Tennessee explosive pass plays (>20yds): 1 (2Q, Hooker-to-Tillman 24 yds TD), 2 (3Q, Hooker-to-Tillman 46 yd TD), 3 (3Q, Hooker-to-Fant 23 yds)
Tennessee explosive runs plays (>15yds): 1 (2Q, Small 15 yds), 2 (3Q, Hooker 29 yds)…..Tennessee totaled 14 other runs gaining between 10-15 yards
Vanderbilt explosive pass plays (>20yds): 1 (2Q, Wright-to-Sheppard 56 yd TD), 2 (3Q, Wright-to-Pierce 23 yds)
Vanderbilt explosive run plays (>15yds): 1 (2Q, Griffin 15 yds)…..Vanderbilt totaled just two other runs that gained over 10 yards
Notes:
First Quarter: Tennessee 7, Vanderbilt 0
D1 (Vandy) -25: 5 plays, 25 yards, 2:40……..INT (Pick-6)
Blakley great pursuit down the line on swing pass on second down. Wright finds Pierce on third down to move chains – Out route, cutting back in on Burrell, who must keep his feet. On play five of the drive, Theo Jackson jumps the route and returns it 55 yards for the pick-6. Great play, to split two would-be tacklers as well. Jeremy Banks with the backside pressure……Vols 7-0
D2 (Vandy) -25: 3 plays, -1 yard, 1:39……..PUNT (Smith, 47 yards)
Commodores try too out of gun on first down. Great job running the ally by Aaron Beasley and Theo Jackson coming upfield for the TFL. Jeremy Banks stays home on second down option and makes play at the LOS. Vandy is incomplete on third down and must punt. Great series by Jeremy Banks…..PUNT
D1 (Tenn) +21: 4 plays, 9 yards, 1:16……TOD
Velus Jones gives Vols GREAT field position, a yard outside of the red zone, on a brilliant 50-yard punt return. The soon-to-be All-Conference Return goes right up the middle of the field and left shades left, trying to outrun the punter who knocks him out of bounds. Vols in a great spot. Vols gain 5 on screen to Payton and then 3 more combined on next two plays. Vols go for it on 4th & 1 from the +13 and Small is stuffed after one yard short of the marker. One of those where if you’re going for it there, you better get it. You didn’t and wasted EXCELLENT punt return and field position. Linebacker Ethan Barr a great series…..TOD
D3 (Vandy) -12: 9 plays, 45 yards, 5:05………PUNT (Smith, 29 yards)
Vanderbilt gains nearly 30 yards on four-straight run plays to begin drive. Theo Jackson a real nice PBU on sit route underneath. Wright throws slant right in front of Burrell for first down. Vandy picking on Burrell just like South Alabama did. False start backs Vandy up and holds up drive that was moving nicely down the field. Wright completes pass for 2 yards but Taylor knocks him out and then incomplete on third down. Great play by Taylor closing the gap. Taylor defended Sheppard on third down slant as well…..PUNT
D2 (Tenn) -14: 8 plays, 37 yards, 2:33……PUNT (Brooks, 46 yards)
Jabari Small good pickup on guy screaming through on first down. Small good job of following Ollie Lane as lead blocker on gain of 7. Small gains 14 on next play, going right through the ‘B’ gap as Wright and Carvin made a hole big enough to drive my Honda Accord Sport thru. Tillman turning into a YAC machine, 14 yards on WR screen. Like Vandy, a penalty sets offense back who was rolling. Payton lined up offsides and Vols gain just 2 yards on three next plays before punting. Hooker nearly intercepted on third down throw over the middle to Warren…..PUNT
D4 (Vandy) -3: 7 plays, 14 yards, 3:32…….PUNT (Sith, 42 yards)
Midway through the series, play shifts to the third quarter. Tennessee downs punt at 3-yard line, pinning Commodores back to start drive. Banks misses tackle on second down as Wright gains almost five yards to set up 3rd & short. Tennessee makes third down stuff (Jeremy Banks, Da’Jon Terry), but give up first down on 4th & 1 at Vandy’s own 12. Vols pursue well and get great coverage in back end on next few plays to force Vandy punt….PUNT
Second Quarter: Tennessee 24, Vanderbilt 7
D3 (Tenn) -41: 12 plays, 59 yards, 4:10…….TOUCHDOWN
