Big disappointment replaces big chance

PASADENA, Calif. - So much for big beginnings.

After all the hype and anticipation heading into Monday night's season-opener, a pair of new faces didn't get the start they hoped for.

First-year offensive coordinator Dave Clawson's offense sputtered for much of the evening, although the Vols finished with 366 yards.

Quarterback Jonathan Crompton, in his first game as UT's full-time starter, struggled with consistency and accuracy.

But despite those struggles, 18th-ranked Tennessee managed to take a late lead and force overtime with only 23 seconds to work with.

It just wasn't enough in a 27-24 overtime loss to UCLA in the Rose Bowl on Monday night.

"Obviously I'm disappointed," Clawson said. "I thought we had opportunities to score points and we left too many points on the board."

After flailing along - and failing to score - for much of the second half, Tennessee's offense managed to respond twice in the final 6:51.

Trailing by three points, Crompton guided a 67-yard drive to retake the lead.

At one point in the fourth quarter, Crompton threw eight consecutive incompletions.

But facing third-and-11 from the UT 47-yard line, Crompton tucked the ball and picked up 10 yards. He plowed ahead for 2 more yards on fourth down, preserving the drive.

Montario Hardesty provided the go-ahead score from 20 yards out.

Hardesty finished with 70 yards on 12 carries and accounted for both of UT's offensive touchdowns.

After UCLA took a three-point lead with 27 seconds left, Crompton again guided the Vols to a game-tying field goal as the clock expired at the end of regulation.

But when a touchdown would have won the game in overtime, Tennessee's offense couldn't find a way into the end zone.

Crompton had the best shot at extending the Vols' only overtime drive, but he bumped into an offensive lineman and wound up 2 yards shy of a first down.

That led to Daniel Lincoln's potential game-tying field goal try, which sailed left of the upright and sealed UCLA's upset win.

Center Josh McNeil said UT's problems on offense were simply a matter of failing to execute.

"There was nothing we did tonight that we haven't practiced a hundred times," he said. "It all comes down to execution. There was some breakdowns that shouldn't have happened. You have to put all that on the players, because it's our responsibility to go out and execute."

Before Tennessee's 13-play, 67-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter, the Vols' offense was milk carton material aside from its first possession after halftime.

After UT forced a three-and-out, Crompton led the offense to UCLA's 6 before Arian Foster lost a fumble inside the 5, likely costing the Vols at least three points.

Foster finished with a team-high 96 yards on 13 carries, including a 41-yarder, and added 12 yards receiving on four catches.

Gerald Jones had a team-high four receptions, as did Kevin Cooper and Foster, for 40 yards. Josh Briscoe caught a 41-yard pass, which was good enough to lead UT in receiving yards.

In Crompton's debut as a starter, he completed just 19 of his 41 passes for 189 yards, no touchdowns and a first-half interception.

Some of those incomplete passes appeared to be a result of pressure from UCLA, which blitzed frequently.

"That's part of football," Crompton said. "Sometimes you get hurried a little bit and sometimes you have to get it out a little quicker than you want to. It's something you've got to work on.

"We don't need to get our heads down because we played good. I just think we got to finish it. That's what we'll go to work on Wednesday."

Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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