraggins on the left side. Hooker finds Jones over the middle on free play – down to the one. Vols are now 2-of-2 successful on free plays tonight. Small finishes it off. Ole Miss 24, Tennessee 19
D9 (OM) -15: 14 plays, 58yds, 5:17…MISSED FG – TOD
Corral extends drive with another run on third down. Tennessee went cover 0 and had a spy (Page) who was blocked. Vols rally to football well in this drive. Bealsey sacks on third down, forces field goal attempt. Costa misses form 44 yards.
D9 (TN) -27: 9 plays, 41 yards, 2:05…MISSED FG – TOD
Tennessee picks up four first downs on drive. Hooker more involved in the run game with pickups of 14 and 9 yards. Miscommunication with Payton and Hooker on third down play. McGrath misses from 49 yards.
D10 (OM) -32: 8 plays, 68 yards, 3:02….TOUCHDOWN
Theo Jackson held and blocked in the back on first down play – neither called. Corral a big gain of 32 yards after faking jet sweep. Drummond gets behind Banks at LB and in front of safeties. Play-action got eyes in wrong place. Ole Miss 31, Tennessee 19
D10 (TN): -12: 9 plays, 88 yards, 3:14….TOUCHDOWN
Holding call on KOR puts Vols back on own 12 (Garland). Hooker finds Tillman for gain of 26 on 3rd & 8 to move it up to the -41. Post route from the far split. END OF 3Q. Hooker a great decision to keep on read-option with screaming LB off the edge, picks up 20 yards. Hooker runs for 21 yards on next play + defensive penalty sets Vols up at the 7yd line. Hooker finishes off drive two plays later with 5yd TD rush. It was a speed-option where Rebels covered pitch but not QB… Ole Miss 31, Tennessee26
Tennessee could have won this football game and of course had to battle things outside of its control at times. I thought Hendon Hooker gave it everything he had. Others that stood out to me where: Velus Jones (after the mistake), Cedric Tillman, Darnell Wright, Omari Thomas, Byron Young, and the LBs.
TN Explosive plays (>20yds): 1 (1Q, Jabari Small rush of 22 yds), 2 (2Q, Hooker to Velus for 30 yds), 3 (3Q, Jabari Small rush of 26yds), 4 (3Q, Hooker to Jones for 29 yds – FREE PLAY), 5 (4Q, Hooker rush of 20 yds), 6 (4Q, Hooker run of 21), 6 (4Q, Hooker to Warren for 23 yds)
TN Penalties: 1 (1Q, Illegal formation), 2 (1Q, False start, Dayne Davis), 3 (3Q, holding on KOR, Garland), 4 (4Q, Holding – Princeton Fant)
TN Injuries: Cade Mays, Alonate Taylor 2X (returned), Ja’Quain Blakely 2X (returned), Warren Burrell (returned), Omari Thomas, JaVontez Spraggins (returned), Hendon Hooker
Matt Corral 1st down runs on 3rd or 4th down: 7 (one more on 4th down, but was called back for a hold)
First Quarter: Ole Miss 10, Tennessee 9
D1 (OM) -22: 10 plays, 31 yards, 4:09…..PUNT
Rebels pick up two first downs on opening drive but stalls out following two holding penalties. Tennessee got great push up front but let Corral scramble once for a first down. Vols were amped up and playing with an edge this first drive. Ole Miss punts, Velus Jones muffs on return, and Rebels take over on the +11.
D2 (OM) +11: 4 plays, 11 yards, 00:58, TOUCHDOWN
For the fourth week in-a-row, Tennessee commits a massive Special Teams blunder as Velus drops the punt, giving it back to Ole Miss for a gift-wrapped touchdown to come. Blakley comes up field strong for TFL on sweep, play one. Sanders nearly reels in one-handed catch on play two. Tennessee gets called for defensive holding on 3rd down incompletion, awards Ole Miss 1st & goal at the 7yd line. Snoop Conner gets in for 1yd TD. Ole Miss 7-0
D1 (TN) -25: 3 plays, 9 yards, 00:55, PUNT
Small gets a nice pickup of five on first down. Hooker misfires looking for Payton on second. Throw looked to be just a tad out in front, close. Hooker hits Jones right at the marker on third down, they spot him a yard short almost. I think he was just short, but still a bad spot. Vols punt. 52 yards from Paxton Brooks. Cade Mays goes down, injuries knee it appears on the no-play (Vosl trying to hurry up to snap on fourth down prior to review)
D3 (OM) -14: 9 plays, 36 yards, 3:14…TOD
Matt Corral picks up 23 yards on design QB draw on third down. Pearson drops a walk-in touchdown later in drive. Aaron Beasley a great stop on touch pass (sweep) to Plumlee on 3rd and short for no gain. And then, on fourth down, the first horrific call of the game when they rule forward momentum had stopped on Corral and that there was no fumble, thus no scoop n' score. Heupel said after the game that the play was not reviewable.
D2 (TN) 50: 3 plays, 1 yard, 00:37….PUNT
Vols take a shot on first down – great throw from Hooker, Payton just doesn’t bring it all the way in. Hooker overthrows Jones badly on third down.
