Tennessee did one thing well Saturday night, but it was enough.
When turnovers by No. 21 South Carolina offered up scoring opportunies, the Vols pounced hard.
Turning three first-half fumbles by the Gamecocks into short touchdown drives, the Vols made it stand up for a 31-13 victory at Neyland Stadium.
A Halloween crowd announced at 96,263 was surprised to see Tennessee (4-4, 2-3 SEC) take the field in black jerseys for the first time since 1921.
It might have been that long since two fullbacks caught touchdown passes in the same game.
Fullbacks Austin Johnson and Kenneth Cooper were on the receiving end of scoring passes from Jonathan Crompton as UT roared to a 21-0 start.
Montario Hardesty had touchdown runs in each half and finished with 121 yards rushing.
South Carolina (5-4, 3-3) actually outgained the Vols, 365 yards to 341, but the Vols won the turnover battle 4-0.
Greg King's fourth-quarter interception was the fourth, and it too led to a score, a 39-yard field goal by Chad Cunningham, pinch-kicking for injured Daniel Lincoln (quad).
"You win the turnovers plus-4, you're going to win a lot of games,'' said head coach Lane Kiffin.
The fumbles gave the Vols short fields for touchdown drives of 43, 27 and 22 yards en route to a 21-0 lead.
"Coach preaches it's all about the ball,'' said Crompton. "The defense gets it back and the offense takes care of it.
"The defense did a tremendous job fighting for the ball and getting it out early.''
South Carolina's only touchdown was a 31-yard pass to Moe Brown, one of Stephen Garcia's 50 pass attempts.
It was the first offensive touchdown allowed by UT in 10 quarters, dating to the Oct. 3 Auburn game.
The verdict left South Carolina with a futile record of 1-14 in Knoxville and denied the Gamecocks a chance to beat Tennessee in consecutive seasons for the first time ever.
It also clinched the SEC Eastern Division title for Florida, who beat Georgia earlier Saturday.
In Kiffin's mind, the rain falling at kickoff underscored the likelihood that turnovers might be a factor.
It took only three plays for that to come true.
South Carolina chose to receive the kickoff. On the Gamecocks' third snap, UT freshman safety Janzen Jackson hit tight end Justice Cunningham after a 14-yard completion from Garcia.
Cunningham lost the ball and Jackson recovered at the Gamecocks' 43.
"Turnovers lift up the whole sideline, and the fans, especially at home,'' Jackson said.
"That's something we've been failing to do but this game we capitalized on it.''
Two plays later, Crompton spotted fullback Johnson running free over the middle and hit him for the 38-yard score.
South Carolina's next possession was even shorter - two snaps.
Rico McCoy stripped the football from tailback Kenny Miles and Wes Brown fell on it.
The UT offense returned to the field at the 27 and Crompton handed off four times to Hardesty.
On his fourth try, Hardesty spun out of a tackle and turned a short gain into a 14-yard touchdown.
Only four minutes in, Tennessee led 14-0.
The third fumble came on the second play of the second quarter. It was McCoy again, laying the wood to Garcia.
Cornerback Dennis Rogan recovered at the Gamecocks' 22.
The Vols needed six plays this time, but the result was the same.
On fourth-and-goal at the 2, Crompton looked to his right and found Cooper, who bulled his way across the goal line.
South Carolina trailed 21-0 and still hadn't crossed midfield.
That landmark came with 10 minutes left in the first half, with no consequence.
The Gamecocks finally got on the scoreboard via Spencer Lanning's career-long 47-yard field goal as the half ended.
That was small consolation for an illegal-block penalty that wiped off a 75-yard punt return for an apparent touchdown by Stephon Gilmore.
The guilty party was freshman D.J. Swearinger, once a UT commitment who switched to the Gamecocks after Phillip Fulmer was fired.
Other than the short field resulting from the fumbles, Tennessee's offense was unable to manufacture any scoring on its own - until it really needed to.
The Vols opened the third quarter with two three-and-out series, after which South Carolina got a 32-yard Lanning field goal to make it 28-6.
"You're kind of holding your breath,'' said Kiffin, fearing South Carolina's momentum. "Here it comes.''
But here came the Vols.
A five-play drive included Crompton completions of 12 yards to Gerald Jones and 21 to Jeff Cottam.
