Although Tennessee Football dominated the N.C. State Wolfpack Saturday night, the Vols struggled to break things open. Dave Doeren’s team worked the clock in the first quarter, as both teams traded punts to open their drives, and UT didn’t score its first points until the final minute of the quarter.
In the second quarter, N.C. State continued to hang around in Charlotte, as they came away with an interception and then managed to force a field goal while getting one of their own, so late in the first half, they were trailing just 10-3 with the ball and driving. Battered Vol Syndrome almost set in.
Against a top 25 ACC program at technically a neutral site, it felt like Tennessee Football might have to sweat out a win the way the Vols did two years ago at the Pittsburgh Panthers. Then the defense, which was superb all night, had the biggest play of the game.
Thanks to pressure from Joshua Josephs, NCSU quarterback Grayson McCall floated a pass. He tried to throw it over Joseph’s head, and it went too high. Walk-on defensive back Will Brooks picked it off and ran it back the other way for a touchdown. That’s right, a walk-on safety changed the game for the Vols.
With that play, Tennessee Football went up 17-3, allowing them to unleash their pass-rush on defense, which is their strongest asset. They got another stop and went up 20-3 at halftime before scoring a touchdown to open the second half, breaking things open en route to a 51-10 blowout win.
Taking a two-score lead is a huge advantage for Tennessee Football with that defensive line, and that put them in complete control. If Brooks doesn’t come away with that interception, perhaps the Vols don’t break it open, and it’s highly possible they are sweating until the fourth quarter.
