2023 Week 17

Tennessee vs. Georgia Tech. Once SEC rivals, so this meant the bowl game would have an extra flair to it, and it did not disappoint. This game is by far one of the better lesser bowl match-ups.

Georgia Tech started out of the gates with a 13 yard touchdown strike from Daniels to Johnson. In the second quarter the Vols were driving for some points and that is when Mitchell decided to have a A.J. Suggs brain-fart and throw a strike going 85 yards for the interception. Tech was solidly leading 14-0, but Tennessee would not give up.

Seeing how the Tech defense was eating up Justin Smith on the ground, Coach Batten called a pass play and for once Mitchell was on the money for a touchdown. It was a beautiful 28 yard strike to Doug Walker who had no room to spare for this corner end-zone catch. Later in the half, Tennessee managed to get the ball back and drove 24 yards to set up a perfect Jake Barr 51 yard field goal. Now Tech led 14-10.

Starting off with the ball in the second half, Tennessee's offense was finding a good rhythm as Mark Mitchell hit Doug Walker for another strike. This time it was only for 23 yards. Tennessee now had a 17-14 lead. Firing on all cylinders today, Tennessee got the ball back again and Jake Barr tacked on another field goal, a 44 yarder, to put the lead at 20-14.

Starting off in the fourth quarter, Tennessee was bound and determined to win this game, so Batten called a pass again. Mark Mitchell was acting like a senior QB as he rolled to the left and found Justin Smith wide-ass open in the end-zone for a strike. Coach Batten seized upon momentum and called in Cedric Washington to tack on two points and managed to get hit at the line but fall forward. Tennessee lead 28-14 late in the fourth.

It took Georgia Tech about two minutes to manage a drive and managed to add seven points thanks to a 5 yard pass from Daniels to Johnson. This looked to be the key point in the game, with two minutes in the game Justin Smith fumbled the ball at the Tech 30 yard line. This seemed to be a certain touchdown drive for Tech as they had the momentum on their side. However, Daniels threw a heave in the air and it seemed like Bryan Duncan would not be able to cover the Tech wide receiver in time but, somehow he caught up to him and.....

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v495/MrTennessee/S4300190.jpg[/IMG]
[size=1]Duncan with the interception with 35 seconds left in the game[/size]

Tennessee Wins!

"I would like to say that everyone on this team showed the heart of a Volunteer today. They played their guts out, and knocked Tech in the mouth late in the game when it was needed. This team may have gone 8-5 but it felt like we went undefeated. I am certainly proud of this group of Volunteers. They are one of the best, not talent wise, but in giving it their all on every play. The 2023 team will be remembered as the Tennessee team that got us back on track." Said an ecstatic Coach Batten.