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With a trip to the SEC Championship Game on the line, Tennessee needed four overtimes to hold off rival Kentucky for an incredible 52-50 win Saturday in Lexington.
In a battle that saw more than 1,000 combined yards and 13 touchdowns, the 14th-ranked Volunteers sealed the win and a Pontiac Game Changing Performance nomination when Antonio Reynolds stopped Wildcats’ quarterback Andre Woodson’s two-point conversion attempt to end the game.
Now it is up to Tennessee fans to determine if the Volunteers will earn a “Pontiac Game Changing Performance” for the 13th week of the 2007 NCAA® Football Season.
UT fans can go to pontiac.com/ncaa, where they can view video clips of the four finalists and vote for their favorite play. Voting began Sunday morning and ends at midnight Wednesday. ESPN will announce this week’s “Pontiac Game Changing Performance” winner Thursday night during the Pontiac Performance Halftime Report.
The winning university earns a $5,000 contribution from Pontiac to its general scholarship fund. Additionally, the winning play becomes nominated for the “Pontiac Game Changing Performance of the Year” and the chance to win a $100,000 General Scholarship from Pontiac.
“Awarding more than $1 million since its inception, the Pontiac Game Changing Performance program continues to be a great example of how passionate fans can have a positive impact academically and athletically by generating scholarship dollars for university-wide programs,” said Kirk Herbstreit, ESPN GameDay Analyst.
In addition, each week one lucky individual who visits pontiac.com/ncaa also wins a $5,000 scholarship for themselves or their family. In total, Pontiac is providing $300,000 worth of scholarships to universities and individuals throughout the season.
InSIDe the Vols -- Tennessee’s final position atop the SEC Eastern Division standings is the first time UT held so much as a tie for first place all season ... Saturday’s thriller in Lexington lasted 4 hours and 43 minutes, making it the longest game in school history in terms of elapsed time ... Previous longest was the six-overtime win in 2002 against Arkansas at 4:09 ... Pick of the weekend goes to Vols head coach Phillip Fulmer, who after the team’s Thanksgiving Day practice gave reporters his take on the outcome against Kentucky: “I don’t have a crystal ball. I tell our guys every week that if it’s 3-0, that’s fine, and if it’s 52-50, that’s fine. As long as we get the win.” ... Vols got the win, 52-50 in four overtimes ... LSU’s triple-OT loss Friday to Arkansas left Tennessee as the SEC’s only team not to suffer a home loss in 2007 ... The Vols finished 7-0 at Neyland Stadium for the program’s first undefeated home campaign since 1999 ... Quarterback Erik Ainge had a streak of 116 consecutive pass attempts without an interception broken Saturday ... It was the fourth-longest streak in Vols history but only the second best of Ainge’s career ... The UT senior also owns Tennessee’s No. 2 streak at 136, set last season ... Kentucky’s 110 offensive plays Saturday set an NCAA bowl subdivision record for a game that ended in overtime ... The Wildcats broke their own mark of 103 set in 2003’s seven-overtime loss to Arkansas.
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Comments » 6
FWBVol writes:
All the great coaches in the SEC and the only one to lead his team to an undefeated season at home was a coach many want/wanted to see fired. It ain't as easy at it looks on TV.
vscebail#247785 writes:
My vote for the game changing performance was the field-goal block in the second over time. -- Or was that the part of the game that I suddenly discovered I needed to change my pants!
OrangePride writes:
I'm with vscebail. Without that block on the field goal, there is no Reynolds play. The entire game went from the depths of despair to jubilation and one more chance....a chance that the Vols and Reynolds converted. But the game changed on the block, Reynolds just added the most important tackle of his career.
injunvol writes:
i seen a bunch of great plays right in front of me and this was one of them - i now say- team the ring is yours for the taking- GO GET IT VOLUNTEERS !
Perry writes:
I agree the "game changing" play was the FG block in OT. Or the Taylor drop on 4th down with about 8 minutes to play in regulation. If UT converts and tacks on more points the game doesn't go to OT.
VOLinDAWGland writes:
Reynold's play was a 'GAME ENDER' not a 'game changer'. Way to go Antonio.
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