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Tennessee clinches bowl berth, beats Missouri 24-20
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) Tennessee quarterback Jarrett Guarantano has endured insults and injury during a topsy-turvy junior season. He persevered, and on Saturday night he threw for 415 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Volunteers to a 24-20 victory over Missouri.
With its fourth straight win, Tennessee (6-5, 4-3 Southeastern Conference) is bowl eligible for the first time since 2016. Missouri (5-6, 2-5) has lost its last five.
After coming off the bench the previous six games, Guarantano started the game and completed 23 of 40 passes.
''When you play against these guys, the different looks they give you, you're going to have to check at the line of scrimmage, and he absolutely gives us the best chance to do that,'' Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt said. ''And, hey, we've got confidence in him. He's got everything you need to be a good quarterback, and tonight was far and away his best game.''
Tennessee had three players with more than 100 receiving yards, a program first. Josh Palmer had six receptions for 124 yards. Jauan Jennings added five catches for 115 yards and a touchdown, and Marquez Callaway had six catches for 110 yards and a touchdown.
Missouri's Kelly Bryant completed 16 of 28 passes for 166 yards and a touchdown. Running back Tyler Badie had two touchdown catches, including one from wide receiver Micah Wilson on a trick play.
''They battled, they competed, they fought, and we came up short,'' Missouri coach Barry Odom said. ''And I hate it that it resulted in a loss.''
The Tigers cut Tennessee's lead to 24-20 with Tucker McCann's second field goal with 4:02 left. But the Volunteers defense, led by Daniel Bituli's 12 tackles and a sack, stopped Missouri on its final drive.
Tennessee outgained Missouri 526-280 and converted 9 of 16 third downs.
BIG PICTURE
Tennessee: After starting the season with home losses to Georgia State and BYU, the Volunteers clinched bowl eligibility for the first time since 2016. Tennessee's only losses since those two early defeats came against current Top 10 teams Florida, Georgia and Alabama.
Missouri: The Tigers were 5-1 and ranked 22nd entering their Oct. 19 game at Vanderbilt. A loss to the Commodores began a slide that has led to questions about coach Barry Odom's job security. Odom is 24-25 in four seasons at his alma mater. He has a chance to even his record and secure bowl eligibility against struggling Arkansas.
EARNING THEIR YARDS
Missouri linebacker Nick Bolton briefly knocked Jennings out of the game in the second quarter with a hit near the goal line when Jennings was running the ball as a wildcat quarterback. .... Bolton hit Callaway in the midsection in the second quarter, and Callaway remained on the turf for several minutes before returning a few plays later. ... Missouri safety Tyree Gillespie drilled Palmer in the fourth quarter on a pass over the middle.
SECOND STRING
Missouri senior cornerback DeMarkus Acy missed the game with a hamstring injury. ... Fellow starting cornerback Jarvis Ware got hurt on the first series and didn't return. .... Backup cornerback Adam Sparks was shaken in the second half, which led to playing time for true freshman Chris Shearin. ... Missouri's top receivers, Johnathon Johnson and Albert Okwuegbunam, didn't play because of shoulder issues.
ON THE REBOUND
Guarantano had started the first four games of the season, but he and the team struggled. He broke a bone in his left hand midway through the season, had surgery and played with a brace. He played well off the bench to help the Volunteers rebound from a 1-4 start.
THEY SAID IT
Guarantano thanking his teammates after the game: ''There were so many guys who were there for me throughout the death threats, the mean messages to my sister. They were all there for me, and it really meant a lot. There were some hectic times for me, and they were there for me every step of the way, like I was for them in the past. I hope I'm able to pay them back the way I did tonight.''
Pruitt about the Volunteers becoming bowl eligible: ''I'm excited for our players, especially our seniors. When we came in after the Florida game, we're sitting 1-4, and we said, `We're going to make a bowl. How are we going to do it?' We had one of those meetings. And those guys backed up what they said they were going to do.''
WAITING FOR FINAL DECISION
Missouri was hit in January with an NCAA postseason ban for academic violations committed before Odom took over as coach, but the school is appealing the ban and the NCAA has yet to rule on the appeal.
UP NEXT
Tennessee: The Volunteers return home for their regular-season finale Saturday against Vanderbilt.
Missouri: The Tigers finish the regular season against Arkansas on Friday in Little Rock, Arkansas.
