Vandy's Hall: 'They know they escaped'

The difference between the Vanderbilt and Tennessee's football programs could be measured in inches Saturday afternoon at Neyland Stadium.

A 49-yard field-goal attempt from Commodores' kicker Bryant Hahnfeldt grazed the outside of the upright and fell harmlessly to the ground with 33 seconds left, leaving the Vols celebrating a 25-24 victory.

"They know they escaped," Vanderbilt senior defensive tackle Gabe Hall said. "We were more physical than them. Bottom line, we smacked them in the mouth, they smacked us in the mouth. That was the most physical team we played all year, by far."

The Commodores built a 24-9 lead through three quarters by out-gaining the Vols (254 yards to 226 yards) and converting an Erik Ainge turnover into a field goal just before the half.

Then came the fourth quarter and the roar of 105,077 strong at Neyland Stadium.

"We didn't move the ball, we didn't execute, they stepped up, and we didn't," Vanderbilt senior offensive tackle Chris Williams said. "They started making plays, it got a little loud, and we didn't get it done."

Tennessee out-gained Vanderbilt 124-16 in the fourth quarter and out-scored the Commodores 16-0.

"Obviously, it hurt us to go three-and-out three times in a row," said Commodores quarterback Mackenzi Adams, who was 14-of-26 for 139 yards and three touchdowns. "Bottom line, we had a good return and a good chance to win the game, but we didn't."

UT's defense turned the Commodores away after they started at the Vols' 42 and were unable to gain more than 11 yards despite getting their only first down of the quarter on a pass interference penalty.

"We gave up a couple of big plays and the momentum shifted," Vanderbilt senior defensive tackle Theo Horrocks said. "When the momentum shifts, it's hard to bounce back, especially in an atmosphere like this.

"Their crowd got back into the game, we kind of got down and couldn't get ourselves out of the hole."

Former Central High School star Cassen Jackson-Garrison was understandably glum in the wake of the loss.

"We should have won that game," said Jackson-Garrison, who had 83 yards on 17 carries and will graduate with degrees in human organizational development and health and human services in December.

As for how the gap between Tennessee-Vanderbilt football has changed since Jackson-Garrison arrived in Nashville, the senior said, "It's closed - case closed."

Commodores' coach Bobby Johnson acknowledged the momentum changed when Broderick Stewart was called for roughing the punter with 1:27 left in the third quarter, sustaining a Vols' TD drive that made it 24-16.

"That's how I saw it," Johnson said. "We came to win. Everybody in that (locker) room is very disappointed. But it isn't one play, it isn't two plays and it isn't three plays. It's all of them."

Another play that changed the complexion of the game came when UT's Eric Barry delivered a hit on an airborne Earl Bennett with just under four minutes left in the first half.

Bennett, the SEC's all-time career receptions leader, returned for just one play in the second half, finishing the game with two catches for 26 yards. Johnson said Bennett's back tightened up from the hit/fall on the play.

"Obviously, Earl is a proven star, so we'd love to have had him in there," Johnson said. "Would it have made a difference? I have no idea."

Johnson praised his team for its effort.

"There have been years we've come over here and haven't come close to winning," Johnson said. "We started a long ways away from Tennessee's program.

"We didn't win today, but we're getting closer.''

Saturday, the Commodores were within a foot.