2025 Week 3

Too bad the Tennessee vs. Penn State only garnered a regional broadcast. This game was another classic and it helped decide who the starting QB for Tennessee would be come SEC play.

Penn State opened up the game with CB D. Arnold making a nice 68 yard interception return for a touchdown from former UF QB Marlon Bradford. Penn State quickly went up 7-0, and Bradford quickly went to the bench.

Mark Mitchell came in for the Volunteers and led Tennessee down the field for a 26 yard touchdown strike to tie the game. Then Penn State got gutsy and had an almost three minute drive to eat up clock and take a 14-7 lead on a Dixon touchdown pass. Mitchell got jealous of Bradford and decided it would be best to throw another touchdown via interception, this time it was taken back 83 yards to give Penn State a 21-7 lead.

Tennessee was down but not out, and Patrick Herman came in and led Tennessee down the field to put up a field goal. He got injured again for the game so in came fourth string QB Chris Davis, a senior and former UF QB. Davis put a spark in the team in the fourth quarter leading Tennessee on a long scoring drive and having Thomas McIntosh punch in a touchdown from two yards out. Tennessee was now down 21-16, thanks to a failed 2 point conversion.

The Vols got the ball back around the 45 yard line with under two minutes in the game. Smith got a quick 7 yard pass to make it a second and three. Fred Barron got stopped on third and two and so Coach Batten had to go for it on fourth and one. Batten called another Fred Barron run and this time he got the first down with under a minute remaining. Then on a crucial third down Batten called another run but it was to the weak side and Fred Barron takes it to the house! Tennessee leads 24-21 thanks to a two point conversion made.

[center][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v495/MrTennessee/S4300204.jpg[/IMG]
[size=1]Fred Barron being a hoss and avoiding the Penn State secondary and scoring.[/center][/size]

Penn State was down 24-21 with 30 seconds in the game remaining. Knowing Penn State would not run in that situation, Coach Batten played aggressively instead of playing prevent defense. On the first down play it was an incomplete pass. Then second down came and it was another incomplete pass due to Dixon having to avoid the pass rush. Then third down came and Dixon did not see Justin King coming on a mad blitz and got sacked for three yards. So it was 4th and 13 with less than 20 seconds left in the game. So out comes the offense and they snapped the ball, and it seemed like an eternity as the Nittany lion's line held the blitzing defense from coming and it was caught! Oh no Tennessee is going to lose,but no Martin Hawkins stops the Penn State receiver just short by two yards. Tennessee escapes the #6 toughest place to play victors!

"What can you say for the play of Chris Davis? I will admit I wrote him off after the bowl game last year and put him as a 4th stringer, but he showed me something I am looking for in SEC play. He will be starting down in Gainesville as we take on the #17 Gators. I am very proud of the defensive effort given today. David Minton had his hands full trying to call a good game but the stout Penn State defense couldn't beat his wits on the touchdown scoring drive. Very happy for this team." Said an elated Coach Batten.