Mississippi State
2-5 , 1-3
Tennessee
3-4 , 1-3
Second-Half Surge Propels Volunteers Past Bulldogs, 34-3
October 18, 2008 | Football
? Official Statistics
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee held a slim 6-3 halftime lead but posted four unanswered touchdowns in the second half, two on fourth-quarter interception returns, to defeat visiting Mississippi State 34-3 Saturday night at Neyland Stadium. With the loss, MSU fell to 2-5 overall, 1-3 in Southeastern Conference play. UT improved to 3-4 on the season while gaining its first league victory of the year, improving to 1-3 in the SEC. The Volunteers have now won the last six meetings in the series and nine of the last 10 against the Bulldogs. UT extended its mild halftime lead on its first drive of the second half, set up by a big kickoff return. The Volunteers then drove the ball 53 yards on 10 plays. A Nick Stephens 20-yard pass to Austin Rogers was initially called a touchdown, but was ruled down on the half-yard line after review. Two plays later, Montario Hardesty dove in to give Tennessee a 13-3 lead with 10 minutes to go in the third. Though State could not muster any points during the next 14-plus minutes of play, the Vols did not score either during that time period and the game was still very much anyone's to win until the 10:37 mark of the fourth period. It was then that UT's Eric Berry intercepted a Tyson Lee pass that had bounced off a fellow UT defender and returned it 72 yards for a touchdown. Daniel Lincoln's extra point gave the Volunteers a commanding 20-7 lead. Tennessee would solidify its lead just three plays later when Lee was picked off again, this time by Demetrice Morley, who returned it 32 yards for a 27-3 Vol advantage. The Volunteers added a late touchdown as well, driving 51 yards on 12 plays. Running back Lennon Creer accounted every yard of the drive, including a 1-yard scoring plunge with 2:39 remaining in regulation. The teams went scoreless for the entire first period of the game. State appeared as if it was going to take the early lead on the opening drive of the night, marching 62 yards on 13 plays to the UT 22-yard line where the drive stalled. Adam Carlson's 40-yard field goal attempt then missed wide left on the only real scoring threat from either team in quarter one. The Volunteers finally broke scoring ice just under four minutes into the second quarter. UT drove 47 yards on 10 plays to the MSU 19 before Lincoln nailed a 36-yard field goal to hand the Vols a 3-0 lead with 11:17 before halftime. State would answer that with a 10-play, 44-yard drive that was halted on the Tennessee 26. From there, Carlson connected on a 43-yard field goal and the teams were tied 3-3 with 6:34 to go before the intermission. The Vols mounted one more drive just before halftime, amassing 63 yards on 11 plays to the Bulldog 11. Lincoln hit again, this time a chip shot from 28 yards, and UT led 6-3 at the break. State now returns home to host its next two contests. MSU will host Middle Tennessee next Saturday, Oct. 25, in a 6 p.m. CT Homecoming matchup before welcoming Kentucky on Nov. 1. Game time against the Wildcats is still to be announced.
? Official Statistics (PDF)
? Postgame Notes & Quotes (PDF)
Team Stats
MS 0, UT 3
UT - Daniel Lincoln 36 yd field goal 10 plays, 47 yards, TOP 4:32
MS 3, UT 3
MS - Adam Carlson 43 yd field goal 10 plays, 44 yards, TOP 4:35
MS 3, UT 6
UT - Daniel Lincoln 28 yd field goal 10 plays, 63 yards, TOP 5:18
MS 3, UT 13
UT - M. Hardesty 1 yd run (Daniel Lincoln kick), 11 plays, 53 yards, TOP 4:51
MS 3, UT 20
UT - Eric Berry 72 yd interception (Daniel Lincoln kick)
MS 3, UT 27
UT - D. Morley 32 yd interception (Daniel Lincoln kick)
MS 3, UT 34
UT - Lennon Creer 1 yd run (Daniel Lincoln kick), 12 plays, 51 yards, TOP 5:31
