Vols down Aggies in slobber-knocker

On another make-or-break Saturday in the Southeastern Conference, Tennessee made it with a hard-fought 22-7 victory over Texas A&M. The 8-2 Vols strengthened playoff possibilities.

It’s hard to win on the road in this league. It’s harder at College Station. The crowd is big. Fans are passionate. Talent is much better than the record. The Aggies are tough.

As football games go, this was a rugged battle. I thought it was an old-fashioned slobber-knocker (Oxford English Dictionary says that is one word).

Evidence? DeSean Bishop carried 34 times and didn’t gain 100 yards. Tennessee dominated time of possession but had to settle for five Cooper Ranvier field goals.

Texas A&M’s best red-zone defense in the college game lived up to its reputation.

The Vol defense delivered the knockout. It was crusty. It took over the second half. T.J. Metcalf and Dejuan Lane intercepted passes. Texas A&M got only two first downs.

Qua Moss had a big play, a 33-yard punt return. That led to the touchdown, a five-yard pass from Faizon Brandon to a wide-open DaSaahn Brame.

Brandon played some of the third quarter and all of the fourth after George MacIntyre got clobbered and came up limping. Before that, George completed 13 of 17 nice, little passes for 109 yards.

Sub running back Javin Gordon carried 11 times for 78 yards.

The Aggies had one impressive drive – 61 yards in just six plays for a 7-3 lead early in the second quarter. The Vol front misaligned and freshman KJ Edwards popped through for 25 and the touchdown.

That was good for a 7-6 halftime lead. The Vols were superior in the second half.

“Extremely proud of our football team,” said Josh Heupel. “A lot of things this group was dealing with, injuries, the travel, getting in late. And ultimately deciding to prepare the right way, not let anything get in our way and competing really hard for four quarters.

“Elite defensive performance … shutout in the second half … really from start to finish, other than a couple of plays, just absolutely lights out.”

Heupel said what everybody could see.

“We got to get touchdowns instead of field goals, but Cooper (Ranvier), elite performance by him, special teams were solid all day. Proud of the offensive team, just continuing to strain. And quarterbacks, both of them, played really good football.”

The Vols did overcome disappointments and distractions that might have been excuses if they had lost. There were the national travel problems, broken routines and loss of sleep. They played without sacks leader Tyree Weathersby, lost for the season in the Kentucky game. They lost running back Daune Morris to a broken leg in a car wreck in the wee hours of Friday morning.

Starting offensive guard Nic Moore was sidelined by illness. Defensive tackle JJ Finch missed the game because of family concerns. They lost top receiver Mike Matthews to a knee injury in the second quarter. That looked really serious.

Coach Josh Heupel is interviewed following Tennessee’s 22-7 win over Texas A&M.

Heupel said “proud that no matter the circumstances, things that we don’t control, that they control their controllables — their preparation and mindset. This morning, the look in their eye, the build-up from pregame meal to kickoff, the competitive makeup of this group.

“To an outside world, that sounds easy.”

Heupel said it is hard when there are so many unknowns.

“I’m talking about Friday, getting ready to try to go play a football game. Really proud of the maturity of this group.”

The coach undoubtedly had more thoughts than words about Tennessee’s great opening drive– 16 plays, 70 yards, nine minutes and 28 seconds. It ended poorly, a few inches from a touchdown.

Tennessee sent in extra-large blockers. MacIntyre kept the ball on what might have been a handoff to Bishop. The quarterback lost four yards. Ranvier kicked a field goal.

“There’s some things we can take advantage of and be more efficient and change the way the game’s played,” said Heupel. “The first drive, pivotal, into the wind, drained a bunch of the clock and it was a good start. We got to get seven out of that. Just a couple of small details that we miss on.”

As is his style, the coach did some coaching.

“There are a lot of things that we got to continue to grow in down the stretch, next couple of weeks. But this football team is physical, they play hard, they play for one another, and it’s a lot of fun competing with them every Saturday.”

Scoring summary:

Tennessee 3 3 3 13 – 22

Texas A&M 0 7 0 0 – 7

• Tenn: Cooper Ranvier 23 field goal.
• A&M: KJ Edwards 25 run (David Olano kick).
• Tenn: Ranvier 30 field goal.
• Tenn: Ranvier 32 field goal.
• Tenn: DaSaahn Brame 5 pass from Faizon Brandon (Ranvier kick).
• Tenn: Ranvier 44 field goal.
• Tenn: Ranvier 27 field goal.

Marvin West welcomes comments and questions from readers at marvinwest75@gmail.com