No. 15 Tennessee Struggles To Put Away Ohio, 28-19

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – In another underwhelming performance that left Tennessee fans nervous wrecks and Florida’s Gators licking their chops, the Vols managed to stave off an upset at the hands of Ohio University and remain unbeaten with a 28-19 victory over the Bobcats.

“Our goal was to be 3-0 at this point, and we are 3-0,” Tennesse coach Butch Jones said. “But I think everyone will tell you that we have to get a lot better as we start conference play next week.”

Amen, brother Jones.

With 101,362 fans squirming through another game with portions so unimpressive that they worry Florida will come into town next week and demolish a team that has proven it can consistently play down to its competition.

The question remaining is: Can Tennessee play up to a nemesis rival that owns the Vols, whether they play in Knoxville or Gainesville? The Gators have won 11 straight against the Vols. That’s more like a spear in Tennessee’s side than a thorn.

“We are excited for SEC football,” said quarterback Joshua Dobbs, who threw a pair of 20-yard touchdown passes to wide receiver Josh Malone and rushed for a third. “It’s hard to win in college football. As a competitor I want the ball in my hands. That’s my mindset in every game I step on the field.”

Twice the Bobcats (1-2), now 0-123 all-time versus top-tier FBS schools, trimmed their deficit to two points only to see the Vols extend the margin back to nine points.

The Vols, who have won nine straight games (that’s the longest streak in Jones’ career), dodged so many bullets during the game the brick walls around Shields-Watkins Field had pock-marks.

Four times Ohio had chances to score touchdowns and had to settle for Louie Zervous field goals. That enabled Tennessee to take a shaky 14-12 to the locker room at halftime.

“You don’t want to kick field goals, but you want to keep yourself within a score of your opponent” Ohio coach Frank Solich said. “And we were able to do that.”

The Vols fumbled five times and recovered five. In three games, butter-fingered Tennessee has fumbled nine times and recovered eight.

“It was very frustrating,” Bobcats defensive lineman Tarell Basham said.

Do that next Saturday and the outcome will be totally different.

“I’m not happy with it,” Jones said. “Penalties are inexcusable. The balls on the ground are inexcusable. I am pulling my hair out because we have never coached a football team that has been like that.”

The Vols were slapped with nine penalties for 94 yards and twice had two penalties on the same play.

Tennessee went into the game minus nickel-back Malik Foreman, middle linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr., defensive lineman LaTroy Lewis and cornerback Justin Martin. Foreman was suspended and the others were injured.

During the game All-SEC cornerback Cameron Sutton was lost due to an injury and linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin, both due to injuries. Jones said Sutton “will be out for an extended period of time.”

 “I feel for (Sutton’s) family,” Jones said. “He’s a role model. Give me 11 Cam Suttons, and we will win a lot of football games.”

Listening to Jones’ tone when describing Sutton’s status, it could be that the rest of the  season could be in jeopardy. Jones expects to know more on Sunday.

Colton Jumper, former Baylor School standout, played for Kirkland Jr. Freshman Baylen Buchanan subbed in for Sutton. Jumper had a career-best seven tackles. Buchanan notched five stops.

“When (Sutton) went down, it was just like, all right I have to step in,” said Buchanan, who is from Lawrenceville, Ga. “I didn’t want to let my team down.”

The game’s outcome was in doubt until Tennessee a second 20-yard hookup from Dobbs to Malone early in the fourth quarter. That combination clicked for the Vols’ first TD on the opening drive.

A few minutes earlier, the Bobcats pulled to within 21-19 on a Greg Windham-to-Jordan Reid pass play covering 4 yards.

Three minutes before that, Tennessee built a 21-12 advantage when Dobbs ran 13 yards for a touchdown. He finished with 59 rushing yards and

The 15^th-ranked Vols started the game quickly, something they haven’t done much so far this season, scoring on their first possession on a Dobbs-to-Malone pass, also for 20 yards.

Dobbs, who completed 19 of 27 passes for 203 yards, hit Jauan Jennings on an 18-yard pass play that was first ruled a touchdown. Upon review, the play was reversed and the ball was marked at the Bobcats’ 1.

