Vols survive 1,439-yard volley
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee Coach Derek Dooley called it the type of game that would have football traditionalists rolling over in their graves. At least it didn’t end with the type of loss that would cause people to start writing obituaries about Dooley’s Tennessee tenure.
Marlin Lane rushed for a tiebreaking 9-yard touchdown with 1:25 remaining Saturday at Neyland Stadium as Tennessee came from behind in the final three minutes to edge Troy 55-48 in a game that featured 1,439 combined yards in total offense, the most ever in a Tennessee football game. The previous record for combined total yards in a Tennessee game was 1,329, set in Tennessee’s 59-31 victory over Kentucky in 1997.
Tennessee (4-5) gained 718 total yards, the most in school history. Troy compiled 721 yards, the most ever by a Tennessee opponent.
The teams also produced the most combined points in Neyland Stadium history and the second-highest total ever in a Tennessee game. Tennessee blew out American University 104-0 on Oct. 7, 1904.
“Not much to say, other than we found a way to win, which is the most important thing,” Dooley said.
Tennessee’s escape allowed the Vols to avoid their first five-game losing streak since 1988, when they dropped their first six games before closing the season with five consecutive victories. Tennessee is still hoping to produce its first winning season in Dooley’s three-year tenure.
Vols quarterback Tyler Bray went 29 of 47 for a school-record 530 yards and threw 5 touchdown passes without an interception. Cordarrelle Patterson caught nine passes for 219 yards and a touchdown. Bray’s 530 passing yards were the secondhighest total in SEC history, behind only former Georgia star Eric Zeier, who threw for 544 yards against Southern Mississippi in 1993.
“I could care less about breaking records,” Bray said. “We needed to win.”
Justin Hunter caught 9 passes for 181 yards and 3 touchdowns, including a 46yarder that tied the game with 2:54 remaining. Hunter’s third touchdown came just 20 seconds after Eric Thomas had put Troy ahead by turning a one-handed grab into a 67-yard gain, his second touchdown of the day.
Deon Anthony threw for two touchdowns, Corey Robinson accumulated 393 passing yards and Shawn Southward ran for two scores for Troy (4-5). Thomas caught six passes for 147 yards, and Chip Reeves had five receptions for 144 yards and a touchdown.
“We thought we could move it,” Troy Coach Larry Blakeney said. “I had no idea we’d score 48 or whatever it was. If you’d told me before the game we’d score 48, I’d tell you we were going to win by three or four scores.” AUBURN 42, NEW MEXICO STATE 7
AUBURN, Ala. — Tre Mason and Onterio McCalebb produced big runs and linebacker Daren Bates showed he’s still got some of his old running back moves, too.
Mason rushed for a career-high 152 yards and McCalebb added 113 and two touchdowns to help the Tigers snap a five-game losing streak.
Bates returned a fumble 62 yards for a touchdown for the Tigers (2-7), who picked up a much-needed victory in the program’s worst start in 60 years. It was Auburn’s longest fumble return for a score since 1969.
“There were a lot of guys that are extremely happy, coaches and players, in the locker room,” Auburn Coach Gene Chizik said. “It’s been a little while since we’ve had that feeling. It was good to see everybody with a smile on their face.”
The rushing outburst helped take pressure off freshman quarterback Jonathan Wallace in his first start. The Tigers got season highs in points and yards with 475 to send New Mexico State (1-8) to its eighth consecutive loss.
Mason had 22 carries, including a 40yarder, and scored on a 5-yard run.
“It feels really good. I’ve been begging for the ball,” Mason said. “I had to prove that I could do something with the ball.”
McCalebb’s eight rushes were highlighted by touchdowns of 38 and 7 yards.
Andrew Manley completed 17 of 30 passes for 222 yards for the Aggies but was sacked four times and lost the fumble that Bates returned. Austin Franklin gained 154 yards on seven catches, including a 51-yarder. NO. 7 FLORIDA 14, MISSOURI 7
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Mike Gillislee took a screen pass and went 45 yards for a touchdown, and No. 7 Florida (81, 7-1) used stifling defense to stave off SEC newcomer Missouri (4-5, 1-5) on Saturday.
Florida rebounded from a turnoverfilled loss to rival Georgia, clinched at least a share of the SEC’s Eastern Division title and eclipsed last season’s victory total.
The Gators need the Bulldogs to lose to Auburn next week to clinch a spot in the league title game.
The Gators turned two short fields into touchdowns, with Omarius Hines scoring on a 36-yard jet sweep to tie the game in the third before Gillislee put Florida ahead for good in the fourth.
Jeff Driskel lofted a pass to Gillislee in the right flat, and with two blockers out front, Gillislee made one cut and went untouched for his eighth score of the season.
The defense did the rest, stopping Missouri on six consecutive drives that ended in Florida territory.
The Gators finished with 276 yards, went 2 of 13 on third down and struggled to get anything going in the passing game.
Driskel completed 12 of 23 passes for 106 yards, with nearly half of that coming on the screen pass. Gillislee ran 16 times for 68 yards — his fourth consecutive game under 70 yards. And Florida’s offensive line was overmatched again.
“I’m a realist and I believe in being honest and calling it the way it is,” Muschamp said. “And when it stinks, it stinks. ... We’ve been able to win and do what we had to do to win the games — I’m not trying to downgrade it at all. This football team has as much resolve as a football team that I’ve been around.”
That showed down the stretch on defense.
Josh Evans sealed the victory, intercepting Franklin’s fourth-down pass in the end zone with five seconds remaining. The Tigers drove to the 21, but had to try to make something happen as the clock wound down.
“That’s actually like a great feeling,” Florida defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd said. “Can their offense make big plays on a defense that’s coming? We’re relentless and that’s how we want to play and that’s how we strive to play every week.”
Franklin, who sprained his left knee against Vanderbilt on Oct. 6 and sat out all or part of the past two games, finished with four interceptions. He completed 24 of 51 passes for 236 yards. He overthrew open receivers much of the day and had less mobility than normal.