It was ugly, but a win is a win. Tennessee football scored a critical 41-34 overtime victory over the Mississippi State Bulldogs Saturday to enter the bye week 4-1 and 1-1 in SEC play. Ranked No. 15 in both polls, the Vols shouldn’t apologize for beating an undefeated SEC team on the road. Here are five things we learned from UT’s thrilling win.
Vols brought the pressure
Mississippi State seemed to have trouble protecting Blake Shapen against the Arizona State Sun Devils, and Tim Banks cashed in on that scouting report. Banks brought players all night, and the Vols cashed in with five sacks, including one and a half from Caleb Herring and two from Tyre West, who also had a strip-sack in this game, which leads to our next point.
Defensive scores made the difference
West’s strip-sack was recovered by Joshua Josephs, who ran it in for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to give Tennessee football a 27-24 lead at the time. It was the second defensive touchdown for the Vols in the game, as Colton Hood had a pick-six in the first quarter for UT’s first touchdown of the day. An opportunistic defense was the difference.
Officiating, coaching held Vols back
SEC officials need to be held accountable at some point. A horrible pass interference call on Hood in the first half and then a horrible offensive PI on a Chris Brazzell II touchdown almost cost the Vols. Josh Heupel almost cost them too, as he let the clock run at the end of the first and second halves in a shootout. This is the second of two SEC games in which he almost cost UT, and that needs to be called out.
Butterfingers continue
Across the board, Tennessee football has an issue catching the ball. UT had a muffed punt return for the second straight week, this time by Braylon Staley, which set up an MSU touchdown. Then Miles Kitselman dropped two passes that resulted in interceptions. Mike Matthews dropped a sure touchdown pass, and Staley himself had a drop. These issues can’t continue if the Vols are going to succeed.
Joey Aguilar is clutch
Despite his recklessness, Joey Aguilaer isn’t scared. The Tennessee football quarterback led an effective game-winning drive against the Georgia Bulldogs two weeks ago and led a 75-yard touchdown drive with the Vols trailing 34-27 in this one. Aguilar isn’t phased by the moment, and that will come in handy once the Vols get fully healthy.
