There is plenty of blame to go around as Tennessee Football lost 19-14 to the Arkansas Razorbacks on the road Saturday night. Nico Iamaleava choked on the final drive, Josh Heupel’s play-calling was baffling, and the pass protection was awful. There was no excuse to lose to a team that lost its starting quarterback late.
However, all of this became a story because of one penalty that changed the flow of the game. At the start of the fourth quarter, the Vols were about to get the ball back up 14-10 after forcing a three-and-out. They seemed in control despite a horrendous first half which ended with them trailing 3-0.
UT opened the second half with two straight touchdown drives. Arkansas then scored and forced a punt, providing a scare trailing 14-10. Tennessee Football, however, got the stop and was set to get the ball back with a rushing attack that had found its groove in the second half.
On 4th and 2, Arkansas punted, and Heupel inexplicably allowed Jordan Ross to try to block it off the edge. Ross got close, but he instead just ran into punter Devin Bale. That kept the Hogs’ drive alive, and they marched down the field for a field goal.
Of course, they should have gotten a touchdown, but Taylen Green got hurt, and a series of high snaps killed their drive when they got inside the UT two-yard line. They ended up settling for three to trail 14-13, but it was the momentum they needed to set up that game-winning touchdown drive.
As a result, Tennessee Football has suffered its first loss on the year. More things about the Vols, including Iamaleava’s clutch gene, were exposed as well. Taking that into account, UT has plenty to work on after this one, but it was mostly revealed because of that penalty. Ross saved an Arkansas drive that sent the Vols back into panic mode.
