Dobbs rallies Vols over Gators
KNOXVILLE, TENN. >> This time, Tennessee delivered the comeback. And in the process, the Volunteers took out 11 years’ worth of frustration on Florida.
Joshua Dobbs accounted for five second-half touchdowns Saturday and No. 14 Tennessee erased a 21-point deficit to beat No. 19 Florida 38-28 and end its 11-game losing streak in the series.
“I didn’t see anybody blink,” Tennessee coach Butch Jones said. “Nobody flinched. They just kept playing.”
This marks the first time Tennessee (4-0, 1-0 SEC) has beaten Florida (3-1, 1-1) since 2004. The Volunteers had lost to Florida by one point each of the last two years despite leading in the fourth quarter of both games.
Florida was so confident it would continue the streak that Gators cornerback Quincy Wilson boldly said this week that “nobody has ever seen a duck pull a truck . Florida Gators are going to win, simple as that.”
Tennessee silenced the Gators by reeling off 38 consecutive points.
“I just kept looking at their body language on the sideline, and it was bad,” said Tennessee defensive end Derek Barnett, who recorded two sacks. “I think they worried about talking too much (rather than) focusing on playing football, and it showed at the end.”
Tennessee safety Todd Kelly Jr. added that “it just looked like we took their soul, really.”
Dobbs went 16 of 32 for 319 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions. He also rushed for 80 yards and a touchdown. WISCONSIN 30, MICHIGAN STATE 6 >> Leo Musso returned a fumble 66 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter and No. 11 Wisconsin (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) turned its early showdown with No. 8 Michigan State (2-1, 0-1) into a rout.
Redshirt freshman Alex Hornibrook threw for 195 yards and a touchdown in his first start for Wisconsin, outplaying fifth-year senior Tyler O’Connor, his Michigan State counterpart. The Badgers were the better team in the first half and outscored the Spartans 17-0 in the third quarter. ALABAMA 48, KENT STATE 0>> Jalen Hurts ran and threw for touchdowns and tailback sub Joshua Jacobs scored his first two career touchdowns for No. 1 Alabama (4-0) against coach Nick Saban’s alma mater (1-3). MISSISSIPPI 45, GEORGIA 14 >> Chad Kelly threw for 282 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another score to help No. 23 Mississippi (2-2, 1-1 SEC) break a 10game losing streak against No. 12 Georgia (3-1, 1-1) dating to 1996.
The Rebels dominated every phase, building a lead of 31-0 by halftime and 45-0 by midway through the third quarter. FLORIDA STATE 55, SOUTH FLORIDA 35 >> Dalvin Cook rushed for a career-high 267 yards and two TDs and No. 13 Florida State (3-1) rebounded from the most lopsided loss in school history to beat South Florida (3-1). AUBURN 18, LSU 13 >> Daniel Carlson kicked six field goals and Auburn (2-2, 1-1) beat No. 18 LSU (2-2, 1-1)after officials ruled Danny Etling’s apparent last-gasp scoring pass came after time expired.
Etling rolled to his right and found D.J. Shark on a 15-yard pass, setting off a celebration by LSU players. Officials ruled time expired before Etling took the snap.
The celebration shifted to the Auburn sideline when officials announced the decisive ruling.