Hardesty took it from there, a 23-yard burst, then a 7-yarder for the touchdown to make it 28-6.
"That says a lot about the development of our offense,'' Kiffin said, "the quarterback in particular.''
The Gamecocks answered with a quick-strike drive, Garcia throwing to Brown for the touchdown with 2:05 left in the third quarter.
However, down 28-13, South Carolina needed more than one answer. None was forthcoming.
King's fourth-quarter interception set up a short drive to get in range for Cunningham's successful field goal.
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Comments » 242
volatil writes:
Take that Spurrier, Fill'er Up Punk!
realitycheck writes:
Back in Black!!!!!!!! Whooooooo hoooooooo!!!!! GO KIFF!!!!
Slimjim_Vols writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
the10sevol writes:
umm...it's kevin cooper.
GBO
zigvol writes:
8 and 4 is looking more and more likely...
volzcrushm writes:
That game was such a 'GAS'!!!
panties4tebow writes:
I bet those chickens can't wait to get back to their gas pumping jobs!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO VOLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
lowman4vols writes:
we will win out
the10sevol writes:
and austin johnson.
GBO
stayingorange writes:
Great start to the home stretch of the season. Keep it rolling for four more. I bet those nine recruits were loving it tonight.
panties4tebow writes:
The game gave me GAS also but the chickens enjoyed it!!!!!!!!
DrJCrown_theMagicMan writes:
LOVE the BLACK JERSEY would look AWESOME with WHITE PANTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Greer_Vol_22 writes:
like the black as a novelty thing but not as a regular thing. Get well LBs, we need you down the stretch. Some old Crompton creeping in there tonight with late throws, off target. Good news is, he didn't lose it for us and could have only made it better. Great hard hitting game by the Vols, toughness and conditioning really showing up.... Go get the Rebs!
TSNVol writes:
WE'RE BACK!!! NUFF SAID.
JBVols1698 writes:
I like the black jerseys.. maybe would have gone better with a black stripe on the pants or black pants or white pants... regardless I liked them and wouldn't mind having a #14 balck jersey.. maybe 15 or 11 for the fUTure.. I hope it doesn't come out again until our next home game on halloween night though lol
Fossilfiction writes:
Lane never seems happy with a win. A coach who demands perfection is a coach set to win.
orangepridenation writes:
way to go vols!!! helluva game from everyone!!!
doctorfingervol writes:
OK LAMECOCK TROLLS WHERE ARE YOU AT NOW?CROW TASTE OK?
OLD BALL SACKK MEET THE NEW BALL COACH!
phillyvol writes:
I like the black jerseys...
Go Vols!
Vols53 writes:
Loved the jerseys. Getting better every week!
djohnnyg writes:
Oh....so sad for the "ole' ball coach".
You know he absolutely HATES to lose to UT. Carolina had big hopes for a top bowl game this year, and were ranked coming in.
I hope 'Rocky Top' is ringing in his ears for the next week or so.
This has gotta hurt ole' fart face. Ha. I love it!
Slimjim_Vols writes:
I have a 14 black jersey........ you can get them at Alumni Hall in WTM.
TnScooby writes:
Outstanding win for the Vols!! Black jerseys were great as a novelty for Halloween but PLEASE don't make them a habit!! Hope all the injured guys get healthy quick and our prayers are with them!!!!!
volman67 writes:
yes i heard someone here last week say that the program looks pretty healthy,they said the seed is planted and is growing up,,well that is all well and good,but i say the tree is a black oak,to match thoughs uniforms, and we just broke a branch off and whipped some chickens with it.
doctorfingervol writes:
Guys I know the "old ball sackk" aint what he used to be but I believe that is the first time UT has ever beaten a Steve Spurrier team by more than two scores. Future looks bright.
rich182x writes:
We lost Demarco Cobbs. A sad loss...
Punt_Formation_Leaverton writes:
We've the Mo(nty)Mentum to ride this train to a pretty successful season
6-6: Tolerable/understandable
7-5: Pleased
8-4: Absolutely impressed
::waits for witch doctor to weigh in::
volpreacher writes:
I agree with most of what you said, but I think the Crompton comment is wrong. Was he perfect no, but I think the weather had a lot to do with his less than spectacular night. But he managed us well and we got the W. True they had 4 turnovers but the 3 fumbles we caused and indirectly caused the other by the pressure on Garcia. Vols will win out convincingly.
