Bolden 'embarrassed' game got away

ATLANTA - Tennessee's self-described "bend but don't break" defense was in championship form on Saturday night.

But that wasn't enough to secure UT's first SEC championship since 1998 in a 21-14 loss to LSU at the Georgia Dome.

The Tigers' 21 points aren't all on UT's defense. Quarterback Erik Ainge's fourth quarter interception for a touchdown handed LSU the winning score.

UT's defense gave up a touchdown, two field goals and a two-point conversion despite allowing LSU to rack up 464 total yards. The Vols twice held LSU to field goals following long drives.

"That's been pretty much the way this defense has played all year, giving up yards but not points," linebacker Jerod Mayo said.

All without much help from its offense in the first half. UT's defense played 46 plays in the first two quarters as LSU held the ball for 21:20.

"We was out there the whole time," UT defensive tackle Demonte' Bolden said.

UT coach Phillip Fulmer conceded that time of possession was a serious concern.

"We're a well-conditioned football team because we've been on the field way too much all year," said Fulmer, who added that UT's defense shares in some of the blame by not stopping opponents soon enough.

That wasn't the case in the fourth quarter, when the Vols held LSU to two three-and-outs and turned the Tigers over twice thanks to freshman safety Eric Berry, who intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble.

"If he stays healthy, he's going to be one of the best players to play in the secondary in this league before it's all over with," Fulmer said.

Mayo garnered similar compliments after recording a team-high 15 tackles.

"Jerod Mayo played unbelievably down the stretch," Fulmer said. "He's truly an all-conference player, if not an All-American player.

"It seemed like he made about every tackle there for a while. He's a heckuva player."

The Vols didn't know until shortly before the game that sophomore quarterback Ryan Perrilloux would start in place of injured senior Matt Flynn.

"No matter who we saw," Mayo said, "we had the same game plan."

Perrilloux responded by completing 20-of-30 passes for 243 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

"I thought he played real well," Fulmer said. "I thought they called a plan within what he does well."

Perrilloux, who's known for his athleticism, also rushed for 32 yards including a five-yard scamper for a first down on third-and-2 off a naked bootleg. The play helped LSU to seal the game by running out the clock.

"They used his athletic ability all the way to the last play there," Fulmer said.

The Vols had to play the Tigers in the second half without the brains of their defense, senior linebacker Ryan Karl, who was sidelined after suffering an elbow sprain in the second quarter.

Karl wasn't the only player to get banged up. Several players on both teams were forced to the sidelines.

"It was a very physical game from the first quarter all the way to the fourth quarter," Mayo said.

Bolden was visibly upset as he talked with reporters following the game.

"I feel like the defense held it up," Bolden exclaimed. "A lot of people were criticizing our defense. Our defense grew up a lot. We should get the media off our backs."

Bolden ran the gamut of emotions during the game, saying he felt there was no doubt UT would win - until Ainge's first interception was returned for a touchdown.

"We was trying to keep them down," Bolden said. "It was just embarrassing. That's just embarrassing to me."

After that, Bolden said he felt the game was lost.

"I didn't feel it (that UT was going to win)," Bolden said. "I'm not a quitter. I never will be a quitter, but I didn't feel it."

Bolden declined to name exactly whom he was talking about but added, "If we could have exchanged a couple of players, we could have had some things done."

Defensive coordinator John Chavis certainly wasn't happy considering UT had just lost, but it was obvious he was proud of how his much-maligned defense responded over the course of the season.

"Can't say enough," Chavis said, "about the heart and desire of this football team."

© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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