The game bombed badly as a beauty contest but Tennessee was tough enough at Pittsburgh to validate pre-season optimism.
In a thrilling rough-and-tumble clash that included potential disaster by the special team, painful penalties, relentless defense and just enough brilliant plays, the Volunteers defeated the Pitt Panthers in overtime, 34-27, in the Johnny Majors Classic.
There is an old football saying: Any victory on the road is good. Any win over a nationally ranked foe is very good.
That does not say the Vols played a good game. There were far too many errors. This result does lift the Vols to 2-0. Akron is the next “challenge.”
Will Tennessee turn into a really good team? It’s too early to tell. Florida follows Akron. LSU and Alabama are back-to-back in early October. A little later there will be Kentucky and Georgia
The cold, hard facts from Saturday: The Vols weren’t ready when the fight started. They twice trailed by 10 but by intermission, they were on top by a touchdown and had knocked out Panthers’ quarterback Kedon Slovis.
The third quarter was scoreless. Lowlights were a second down and 31 to go and a blocked punt. Pitt got even late. Tennessee helped. Trevon Flowers fumbled a punt.
Hendon Hooker to Cedric Tillman, 28 yards, won the game.
“Man, it’s a big win for our football team,” said Josh Heupel.
The coach was asked if this was his favorite Tennessee victory.
“I don’t know if you have one favorite. It’s my favorite win of this week.”
The coach praised the defense. Aaron Beasley made 14 tackles. Flowers intercepted a pass. I was impressed by the courage and determination. Pitt running back Israel Abanikanda gained 154 yards and a touchdown but Tennessee never stopped trying to get him on the ground.
“Awesome to come out on top in this one against a really good football team … it was fun to watch the team compete. ….”
Defensive tackle Omari Thomas, one of the tough guys up front, repeated a descriptive word made famous by Coach Majors.
“It was a slobberknocker.”
Slovis undoubtedly agreed. The Pitt QB was hit (hard) repeatedly as or after he threw passes. Defensive end Tyler Baron sacked him and caused a fumble in the closing seconds of the second quarter. Thomas recovered. Slovis did not play in the second half.
Tillman used one of General Robert Neyland’s maxims to explain the Vol comeback from the slow start.
“If things don’t go your way, put on more steam.”
Tillman caught nine passes for 162 yards and the deciding TD. Jalin Hyatt caught 11 for 73.
There isn’t enough space to list all the negatives. Hooker misfired. Tillman didn’t catch everything he touched. Tennessee was penalized seven times for 70 yards. One illegal block, in overtime, made a difficult situation more difficult. It erased a Hooker touchdown run.
The quarterback was not terribly disturbed. He just threw the ball to Tillman.
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Heupel had an interesting postgame reaction to Flowers’ muffed punt.
“He was able to reset after that play. There was the look in his eyes.”
Heupel said he could tell Trevon was disappointed but he saw the fight was still there.
“It showed in the way that he finished the game.”
Flowers sacked sub quarterback Nick Patti in the closing seconds of overtime.
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Chase McGrath’s 51-yard field goal in the fourth quarter was his first over 50 as a Vol. He hit a 52-yarder while kicking for Southern Cal.
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Tennessee improved to 14-9 in overtime games. It was the Vols’ first victory in an overtime contest since 2017 against Georgia Tech in Atlanta.
Marvin West welcomes comments or questions from readers. His address is marvinwest75@gmail.com