Tennessee Football: Florida Gators Chomp Down On Vols, Win 31-17 In Knoxville

The upset-minded Tennessee Volunteers played host to the Florida Gators Saturday afternoon in Knoxville in the SEC opener for the Eastern Division rivals. A sellout crowd of 102,455 filled Neyland Stadium, most in hopes of a resurgence on Rocky Top.  With a history of championship implications on the line, it was the Gators and the Vols for the 40th time in football history. 

Tennessee's first-year head coach, Derek Dooley, was looking for his first SEC win and trying to to put a halt to Urban Meyer's five-game winning streak against the Vols. Neither happened.  

Tennessee opened the scoring with 1:22 left in the first quarter, on a 49-yard field goal by Daniel Lincoln. 

Lincoln's boot was set-up after the Vols' defense held the Gators on a 4th-and-1 rushing attempt by the Gators' Jeff Demps.  Florida opened the second quarter scoring on a two-yard touchdown run by Mike Gillislee that capped a nine-play, 42-yard drive.

After another three-and-out for the Tennessee offense, Florida return man Janoris Jenkins muffed a punt and Tennessee's Nick Reveiz recovered.

The Vols looked to be in great scoring shape after quarterback Matt Simms connected with Zach Rogers for a 33-yard completion down to the Gators' seven-yard-line.

With the Vols struggling to get the ground game going, Simms' pass attempt on 3rd-and-goal from the one-yard-line, intended for Da'Rick Rogers, was intercepted in the end zone by Florida middle linebacker Jonathan Bostic. 

Florida carried a 7-3 lead into the locker room at the half in this defensive struggle, while managing only 95 yards of total offense.  The Vols were even worse, with only 69 yards of offense.

The Gators, who are now 53-3 when leading at the half under Meyer, opened the scoring in the second half on a 44-yard field goal by Caleb Sturgis with 10:35 remaining in the third quarter.

Tennessee answered quickly 1:26 later on a 49-yard touchdown strike from Simms to wide receiver Denarius Moore to even the score at 10.

It seemed as if the Vols had momentum on their side.

On Florida's next possession, the Vols stopped the Gators again on third down.  But Coach Meyer reached into his bag of tricks, pulling out a fake punt and converting for his eighth time in as many attempts while at Florida.

Upback Omarius Hines took the direct snap from center and rambled 36 yards, clearly giving the momentum back to the Gators.  Six plays later, on 3rd-and-goal from the eight-yard-line, Florida quarterback John Brantley hit a wide open Frankie Hammond, Jr. in the back of the end zone for a Gator touchdown.

With Florida leading 17-10, the momentum kept rolling their way.

Tennessee's next possession ended on Matt Simms' second interception, setting-up a short field for the Gators.  It was Mike Gillislee again capping the Florida drive, this time from five yards out, to run the lead to 24-10 at the end of the third quarter.

The fourth quarter gave VolNation reason for hope when Jeff Demps had the ball stripped away by Tennessee's Austin Johnson.  After review, the Vols were awarded possession on their own 49-yard-line.

Simms then found a wide open Justin Hunter on 4th-and-6 for a 35-yard touchdown pass to cut the Gator lead to 24-17 with plenty of time remaining.

But Florida answered right back, with Trey Burton capping Florida's final scoring drive with a two-yard run.  Tennessee's final two possessions ended with a fumble by Tauren Poole and a turnover on downs.

 Final Score:  Florida, 31, Tennessee, 17

The Gators improve to 3-0 as they return home next week to take on the Kentucky Wildcats.  The loss drops the Vols to 1-2, as they finish out their opening four-game homestand next week by hosting UAB. 

Vol Notes

QB Matt Simms finished up with 19-31 passing for 256 yards, two TDs, and two INTs. 

Tauren Poole, the SEC's leading rusher entering the game, was shut down by the Gator defense, gaining just 23 yards on 11 carries.  The Vols were penalized nine times for 53 yards and committed three turnovers.

The Vols were just 2-of-13 on third down attempts for a 15 percent success rate.

Gator Notes

QB Jeff Brantley ended up 14-of-23 for 167 yards and a touchdown.

Jeffrey Demps gained 72 yards on the ground in 26 attempts.  Gators have now beaten the Vols six straight times.  Florida was penalized five times for 25 yards and committed two turnovers.

The Gators were an effective 8-for-14, or 57 percent, on third-down attempts.