Happiness is winning without playing all that well and improving to 5-1 just in time for a really big game.
Tennessee survived at Arkansas, 24-17, Saturday evening. The Vols actually had to come from behind during a near-disastrous third quarter that created a question: which was worse, offense or defense?
In a very ugly 10-minute segment, the suddenly physical Razorbacks gained 133 yards and scored two touchdowns while limiting the Volunteers to one yard.
Tennessee picked up the pieces, put its act back together, took the lead, gave up a tying field goal, overcame George MacIntyre’s second interception and rode the strong horse, DeSean Bishop, to victory in the closing minutes.
The strong horse, DeSean Bishop, #18 gained 138 yards against Arkansas on 19 carries – averaging 7.3 yards per carry.
A 59-yard breakaway by Bishop launched the decisive possession. An eight-yard run by Bishop finished it.
MacIntyre, in his first start, was good (his team won) and bad (two picks and one fumble). He threw mostly short passes and completed 18 of 29. He hit a five-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Trent Thomas and was credited with 240 other yards. DaSaahn Brame, Braylon Staley, Mike Matthews and Daune Morris gained 200 of that after catches.
Brame, 6-5, 240-pound tight end deployed as a fullback, scored the other touchdown on a one-yard power play into the line.
Arkansas, supposedly the worst team in the Southeastern Conference, had lost to Utah by 33, Georgia by 28 and Texas A&M by 27. It did not seem intimidated by Tennessee.
Braylen Russell ran nine for one touchdown and KJ Jackson threw a four-yard pass to Jaden Platt for the other. Ex-Vol Max Gilbert kicked the 55-yard field goal.
Chris Marshall, the leading receiver in the SEC, caught seven for only 56 yards. Jackson, dual-threat QB, passed for 155 but finished minus-three as a runner.
Credit Josh Heupel with finding a silver lining.
“I love how we finished the last quarter and change, won the football game, outscored them, I think, 17-3. Guys were resilient, kept competing.”
There was a perfect example just before halftime. MacIntyre dropped the football. Defensive end Quincy Rhodes grabbed up the fumble and ran 58 yards toward a tying touchdown.
Vol wide receiver Radarious Jackson gave chase, finally ran him down and made the tackle at the 20.
Linebacker Amare Campbell #0 pressures Arkansas QB KJ Jackson.
“Huge. Huge play. Changed the game,” said Heupel. “It can change your season…big-time play …seven-point play.”
Silver lining? Heupel said there were some things the Vols didn’t execute, “just little things. We got to play smarter.”
Heupel really liked the resilience.
“No matter the circumstances they are going to play the next play.”
There was one late in the third quarter. After all the bad things had happened, after Arkansas had moved ahead, 14-7, MacIntyre made a winning play. He sidestepped the blitz and completed a pass to Staley that turned into a 22-yard gain.
“At that point in the game, it was critical,” said Heupel. “We were able to get points out of it.”
Kicker Ranvier
Indeed, Cooper Ranvier kicked a 49-yard field goal.
The first quarter was much to do about nothing. I thought the Vols were sleep-walking. Heupel switched to two tight ends in the second quarter and MacIntyre had time to complete five passes in a 71-yard drive to the Thomas touchdown.
The Vols were back in the red zone when MacIntyre lost the ball.
The Razorbacks shocked the Vol defense at the start of the third quarter – 70-yard drive in five plays.
Razorback offensive linemen seemed to knock the Vol defensive front backwards on the way to their other touchdown. That drive was 10 plays.
The Vols’ biggest gainer came early in the fourth quarter, a MacIntyre short completion to Brame that turned into 68 yards to the 6. Brame’s TD plunge made it 17-14.
Arkansas responded with the tying field goal.
MacIntyre’s second interception was not his fault. Somebody missed a block and a blitzing cornerback hit the quarterback’s arm. The Vol defense prevented further damage.
All that happened after that was Bishop won the game.
Scoring summary:
Tennessee 0 7 3 14 – 24
Arkansas 0 0 14 3 – 17
- TENN: Trent Thomas 5 pass from George MacIntyre (Cooper Ranvier kick).
- ARK: Braylen Russell 9 run (Max Gilbert kick).
- ARK: Jaden Platt 4 pass from KJ Jackson (Gilbert kick).
- TENN: Ranvier 49 FG.
- TENN: DaSaahn Brame 1 run (Ranvier kick).
- ARK: Gilbert 55 FG.
- TENN: Bishop 8 run (Ranvier kick).
Heupel credits power of prayer in Coach Inge recovery
Coach Inge
Tennessee linebacker coach William Inge, 52, had been in the hospital since before the Auburn game. UT announced he was dealing with a medical issue.
The news item said “Coach Inge and his family appreciate your prayers and support, and we ask that you respect their privacy at this time.”
Coach Inge sent a response.
“I am fighting this illness just like our team fights on Saturdays on the field. I look forward to supporting our team and wish them well tomorrow.”
Josh Heupel provided insight after the Arkansas game.
“Coach Inge faced a ton of adversity and was really fighting for his life and it kind of came out of nowhere.
“There are a lot of people that have been praying, our football family, university and our fans, too.
“It is rare in this world that you get to see a true miracle right before your eyes but that is truly what we have been able to see … what his family has been able to see … he is doing really well … he should be able to get out of the hospital the middle of next week, hopefully, and begin his rehab process.
“If you ever question the power of prayer, anybody that has seen this can attest to the power of prayer. I just want to thank our Vol family and people across the country inside college football that have had him in their prayers. Very thankful that he is coming out the other side of it.”
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Marvin West welcomes comments and questions from readers at marvinwest75@gmail.com Read more westwords. Follow KnoxTNToday on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn. Get all KnoxTNToday articles in one place with our free newsletter.
