Despite another poor offensive performance, Tennessee football knocked off rival Florida 23-17 on Saturday night at Neyland Stadium.
Each week, we take a look at five critical moments that tell the story of how the game played out. Here’s a look at five critical moments from the Vols’ second win over Florida in their last three tries.
More From RTI: See The PFF Grades From Tennessee’s Win Over Florida
Fumbled Exchange
After two poor games beforehand, Tennessee’s offense desperately needed to start fast against Florida. And the first drive looked great to start.
Nico Iamaleava made a pair of plays in the passing game, connecting with Squirrel White for gains of 14 and 24 yards. The Vols were finding some rhythm in the run game and had it third-and-one at the Florida 24-yard line.
That’s when Iamaleava fumbled trying to pull the ball out of Dylan Sampson’s stomach on a read option. After looking poised for points on the game’s opening drive, a self inflicted mistake bit Tennessee’s offense badly. It was a synopsis for the Vols’ offensive issues all night and a blow early.
Goal Line Fumble
The first half felt much like the first half of the Tennessee-Arkansas game a week earlier. Florida had a number of scoring chances that they failed to capitalize on in the first half.
None was greater than when the Gators had it first-and-goal at the one-yard line with three minutes to play in the first half. Florida went right to the quarterback sneak and that’s when James Pearce made the biggest play of his career, stripping Mertz and recovering the fumble at the one-yard line.
In such a low scoring game, every single point was very valuable. Pearce saved seven on a game changing play.
Florida Butchers The End Of First Half
Florida wasn’t yet done butchering prime first half scoring opportunities. Nico Iamaleava threw an interception the drive after the Gators’ goal line fumble and a John Campbell personal foul gave Florida the ball at Tennessee’s 11-yard line with 1:11 to play.
But the Gators somehow didn’t score. A false start put Florida in first-and-15 but the trouble didn’t really begin until Boo Carter blew up a second down tunnel screen. The clock kept on ticking with the Gators out of timeouts and when Carter and Omarr Norman-Lott sacked Mertz the ensuing play the race was on for Florida to get its field goal unit on the field.
They did, just in time, as Trey Smack booted in a 43-yard field goal as the first half expired. Only there were 12 Gators on the field. The kick was taken off the board and the 10 second run off ended the first half with the game still 3-0. Again, every point was extremely important.
A Remarkable Momentum Swing
When Mertz connected with Arlis Boardingham for a 13-yard touchdown to put Florida up 10-0 midway through the third quarter, the Vols seemed all but dead. Then a remarkable momentum swing occurred. It started first with Mertz suffering a non contact injury after the play that ended his day.
Then Tennessee’s offense found life for the first time since it’s opening drive, going 75 yards on 11 plays for a touchdown. One play on that drive that I want to touch on because of how sneaky important it proved. On second-and-10 at the Florida 15-yard line, Tennessee threw a swing pass to Dylan Sampson.
Florida had it blown up but Sampson wiggled free and gained eight yards. Two plays later the Vols scored their first touchdown of the night.
On the first ensuing drive, Arion Carter intercepted DJ Lagway and set Tennessee up for a game tying field goal. This was a little more than one moment, but it was a game changing sequence.
Bryson Eason Blows Up The Screen
Tennessee’s defense failed to seal the game in regulation but they won the game in overtime. A Florida false start pushed the Gators into second-and-15. Bryson Eason then made one of the biggest plays of the game, blowing up a screen pass for a five-yard loss.
Florida got six yards back with a conservative play call on third down but Trey Smack’s 47-yard field goal missed wide right.
Five plays later, Dylan Sampson scored from a yard out to give Tennessee a 23-17 win.
