Bonts: Gators Lucky Vols Were Asleep at the Wheel in Thwarted Comeback
KNOXVILLE - Not sure what happened.
Jaylen Wright’s touchdown run gave Tennessee a 38-21 lead over
Florida with 7:55 remaining in Saturday’s SEC matchup in Knoxville
The Tennessee defense must have thought the Gator was in the
bag.
Two Florida touchdowns and a successful onside kick with 17
seconds to play the Gators were on the verge on beating the Volunteers again.
“Yeah, make a play. We did not want them to sit back there
and pat it all day long and find a way to get off the football field and come
away with a win,” said Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel. “Obviously, the hands
team must find a way to come up with that one on the second attempt, and there
are some things we could do better. Clock management could change that too.”
After letting Florida back in the game Kamal Hadden
intercepted a pass from Gators QB Anthony Richardson on the final play of the
game to seal the victory.
Richardson is being heralded as coming of age as a starting
QB in the late rally. His passes, his timing, his leadership. Not his driving,
but okay. We get it.
Florida took the ball 75 yards in 10 plays on its next
possession to make it an 11-point game. Running back Montrell Johnson Jr.
carried the ball around the left end from five yards out, and a two-point
conversion pass attempt fell incomplete to leave the Gators trailing, 38-27,
with 4:49 left on the clock.
After Tennessee
recovered the ensuing onside kick at its own 49, the Vol offense milked the
clock down to 1:11 before turning it over on downs.
Florida took advantage, scoring with 17 seconds left on a
three-yard pass from Richardson to receiver Ricky Pearsall. Richardson's
two-point pass attempt was off target, leaving the score 38-33 Vols with 17
seconds remaining.
Florida attempted another onside kick, and this time the
Gators recovered at their own 47 with 16 ticks left. Three plays later,
however, Hadden eliminated the threat with a game-ending pick.
What I don’t get is the Jimmy Hoffa act by the Tennessee
defense with eight minutes to play in the game. It disappeared. Hadden’s timely
pick notwithstanding.
Was it a prevent defense, the scheme or over confidence? That
is something the undefeated Vols need to figure out.
Tennessee is idle next weekend before returning to action on
Oct. 8, when the Vols face LSU at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.
Florida plays Eastern Washington this week in Gainesville.
They will take out their frustration of being 0-2 in the SEC East on them.
The Eagles lost 50-31 at home against Buffalo on Saturday
and were obliterated 70-14 two weeks ago at Oregon in their only crack against
an FBS opponent this season.
(Mike Bonts covers the SEC)