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Team Stats | ||
---|---|---|
1st Downs | 26 | 16 |
Rushing | 4 | 9 |
Passing | 18 | 6 |
Penalty | 4 | 1 |
3rd Down Conv | 9-16 | 4-15 |
4th Down Conv | 0-0 | 2-2 |
Total Net Yards | 521 | 272 |
Total Plays | 73 | 66 |
Avg Gain | 7.1 | 4.1 |
Net Yards Rushing | 111 | 99 |
Rush Attempts | 32 | 37 |
Avg Rush Yards | 3.5 | 2.7 |
Yards Passing | 415 | 181 |
Comp. - Att. | 23-41 | 17-29 |
Yards Per Pass | 10.0 | 6.0 |
Penalties - Yards | 7-60 | 7-70 |
Touchdowns | 3 | 2 |
Rushing TDs | 1 | 0 |
Passing TDs | 2 | 2 |
Other | 0 | 0 |
Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
Fumbles - Lost | 1-1 | 0-0 |
Int. Thrown | 0 | 0 |
Punts - Avg | 4-39.5 | 7-44.1 |
Return Yards | 14 | 16 |
Punts - Returns | 2-14 | 1-16 |
Kickoffs - Returns | 1-0 | 0-0 |
Int. - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Safeties | 0 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
J. Guarantano
2 QB
|
J. Guarantano | 23/40 | 415 | 2 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
B. Maurer
18 QB
|
B. Maurer | 0/1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
T. Jordan
9 RB
|
T. Jordan | 14 | 74 | 0 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Chandler
8 RB
|
T. Chandler | 5 | 23 | 0 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Guarantano
2 QB
|
J. Guarantano | 5 | 11 | 0 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||
E. Gray
3 RB
|
E. Gray | 2 | 5 | 0 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Q. Crouch
27 LB
|
Q. Crouch | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Fils-Aime
27 RB
|
C. Fils-Aime | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Jennings
15 WR
|
J. Jennings | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
J. Palmer
5 WR
|
J. Palmer | 7 | 6 | 124 | 0 | 33 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Jennings
15 WR
|
J. Jennings | 13 | 5 | 115 | 1 | 51 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Callaway
1 WR
|
M. Callaway | 11 | 6 | 110 | 1 | 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Wood-Anderson
4 TE
|
D. Wood-Anderson | 5 | 3 | 24 | 0 | 20 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Jordan
9 RB
|
T. Jordan | 2 | 1 | 22 | 0 | 22 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Chandler
8 RB
|
T. Chandler | 1 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
E. Gray
3 RB
|
E. Gray | 2 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
D. Bituli
35 LB
|
D. Bituli | 10-2 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. McCollough
22 DB
|
J. McCollough | 5-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Thompson
20 DB
|
B. Thompson | 5-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. Warrior
18 DB
|
N. Warrior | 5-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
H. To'o To'o
11 LB
|
H. To'o To'o | 4-1 | 0.5 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Butler
94 DL
|
M. Butler | 4-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Taylor
2 DB
|
A. Taylor | 3-1 | 0.5 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Middleton
97 DL
|
D. Middleton | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Shamburger
12 DB
|
S. Shamburger | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Jackson
26 DB
|
T. Jackson | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Fields
17 DB
|
T. Fields | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Ku. Garland
79 DL
|
Ku. Garland | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. Bumphus
88 DL
|
L. Bumphus | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Bennett
95 LB
|
K. Bennett | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Taylor
19 LB
|
D. Taylor | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
B. Cimaglia
42 K
|
B. Cimaglia | 1/3 | 27 | 3/3 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||
C. Omer
42 RB
|
C. Omer | 0/1 | 0 | 0/0 | 0 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
P. Brooks
37 P
|
P. Brooks | 4 | 39.5 | 0 | 45 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
T. Chandler
8 RB
|
T. Chandler | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Callaway
1 WR
|
M. Callaway | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
M. Callaway 1 WR
|
M. Callaway | 2 | 7.0 | 14 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
L. Rountree III
34 RB
|
L. Rountree III | 16 | 43 | 0 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Badie
1 RB
|
T. Badie | 9 | 35 | 0 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Bryant
7 QB
|
K. Bryant | 10 | 18 | 0 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Brooks
25 LB
|
J. Brooks | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Downing
28 RB
|
D. Downing | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
B. Banister
11 WR
|
B. Banister | 5 | 5 | 46 | 0 | 23 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Knox
9 WR
|
J. Knox | 4 | 2 | 33 | 0 | 33 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Parker Jr.
82 TE
|
D. Parker Jr. | 7 | 4 | 25 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
N. Hea
48 TE
|
N. Hea | 2 | 2 | 24 | 0 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Badie
1 RB
|
T. Badie | 4 | 2 | 22 | 2 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Scott
13 WR
|
K. Scott | 1 | 1 | 21 | 0 | 21 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Nance
4 WR
|
J. Nance | 4 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Gicinto
14 WR
|
D. Gicinto | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
D. Nicholson
58 LB
|
D. Nicholson | 7-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. Bolton
32 LB
|
N. Bolton | 7-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Oliver
20 DB
|
K. Oliver | 6-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Sparks
14 DB
|
A. Sparks | 5-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Gillespie
9 S
|
T. Gillespie | 5-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Holmes
21 DB
|
C. Holmes | 4-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Bledsoe
18 S
|
J. Bledsoe | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Whiteside
78 DL
|
K. Whiteside | 3-2 | 0.5 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||