No. 12 Tennessee pulls away from No. 16 Florida

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Breaking down No. 12 Tennessee’s 38-28 win against No. 16 Florida on Saturday:

THE BIG PICTURE: It wasn’t exactly how Butch Jones (or anyone associated with Tennessee, really) would have envisioned it. But the way the Vols stormed back from a huge deficit – they were booed off the field at halftime, trailing 21-3 — to emphatically end that 11-game losing streak to Florida might pay dividends in Jones’ rebuilding process. Tennessee managed only three points in three trips inside the Florida 10 in the first half, and it seemed the Vols were headed to the kind of loss that leaves a fan base questioning not just what happened in one game, but also the overall direction of the program. But in the second half, Joshua Dobbs began finding receivers. The Vols started scoring touchdowns. And suddenly, all was right on Rocky Top.

WHAT WE’LL BE TALKING ABOUT: Depends on your perspective. Tennessee becomes your leader in the SEC East – in the standings, but almost as important, in perception. After spotting the Gators that three-touchdown lead, the Vols’ passing game came to life. Dobbs had started 1-of-8, though several of those were drops, but cracked the code of Florida’s talented defense. Dobbs threw for 319 yards and four touchdowns.

Meanwhile, Florida got decent play early from backup quarterback Austin Appleby, who started because of Luke Del Rio’s sprained knee. But in the second half, the Gators couldn’t move the ball – just 8 yards in the third quarter. Florida’s first five possessions of the second half: five three-and-outs. The sixth was a bad interception by Appleby.

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KEY PLAY: Trailing 21-17 early in the fourth quarter, the Vols took a shot after a first down – and hit. Joshua Dobbs threw deep for sophomore receiver Jauan Jennings, was wide open streaking down the Tennessee sidelines. He’d gotten so far behind the secondary because Florida cornerback Jalen Tabor slipped. Jennings hauled in the pass, tiptoed along the sideline, and then raced the rest of the way 67 yards into the end zone for the Vols’ first lead.

KEY PLAY, II: Less than a minute after Tennessee took the lead, Florida quarterback Austin Appleby made a critical mistake. Under heavy pressure, he danced and somehow avoided several sacks. But then, as he rolled out of the pocket, suddenly free, he fired an ill-advised pass downfield. The easy interception by Todd Kelly set up another Tennessee touchdown.

THE TWEET:

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