Slimjim_Vols writes:
Anyone watch gameday this morning? Herbstreit said "Tennessee is back!" not they are on their way back, but they are back!........ Get ready folks, if you aren't on board already you better run by the tracks because the whistle has blown, the brakes have been released, and the "Lane Train" is already heading down the tracks....... soon enough as the FLAs, Bamas, and SEC teams try to beat the train, SPLAT! GBO!
markw20012002 writes:
Janzen Jackson was an absolute monster tonight! he will fill up the highlight reels the next couple of years!
volpreacher writes:
Spurrier wasn't coaching that team
qspr91iz writes:
I sure hope Dyer the running back was impressed enough tonight to commit.
GO VOLS!!!!
volatil writes:
Signing day is in Feb., try to enjoy an SEC win without focusing on the negative.
bigorange61 writes:
I wish Chris Walker had been healthy. He might have had a field day.
VolCrazy94514 writes:
just wanted to bring to everyones' attention that #40 in the picture is the backup fullback, Austin Johnson!!
JBVols1698 writes:
Eric Berry Jr! He put some guys down, Rico had a HUGE hit or 2 as well. But the highlight of the night had to be that spin move by hardesty.. it was SICK.. just made those south carolina guys look STEW-PID hahaha
Vol737 writes:
You are correct sir....and a beautiful Dale Carter kickoff return for a touchdown in that game.
UrbanStopCallingMe writes:
Yes he was... This is the game that Spurrier says started the rivalry.
bigorange61 writes:
I got worried in the second half. Crompton was off target, throwing into coverage, darn lucky he wasn't pick sixed by a linebacker. Defense was starting to get pressure on him too. Play calling surprised me at times. Great win.
the10sevol writes:
and i agree with most of your post, except i cringed as i saw jc throw the ball into heavy coverage several times. he got away with it, incompletions, but made me a little uneasy, nonetheless. overall, a great effort.
thoughts and prayers are with savion.
GBO
RJ_Vol writes:
Liked beating a top 25 opponent. Did not like the jerseys - at all.
Vol737 writes:
Wrong...it was his first season at FLA after coming from Duke.
volaboard writes:
Is it me or did those uniforms make us look like candy corn?
DennisVols writes:
A big conference win against a top 25 team. I see this team's only loss against the SEC East will be UF.
Not a bad start for the 1st year coach.
Hardesty showed why he is one of the best RB's in the country. Crompton, while not steller in his performance, made the plays that counted especially duirng that drive in the 4th when UT needed to eat up the clock and regain the momentum.
I am sure the recruits liked what they saw tonight so expect more commitments this week.
Great defense wins games and there were more slobber-knockers thrown by UT tonight than I have seen in many a year. Jackson, Berry, McCoy are all beasts and make receivers quiench when they hit you.
Keeping it Real
Go Vols!!!
VolGrad writes:
Who is Demarco Cobbs? Neither roster has that name listed on it.
We (Tennessee) may have lost Savion Frazier (MLB) to a knee injury. And OLB LaMarcus Thompson got banged up again. Looking thin there, but the freshmen Lathers and King came in and looked pretty good. King had the interception.
markw20012002 writes:
I think that was a rainy that night too.
voltan writes:
Great game Vols. I WAnted to comment on a dirty play I saw in the Fl Ga game. With Fl up 31 to 10 in third quarter Ga inside 10 yard line Ga ran up middle stopped for small gain. While runner being held 51 LB Brandon Spikes ran up to pile and put hand in facemask on purpose and wiggled his fingers around like trying to poke eyes. Of course there was no call and surprized that there was no comment on Tv, it was obvious. There should be something done about it if not by his coach then by the league. What a sorry show of sportsmanship. Sry to comment on FL game but had to say something. By the way did I say WOW what a game, go Vols
volaboard writes:
Candy corn won't grow at all on Rocky Top
Grounds got far too many rocks
That's why all the folks on Rocky Top
Get their candy corn from Brach's!
Vol737 writes:
For a minute I thought I was cheering for Oregon State with those uniforms....you can't lick our Beavers!
volatil writes:
Yes he was. He had t-shirts printed up for his players with the date of our game in the swamp for the next year. He thought Majors ran up the score by allowing Von Reeves to throw a deep pass in the fourth quarter. Funny thing about that was V.R was a back up tight end.
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