LEXINGTON, Ky. — Tennessee football came to Kentucky with a much different team than they had in 2021. But the game style was very similar.
Both teams struggled to stop the other and Kentucky controlled the time of possessions. Both games ended the same way too— with Tennessee earning crucial road wins. The Vols leaned on their rushing attack and never trailed in a 33-27 victory.
Here’s four quick takeaways.
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Devin Leary Torches Tennessee
Things I didn’t see in the realm of possibility for this game. Kentucky and quarterback Devin Leary torching Tennessee through the air.
The Wildcats had been completely dependent on their running game to move the football this season, and Tennessee completely shut down Kentucky’s run game in the first half while Kentucky found constant success through the air.
But Leary and the passing attack picked Kentucky up. The Wildcats hit some quick hitters on empty sets but also hit passes over the top of Tennessee’s defense including a Barion Brown 32-yard catch and 11-yard touchdown on a fade.
Kamal Hadden’s absence no doubt made an impact but it was also the least effective Tennessee’s pass rush has been all season. The Vols couldn’t get home with four or on blitzes and Leary had a clean pocket to throw out of all day.
An offense that’s been dreadful on third-and-long this season converted a pair of third downs over five yards during first half scoring drives.
It was the best Leary has played all season as he completed 28-of-39 passes for 373 yards and two touchdowns. The passing yards and completion percentage were both season bests.
Long Touchdowns Critical For Tennessee
Tennessee’s offense has struggled sustaining long drives and finishing them with touchdowns all season. That continued as the Vols scored just one touchdown on three trips to the red zone.
But what Tennessee found against Kentucky that it’s been lacking all season is long, explosive touchdowns. While the red zone offense scuffled, the Vols found the end zone from long range.
Tennessee continued its opening drive success this season when Jaylen Wright broke off a 52-yard touchdown run to give the Vols a quick 7-0 lead. As good as Wright’s been all season he hasn’t broken many long runs. The touchdown against Kentucky was just his second of the season.
Three drives later, Tennessee moved the ball across midfield with its run game. Than it finally found a chunk passing play when Milton found Chas Nimrod all alone over top the Kentucky defense for a 39-yard touchdown.
Fourth Down Stops
Kentucky did a much better job of finishing drives with touchdowns than Tennessee did but the Vols’ defense found a way to even out that success by a handful of critical fourth down stops.
It started in the first quarter when the Wildcats rolled the dice on fourth-and-one at their own 34-yard line. Tyler Baron and Elijah Herring made them pay, blowing up a Ray Davis run for a fourth down stop.
The Wildcats’ second drive of the second half ended the same as their second drive of the first half. Kentucky went for it on fourth-and-six at Tennessee’s 34-yard line. The Vols brought the house and Tamarion McDonald had great coverage, knocking away a deep fade route as Tennessee got off the field.
Tennessee turned both those turnover on downs into field goals but that was just part of the story on a night the Vols’ moved the ball well. The two stops were absolutely massive and were two of just four stops for Tennessee’s defense on the night.
It wasn’t a turnover on downs. But Kentucky missing a 53-yard field goal to take the lead early in the fourth quarter was also a critical fourth down play. Tennessee turned that one into a touchdown.
Tennessee Dominates On The Ground
Tennessee ran for 254 yards against Kentucky. The Wildcats ran for just 72 yards against Tennessee. If you were told just those two things you would have assumed a Tennessee route. But for reasons already explained that was not the case.
But the Vols were able to consistently move the ball on the ground against Kentucky. Wright set the tone on the opening drive of the game and was dominant all night, totaling 120 yards on 11 carries. If anything, it was surprising Wright didn’t get more snaps and carries.
But Dylan Sampson was solid on the ground too and broke two tackles on a critical 12-yard touchdown as Tennessee finally finished a drive in the end zone.
Milton completed 85% of his passes against Kentucky and played well by his standards but it was Tennessee’s run game that made everything click for the Vols’ offense.
And on the other side, even as Kentucky continued to torch Tennessee through the air and loosen up the defense they found no success running the football. The Vols ability to control the ground game was extremely critical in the narrow victory.