Jaylen Wright in on this series and right out of the gate is showing better vision. Hooker just misses Tillman down the middle. Wasn’t a bad throw, just a bit too far as there was pressure up the middle from Cooper Mays. Mays was actually bumped into Hooker while throwing – amazing the ball was s good as it was. Wright gains 12 yards following behind Dayne Davis pulling across to kickout end man. Vol pick up fourth down conversion with Jaylen Wright running over left tackle. Hooker gets 10 yards on keep – really nice shimmy to duke QB player on edge. Jabari Small gets in two plays later after bouncing off middle linebacker Good, tough run by Small……TOUCHDOWN, Vols 14-0
D5 (Vandy)-25: 3 plays, 5 yards, 1:37……PUNT (Smith, 23 yards)
Vols defense smothers Vanderbilt on this drive. Stout against the run and kept Wright intact when he tried to tuck and run. Aaron Beasley a decent series…..PUNT
D4 (Tenn) -47: 9 plays, 53 yards, 3:06……TOUCHDOWN
A horrible punt takes a BIG Orange bounce. 23 yards on the kick and Tennessee with more great field position. Vols again pickup first down on 4th & 2 as Hooker gains six on the keeper. Great scheme from Heupel going double tandems split well out on the numbers to open middle of the field for Hooker draw. Small gets 14 yards on second down play – great block by Warren to cut down screamer off the edge. Hooker finds Tillman on the 24-yard touchdown slant as Tillman, who started out wide, bends back out to score. Good run by Velus…..Vols 21-0
D6 (Vandy) -25: 3 plays, -10 yards, 2:15……PUNT (Smith, 44 yards)
Jaylen McCollough comes off the edge untouched on blitz to sack Wright for a loss of 10. Lined up on the slot initially and works his way in before the snap. Aaron Beasley reads screen perfectly on third and long – splits blockers and makes the play for the TFL. Great back-to-back plays from Tennessee’s defense……PUNT
D5 (Tenn) –41: 7 plays, 45 yards, 1:25……FIELD GOAL (McGrath, 31 yards)
Tennessee gets 15 free ones after Anfernee Orgi unnecessary roughness. Tick-tacky call in my opinion. Hooker and Small go back-to-back good runs of 13 and 15 yards. Greta block by Fant on perimeter on Small run. Vols then stuffed on two run plays and Hooker is incomplete on third down, so Vols settle for field goal. (Ball was tipped on third down, so there can be no DPI)…..Field Goal, Vols 24-0
D7 (Vandy) -25: 3 plays, 75 yards, 00:42……TOUCHDOWN
Just an AWFUL way to end a dominant half of football. Tennessee gives up a hail mary on final play of the half as Wright throws it 56 yards to Sheppard for the score. Tennessee had guys at the goal line, but allowed Sheppard to get in the boxes with no one playing in front of him. You can play behind him as long as he is not in the end zone. That way he can make the catch and then get tackles – can’t do that if he’s in the end zone. Horrific job by the secondary. That should never happen. Just like that, you gave Vanderbilt life…..Touchdown, Vols 24-7.
Tennessee explosive runs plays (>15yds): 1 (2Q, Small 15 yds), 2 (3Q, Hooker 29 yds)…..Tennessee totaled 14 other runs gaining between 10-15 yards
Vanderbilt explosive pass plays (>20yds): 1 (2Q, Wright-to-Sheppard 56 yd TD), 2 (3Q, Wright-to-Pierce 23 yds)
Vanderbilt explosive run plays (>15yds): 1 (2Q, Griffin 15 yds)…..Vanderbilt totaled just two other runs that gained over 10 yards
Notes:
- 3rd down woes: Vanderbilt (4/16), Tennessee (2/8)
- 4th down success: Vanderbilt (5/7), Tennessee 2/3)
- Turnovers: 1 apiece (Vanderbilt, Wright INT) (Tennessee, Milton FUM)
- 2 over the Century Mark: Jaylen Wright (112 yds), Jabari Small (103 yds)
- Total Plays: Vanderbilt (75), Tennessee (60)
- Tennessee ended every drive but 4 with points
- Tennessee scored on 6 of final 8 possessions of ballgame
- Vanderbilt had two scoring drives in second half that panned 7:59 and 10:55 off the clock
- Who’s Hot: Wright, Small. Offensive line, Jackson, Taylor, Banks
- I thought this broadcasting team (on re-watch) did an awesome job. Former Pro Bowler Deuce McCallister did well (added so much) and how about LVFL Andraya Carter learning the game of football. She did well.
