Tennessee football put together one of its best performances of the season and dominated Kentucky 56-34 on Saturday night in Lexington. The Vols defense had their struggles but created some big plays early while Tennessee’s offense was spectacular.
Here’s five critical moments from Tennessee’s lopsided win over the Wildcats.
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Farooq’s Big Play
Kentucky trailed 7-0 and faced third-and-10 at the Tennessee 44-yard line halfway through the first quarter. Tim Banks dialed up a blitz. Kentucky quarterback Cutter Boley got rid of it quick but a blitzing Edrees Farooq knocked it up in the air, ran under it for an interception and raced 45 yards for a Tennessee touchdown.
Farooq otherwise had a rough night but that play completely changed the game, giving the Vols a significant early lead and setting the tone for the game.
The Cartoon Fumble
Tennessee lead 21-7 late in the first quarter when Kentucky faced third-and-10 deep in its own territory. What proceeded was one of the more bizarre plays I’ve ever seen. I’ll allow the official game play-by-play to describe it.
“BOLEY, Cutter pass short up the middle complete for -7 yards to GILMORE IV, Hardley caught at the UK38, GILMORE IV, Hardley fumbled at UK43 forced by HOOD, Colton, recovered by UK MACLIN, Ja’Mori at the UK28, returned -16 yards, MACLIN, Ja’Mori fumbled at UK23 forced by CARTER, Boo, recovered by UT PERLOTTE, Jadon at the UK12 to the UK12 (HOOD, Colton), End of Play, clock 00:07. PENALTY UK Unnecessary Roughness on BRAUN, Joshua enforced half the distance from the goal, 6 yards from the end of the play at the UK12 to the UK6, from the spot of the ball when the foul occurred, -23 yards credited to passer and receiver on the play.”
Three fumbles on one play and then an unnecessary roughness on Kentucky set Tennessee up with first-and-goal. It took the Vols four plays but they punched it in from their with DeSean Bishop scoring from one-yard out on fourth down.
The early second quarter touchdown gave Tennessee a 28-7 lead. Kentucky never had the ball down by one-score again.
An Efficient Two-Minute Drill
Tennessee played very poorly in the second quarter after scoring to go up 28-7. After Kentucky found the end zone on a 16-play, 96-yard touchdown drive with 1:37 to play in the first half, it looked like the Wildcats would get the ball back trailing by just one score to open the second half.
Joey Aguilar and the Vols’ offense had other ideas. Tennessee marched 75 yards down the field on 10 plays to score a touchdown with five seconds left in the half. Aguilar connected with Radarious Jackson, Braylon Staley and Ethan Davis to set Tennessee up at the 13-yard line with 10 seconds remaining in the half. That’s when Aguilar found Davis down the seam for an easy touchdown.
The touchdown gave Tennessee a comfortable two-score lead at halftime. It also was all the more sweet after the Vols’ end of half debacle the week before and some of their two-minute drill issues this season.
A Well Timed Lone Sack
Tennessee’s pass rush was not great against Kentucky for most the night but it got its one lone sack at a crucial spot. After having it first-and-10 at the Tennessee 39-yard line to begin the second half, the Vols pushed Kentucky back into third-and-14.
A decent gain could have moved Kentucky into field goal range or more likely set them up for a manageable fourth down try. Instead, Dominic Bailey pushed them into an obvious punt situation by sacking Boley for a a nine-yard loss.
A bad punt gave Tennessee the ball back leading by 14 points early in the second half.
Aguilar To Matthews Is The Dagger
Aguilar was phenomenal throwing the ball ball against Kentucky. Perhaps his best play of the night came on the second play of the drive following the Bailey sack.
The veteran Aguilar did a fantastic job of climbing the pocket and then delivered a really nice deep ball to Mike Matthews in one-on-one coverage. Matthews tracked it masterfully and hauled in the pass for a 62-yard touchdown.
It gave Tennessee a 21-point lead in the third quartern and Kentucky was never close to recovering. In fact, the Vols’ lead would never again be less than 21 points.