Jalen Hurd scored on the next play for the Vols’ second touchdown with 11:49 left in the second quarter. That was the extent of Tennessee’s first-half scoring.

While the Bobcats couldn’t crack paydirt, they got four first-half field goals from Louie Zervos of 38, 29, 30 and 30 yards and trailed 14-12 at halftime.

In the second quarter, Ohio was dominating the play and outgained the Vols 153-17.

Yet, the Vols still had the lead. And that gives Vols “Nervous Nellies” some jittery moments. In 2015, the Vols lost several late leads, including games against Oklahoma and Florida.

Dobbs opened the third-quarter scoring with his 13-yard run with 4:57 on the clock. The play capped a seven-play, 55-yard drive in 2 minutes, 37 seconds.

But the Bobcats, 0-2 against the Vols, had an answer: Windham’s short pass to Reid. Ohio went 75 yards in eight plays and used up 3:48 on the drive.

Backed up to their 10, the Vols got a 28-yard run from Hurd to the Bobcats’ 47 in the drive. Dobbs found Malone, fast becoming the quarterback’s favorite receiver, on the duo’s second 20-yard scoring reception.

Malone was the Vols’ top receiver with five catches for 69 yards.

“I know if I run my route the right way and get open, Dobbs will put the ball where I will be able to make a play on it,” said Malone

Alvin Kamara led Tennessee’s ground game with 67 yards on 11 carries while Hurd finished with 61 yards on 15 tries. It was Hurd’s second straight game under 100 yards after surpassing the century barrier in four consecutive games.

Windham passed for 230 yards and a touchdown for the Bobcats and Sebastian Smith had nine catches for 156 yards, the single most impressive effort of the day.

“It’s the first time (Smith) has been healthy,” Solich said. “He hasn’t had many practices, so I think he tired out some, but kept battling. He can make the tough catch.”

SCORING

Ohio University                 6 6 7 0 – 19

Tennessee                          7 7 7 7 – 28

First Quarter 

UT – Josh Malone 20 pass from Joshua Dobbs (Aaron Medley kick), 14:22

OU – FG Louie Zervos 38, 8:45

OU – FG Zervos 29, 3:04

Second Quarter

UT – Jalen Hurd 1 run (Medley kick), 14:38

OU – FG Zervos 30, 11:49

OU – FG Zervos 30, 6:02

Third Quarter

UT – Dobbs 13 run (Medley kick), 4:57

OU – Reid 13 pass from Windham (Zervos kick), 1:09

Fourth Quarter

UT – Malone 20 pass from Dobbs (Medley kick), 11:07

Attendance: 101,362

YARDSTICK

                                          OU                         UT

First Downs                      17                           23

Rushes-Yards                  30-88                     42-201

Passing Yards                  230                        203

Comp-Att-Int                    23-46-0                 19-27-1

Plays-Total Yds               76-318                   69-404

Fumbles-Lost                  1-0                         5-0

Punts-Avg                        7-42.4                   6-39.3

Penalties-Yds                   5-30                      9-94

INDIVIDUALS

RUSHING – Ohio: Greg Windham 9-39, Dorian Brown 8-22, Papi White 8-21, Victor Emanuele 5-6; Tennessee: Alvin Kamara 11-67, Jalen Hurd 15-61, Joshua Dobbs 14-59, John Kelly 2-14.

PASSING: Ohio: Windham 23-46-0-230; Tennessee: Dobbs 19-27-1-203.

RECEIVING – Ohio: Sebastian Smith 9-156, Jordan Reid 4-29, Brendan Cope 4-20, Troy Mangen 2-13, White 2-6, Kyle Belack 1-5, Morgan Mason 1-1; Tennessee: Josh Malone 5-69, Jason Croom 3-54, Preston Williams 3-25, Jauan Jennings 3-24, Tyler Byrd 2-15, Kamara 2-9, Ethan Wolf 1-7.

(Contact Larry Fleming at larryfleming44@gmail.com and on Twitter @larryfleming44)