First Quarter: Tennessee 7, Vanderbilt 0
D1 (Vandy) -25: 5 plays, 25 yards, 2:40……..INT (Pick-6)
Blakley great pursuit down the line on swing pass on second down. Wright finds Pierce on third down to move chains – Out route, cutting back in on Burrell, who must keep his feet. On play five of the drive, Theo Jackson jumps the route and returns it 55 yards for the pick-6. Great play, to split two would-be tacklers as well. Jeremy Banks with the backside pressure……Vols 7-0
D2 (Vandy) -25: 3 plays, -1 yard, 1:39……..PUNT (Smith, 47 yards)
Commodores try too out of gun on first down. Great job running the ally by Aaron Beasley and Theo Jackson coming upfield for the TFL. Jeremy Banks stays home on second down option and makes play at the LOS. Vandy is incomplete on third down and must punt. Great series by Jeremy Banks…..PUNT
D1 (Tenn) +21: 4 plays, 9 yards, 1:16……TOD
Velus Jones gives Vols GREAT field position, a yard outside of the red zone, on a brilliant 50-yard punt return. The soon-to-be All-Conference Return goes right up the middle of the field and left shades left, trying to outrun the punter who knocks him out of bounds. Vols in a great spot. Vols gain 5 on screen to Payton and then 3 more combined on next two plays. Vols go for it on 4th & 1 from the +13 and Small is stuffed after one yard short of the marker. One of those where if you’re going for it there, you better get it. You didn’t and wasted EXCELLENT punt return and field position. Linebacker Ethan Barr a great series…..TOD
D3 (Vandy) -12: 9 plays, 45 yards, 5:05………PUNT (Smith, 29 yards)
Vanderbilt gains nearly 30 yards on four-straight run plays to begin drive. Theo Jackson a real nice PBU on sit route underneath. Wright throws slant right in front of Burrell for first down. Vandy picking on Burrell just like South Alabama did. False start backs Vandy up and holds up drive that was moving nicely down the field. Wright completes pass for 2 yards but Taylor knocks him out and then incomplete on third down. Great play by Taylor closing the gap. Taylor defended Sheppard on third down slant as well…..PUNT
D2 (Tenn) -14: 8 plays, 37 yards, 2:33……PUNT (Brooks, 46 yards)
Jabari Small good pickup on guy screaming through on first down. Small good job of following Ollie Lane as lead blocker on gain of 7. Small gains 14 on next play, going right through the ‘B’ gap as Wright and Carvin made a hole big enough to drive my Honda Accord Sport thru. Tillman turning into a YAC machine, 14 yards on WR screen. Like Vandy, a penalty sets offense back who was rolling. Payton lined up offsides and Vols gain just 2 yards on three next plays before punting. Hooker nearly intercepted on third down throw over the middle to Warren…..PUNT
D4 (Vandy) -3: 7 plays, 14 yards, 3:32…….PUNT (Sith, 42 yards)
Midway through the series, play shifts to the third quarter. Tennessee downs punt at 3-yard line, pinning Commodores back to start drive. Banks misses tackle on second down as Wright gains almost five yards to set up 3rd & short. Tennessee makes third down stuff (Jeremy Banks, Da’Jon Terry), but give up first down on 4th & 1 at Vandy’s own 12. Vols pursue well and get great coverage in back end on next few plays to force Vandy punt….PUNT
Second Quarter: Tennessee 24, Vanderbilt 7
D3 (Tenn) -41: 12 plays, 59 yards, 4:10…….TOUCHDOWN
Jaylen Wright in on this series and right out of the gate is showing better vision. Hooker just misses Tillman down the middle. Wasn’t a bad throw, just a bit too far as there was pressure up the middle from Cooper Mays. Mays was actually bumped into Hooker while throwing – amazing the ball was s good as it was. Wright gains 12 yards following behind Dayne Davis pulling across to kickout end man. Vol pick up fourth down conversion with Jaylen Wright running over left tackle. Hooker gets 10 yards on keep – really nice shimmy to duke QB player on edge. Jabari Small gets in two plays later after bouncing off middle linebacker Good, tough run by Small……TOUCHDOWN, Vols 14-0
D5 (Vandy)-25: 3 plays, 5 yards, 1:37……PUNT (Smith, 23 yards)
Vols defense smothers Vanderbilt on this drive. Stout against the run and kept Wright intact when he tried to tuck and run. Aaron Beasley a decent series…..PUNT
D4 (Tenn) -47: 9 plays, 53 yards, 3:06……TOUCHDOWN
A horrible punt takes a BIG Orange bounce. 23 yards on the kick and Tennessee with more great field position. Vols again pickup first down on 4th & 2 as Hooker gains six on the keeper. Great scheme from Heupel going double tandems split well out on the numbers to open middle of the field for Hooker draw. Small gets 14 yards on second down play – great block by Warren to cut down screamer off the edge. Hooker finds Tillman on the 24-yard touchdown slant as Tillman, who started out wide, bends back out to score. Good run by Velus…..Vols 21-0
D6 (Vandy) -25: 3 plays, -10 yards, 2:15……PUNT (Smith, 44 yards)
Jaylen McCollough comes off the edge untouched on blitz to sack Wright for a loss of 10. Lined up on the slot initially and works his way in before the snap. Aaron Beasley reads screen perfectly on third and long – splits blockers and makes the play for the TFL. Great back-to-back plays from Tennessee’s defense……PUNT
D5 (Tenn) –41: 7 plays, 45 yards, 1:25……FIELD GOAL (McGrath, 31 yards)
Tennessee gets 15 free ones after Anfernee Orgi unnecessary roughness. Tick-tacky call in my opinion. Hooker and Small go back-to-back good runs of 13 and 15 yards. Greta block by Fant on perimeter on Small run. Vols then stuffed on two run plays and Hooker is incomplete on third down, so Vols settle for field goal. (Ball was tipped on third down, so there can be no DPI)…..Field Goal, Vols 24-0
D7 (Vandy) -25: 3 plays, 75 yards, 00:42……TOUCHDOWN
Just an AWFUL way to end a dominant half of football. Tennessee gives up a hail mary on final play of the half as Wright throws it 56 yards to Sheppard for the score. Tennessee had guys at the goal line, but allowed Sheppard to get in the boxes with no one playing in front of him. You can play behind him as long as he is not in the end zone. That way he can make the catch and then get tackles – can’t do that if he’s in the end zone. Horrific job by the secondary. That should never happen. Just like that, you gave Vanderbilt life…..Touchdown, Vols 24-7.
