Hendon Hooker and Cedric Tillman: Tennessee football’s dynamic duo.

They had some miscues early, but that didn’t stop Hendon Hooker and Cedric Tillman from coming through for Tennessee football when it mattered most. Hooker completed 27-of-42 passes for 325 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions while rushing for 27 yards.

Meanwhile, Cedric Tillman caught nine passes for 162 yards. The play of the game was in overtime. After a holding penalty put the Vols in danger in overtime, Hooker threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Tillman.

Defensive front was superb against the pass

Although they gave up a 76-yard touchdown run, the Vols’ defensive line still delivered a great performance because of what they did against the pass. They had one interception but should have had at least three given the deflections they had.

In terms of the pass rush, they had four sacks, including that strip-sack, which Tyler Baron had, and 16 hurries. This is what resulted in Kedon Slovis getting hurt in the first half, as he kept getting hit. That continued in the second half with Nick Patti.

The biggest play came in overtime, though, when a Trevon Flowers sack forced the Pittsburgh Panthers into a 4th and goal situation from the 20. That won the game.

Mirror image of 2021 matchup

In almost every way, Tennessee football’s loss to Pitt in 2021 mirrored their win at Pitt in 2022. The Vols jumped out to a 10-0 lead in 2021, their starting quarterback went down with an injury, and they blocked a punt.

All of those things happened the opposite way in this one. Pitt jumped out to a 10-0 lead, they blocked a punt, and their starting quarterback went down with an injury.

Sloppy play on special teams

Flowers made the most notable mistake, muffing a punt to allow Pitt to tie the game up late. However, that wasn’t the only crazy play that happened.

Both sides had an issue here but for different reasons. The Vols’ special teams issues came in the punt game. In addition to Flowers’ punt, they allowed a blocked punt, and Paxton Brooks shanked his first punt for only 30 yards.

However, the Vols got the advantage in place kicking. Chase McGrath made both of his field goal attempts, including a 52-yarder. Pitt missed two field goals,

Defense played bend but don’t break…until the end of regulation.

It was not your typical Josh Heupel game. The teams had a scoreless third quarter, and Pitt was controlling the tempo. Most notably, the Vols’ bend but don’t break defense was the story.

On their first three trips to the red zone, Pitt made two field goals and missed one. Two of those trips were off that blocked punt and a Jaylen Wright fumble.

The Vols also came away with an interception after Pitt got to their 21-yard line, they got a stop on 4th and 3 when Pitt got to their 27-yard line, and Pitt had another missed field goal after getting to their 28-yard line.

Pitt finally came through after Flowers’ muffed punt, though. Nick Patti threw a touchdown pass to Jared Wayne on 4th and 1 to tie it up.

The bend but don’t break worked again in overtime, though, as Tennessee football got that crucial sack on 3rd and goal. This proved to be a huge difference.

Veteran stars stepped up.

We already mentioned Hooker and Tillman. They stepped up when it mattered most, and that was key for the Vols. However, the defensive stars stepped up too.

Yes, Flowers muffed a punt, but he had the key sack in overtime. He was also the guy who sparked the Vols’ comeback from trailing 10-0 with an interception when Pitt was marching into Tennessee territory to potentially go up 17-0.

Also, when Pitt was inside the Tennessee 10 at one point in the second half, Byron Young came away with a crucial sack to force a field goal. All of these plays helped UT win.

Blocking was an issue.

It’s obviously somewhat on the running backs, but you have to question a performance in which Tennessee football averaged less than three yards a carry. They only had 91 yards all day.

However, the pass protection was once again a problem. Pitt came away with three sacks and stopped a potential game-winning drive in regulation by bringing pressure. When the Vols did have the ball, Hooker was under pressure a lot in the second half. He should’ve been sacked about three more times but used his mobility to avoid them.