D4 (OM) -7: 2 plays, -7 yards, 00:29….SAFETY
A false start backs up the Rebels to their own 3. Omari Thomas with a nice swim move to olay o-lineman and sling Corral down for the sack. SAFETY…Ole Miss 7, Tennessee 2.
D3 (TN)+49: 3 plays, 49 yards, 00:37….TOUCHDOWN
Jabari Small gets gains of 11 and 22 and then Hooker tight ropes skinny post to Tillman for 6. Tennessee answers and it’s a 9-point swing in 44 seconds of game time…Tennessee 9, Ole Miss 7
D5 (OM) -30: 11 plays, 57 yards, 3:01….FG
Ole Miss picks up four first downs on the drive, but Tennessee bows its back on 3rd & 8 from the +13. The line continues to move the pocket backwards. Costa is GOOD form 30 yards. Ole Miss 10, Tennessee 9
D4 (TN) -25: 3 plays, -17 yards, 1:47…PUNT
Just a disastrous drive for Tennessee. Two penalties and two sacks. -17 yards on the drive as it goes into the second quarter of play.
Second Quarter: Ole Miss 24, Tennessee 12
D6 (OM) -46: 8 plays, 54 yards, 2:30…TOUCHDOWN
Corral runs three more times, two of which were designed runs. Alontae Taylor bites on the pump fake and Corral hits Jackson wide open for the 33-yard score. Ole Miss 17, Tennessee 9
D5 (TN): -25: 6 plays, 12 yards, 2:20….PUNT
Tennessee gives Jabari Small four times. Pick up first down but that’s all on drive. Paxton Brooks punt of 52 yards.
D7 (OM): -9: 12 plays, 91 yards, 3:37…..TOUCHDOWN
Matthew Butler sacks and forces fumble, but Ole Miss recovers. Corral runs for first on 3rd down after nearly being taken down twice – drive continues. Drummond 50 yard rec the big hitter on drive. McCollough a missed tackle on the play. Snoop Conner in from the 2yd line…Ole Miss 24, Tennessee 9.
D6 (TN) -25: 8 plays, 35 yards, 2:58….PUNT
Vols get a free play, go deep to Tillman. DPI and Vols get 1st & 10 from -41. Ole Miss also charged with substitution infraction on drive. Tennessee can’t do anything with it. Paxton Brooks punts for 32 yards inside Ole Miss 10.
D8 (OM) -8: 6 plays, 25 yards, 1:33….PUNT
Byron Young a great TFL on twist on second down. Confused OL. Corral a gain of 16 yards and a first down on second play of drive. OM called for intentional grounding. Vols hold on third down and get another chance before the half ends. Great PBU by Theo Jackson.
D7 (TN): -16: 6 plays, 62 yards, 00:53….FG
Facing 3rd & 8 after going nowhere on first and second down, Vols convert. 18 yds to Hyatt. Tennessee picks up additional 12 and 30 yards on passes to Jones and that sets up field goal. Great use of 2-minute after slow start to the drive. Kiffin burns all 3 timeouts before McGrath hits 39yd FG as time expires. Ole Miss 24, Tennessee 12
Third Quarter: Ole Miss 31, Tennessee 19
D8 (TN) -23: 8 plays, 77 yards, 2:18…TOUCHDOWN
Really nice catch by Cedric Tillman coming back to QB on hitch for first down catch. Jabari Small a big run of 26 yards on great blocking from Darnell Wright and Javontez Spraggins on the left side. Hooker finds Jones over the middle on free play – down to the one. Vols are now 2-of-2 successful on free plays tonight. Small finishes it off. Ole Miss 24, Tennessee 19
D9 (OM) -15: 14 plays, 58yds, 5:17…MISSED FG – TOD
Corral extends drive with another run on third down. Tennessee went cover 0 and had a spy (Page) who was blocked. Vols rally to football well in this drive. Bealsey sacks on third down, forces field goal attempt. Costa misses form 44 yards.
D9 (TN) -27: 9 plays, 41 yards, 2:05…MISSED FG – TOD
Tennessee picks up four first downs on drive. Hooker more involved in the run game with pickups of 14 and 9 yards. Miscommunication with Payton and Hooker on third down play. McGrath misses from 49 yards.
D10 (OM) -32: 8 plays, 68 yards, 3:02….TOUCHDOWN
Theo Jackson held and blocked in the back on first down play – neither called. Corral a big gain of 32 yards after faking jet sweep. Drummond gets behind Banks at LB and in front of safeties. Play-action got eyes in wrong place. Ole Miss 31, Tennessee 19
D10 (TN): -12: 9 plays, 88 yards, 3:14….TOUCHDOWN
Holding call on KOR puts Vols back on own 12 (Garland). Hooker finds Tillman for gain of 26 on 3rd & 8 to move it up to the -41. Post route from the far split. END OF 3Q. Hooker a great decision to keep on read-option with screaming LB off the edge, picks up 20 yards. Hooker runs for 21 yards on next play + defensive penalty sets Vols up at the 7yd line. Hooker finishes off drive two plays later with 5yd TD rush. It was a speed-option where Rebels covered pitch but not QB… Ole Miss 31, Tennessee26
