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TXAM |
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Dee Willliams returns punt for go-ahead TD, No. 19 Tennessee beats Texas A&M 20-13
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Dee Williams returned a punt 39 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter to put No. 19 Tennessee ahead for the first time and the Volunteers shut down Texas A&M the rest of the way in a 20-13 victory Saturday.
“That’s something I’ve worked hard for all season,” Williams said. “My job is to always stay ready.”
Vols punter Jackson Ross backed up the Aggies to the 1 - with Williams keeping the ball from going into the end zone. The Vols defense followed with a three-and-out setting up Williams for the pivotal return.
“Dee's punt return changed the game,” Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said. “We had 10 guys competing their butts off to get him into the end zone. It was a huge turning point.”
Jaylen Wright rushed for 136 yards for the Volunteers (5-1, 2-1 Southeastern Conference). The victory was sealed when Gabe Jeudy-Lalley picked off a pass and returned it to the A&M 6 to set up a field goal.
“It was a game of inches and we didn’t make them,” Aggies coach Jimbo Fisher said. “We had a couple critical penalties, a few critical plays, but the kids are playing their hearts out.”
Max Johnson threw two fourth-quarter interceptions for Texas A&M (4-3, 2-2). The Aggies were 5 of 15 on third-down conversions.
“(Tennessee's defensive front was) in my face,” Johnson said. "I've got to make the throws. I have to be better and make the throws.
Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton III was 11 of 22 for 100 yards and touchdown - a 7-yarder to Jacob Warren to tie it in the first quarter.
Johnson had a 2-yard scoring run on Texas A&M's first possession.
“We had to settle down,” Vols defensive end Tyler Baron said. “Once the game slowed down for us, we played the way we were capable.”
THE TAKEAWAY
The only chance Tennessee had at being effective on offense against Texas A&M was to be productive in the run game. The Vols have three talented ball carriers, but finding a seam in the Aggies’ vaunted defensive front wasn’t easy. Jaylen Wright's impressive showing caused a lot of problems for Texas A&M. Special teams and the defense sewed up the victory.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Tennessee’s most impressive victory of the season so far will give the Vols some credibility when it comes to taking some steps up the ladder. The early loss to Florida is still a liability as Tennessee is measured on a national stage. Making up for that loss doesn’t happen in a hurry.
UP NEXT
Texas A&M: At South Carolina on Oct. 28.
Tennessee: At Alabama on Saturday.
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AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll
Copyright 2024 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
M. Johnson
14 QB 223 PaYds, 2 INTs, -22 RuYds, RuTD |
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J. Wright
0 RB 136 RuYds |
Team Stats | ||
---|---|---|
1st Downs | 18 | 19 |
Rushing | 4 | 9 |
Passing | 9 | 7 |
Penalty | 5 | 3 |
3rd Down Conv | 5-15 | 7-15 |
4th Down Conv | 0-2 | 0-2 |
Total Net Yards | 277 | 332 |
Total Plays | 62 | 71 |
Avg Gain | 4.5 | 4.7 |
Net Yards Rushing | 54 | 232 |
Rush Attempts | 28 | 49 |
Avg Rush Yards | 1.9 | 4.7 |
Yards Passing | 223 | 100 |
Comp. - Att. | 16-34 | 11-22 |
Yards Per Pass | 5.4 | 3.4 |
Penalties - Yards | 11-90 | 12-115 |
Touchdowns | 1 | 2 |
Rushing TDs | 1 | 0 |
Passing TDs | 0 | 1 |
Other | 0 | 1 |
Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
Fumbles - Lost | 0-0 | 1-0 |
Int. Thrown | 2 | 1 |
Punts - Avg | 4-32.0 | 3-40.0 |
Return Yards | 16 | 80 |
Punts - Returns | 0-0 | 1-39 |
Kickoffs - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Int. - Returns | 1-16 | 2-41 |
Safeties | 0 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
M. Johnson
14 QB
|
M. Johnson | 16/34 | 223 | 0 | 2 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
L. Moss
8 RB
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L. Moss | 15 | 62 | 0 | 19 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. Owens
2 RB
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R. Owens | 5 | 16 | 0 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Johnson
14 QB
|
M. Johnson | 7 | -22 | 1 | 6 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
N. Thomas
3 WR
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N. Thomas | 3 | 3 | 75 | 0 | 29 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
E. Stewart
1 WR
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E. Stewart | 11 | 4 | 48 | 0 | 21 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Wright
42 TE
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M. Wright | 5 | 3 | 26 | 0 | 20 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Smith
0 WR
|
A. Smith | 3 | 1 | 20 | 0 | 20 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
L. Moss
8 RB
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L. Moss | 4 | 1 | 19 | 0 | 19 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Thomas
14 DB
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J. Thomas | 1 | 1 | 18 | 0 | 18 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
R. Owens
2 RB
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R. Owens | 1 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Johnson
19 TE
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J. Johnson | 3 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Muhammad III
7 WR
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M. Muhammad III | 4 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 8 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
D. Richardson
26 DB
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D. Richardson | 6-3 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. York
21 LB
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T. York | 5-3 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. DeBerry
28 DB
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J. DeBerry | 5-1 | 0.0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Mathews
2 DB
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J. Mathews | 4-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Harmon
11 DB
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D. Harmon | 3-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
W. Nolen
0 DL
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W. Nolen | 3-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
F. Diggs
10 DL
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F. Diggs | 3-3 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
E. Cooper
45 LB
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E. Cooper | 2-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Sylla
92 DL
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M. Sylla | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. Overton
18 DL
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L. Overton | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Jackson
3 DL
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M. Jackson | 2-3 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
I. Raikes
34 DL
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I. Raikes | 1-0 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Russell Jr.
24 LB
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C. Russell Jr. | 1-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Turner
5 DL
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S. Turner | 0-4 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Chappell
7 DB
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T. Chappell | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Hicks
13 DL
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D. Hicks | 0-2 | 0.0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
R. Bond
47 K
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R. Bond | 2/3 | 41 | 1/1 | 7 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
N. Constantinou
95 P
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N. Constantinou | 4 | 32.0 | 0 | 38 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
A. Smith
0 WR
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A. Smith | 1 | 23.0 | 23 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
J. Milton III
7 QB
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J. Milton III | 11/22 | 100 | 1 | 1 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
J. Wright
0 RB
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J. Wright | 19 | 136 | 0 | 23 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Small
2 RB
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J. Small | 12 | 42 | 0 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Milton III
7 QB
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J. Milton III | 8 | 34 | 0 | 19 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Sampson
6 RB
|
D. Sampson | 9 | 25 | 0 | 12 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
C. Nimrod
81 WR
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C. Nimrod | 6 | 4 | 31 | 0 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
S. White
10 WR
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S. White | 6 | 3 | 29 | 0 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Castles
34 TE
|
M. Castles | 2 | 2 | 24 | 0 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Sampson
6 RB
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D. Sampson | 2 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Warren
87 TE
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J. Warren | 1 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
R. Keyton
9 WR
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R. Keyton | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
E. Herring
44 LB
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E. Herring | 3-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Garland
99 DL
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K. Garland | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Pearce Jr.
27 DL
|
J. Pearce Jr. | 3-0 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Beasley
6 LB
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A. Beasley | 3-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. McCollough
2 DB
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J. McCollough | 2-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Baron
9 DL
|
T. Baron | 2-0 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. McDonald
12 DB
|
T. McDonald | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
E. Simmons
10 DL
|
E. Simmons | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. Harrison
30 DL
|
R. Harrison | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Slaughter
0 DB
|
D. Slaughter | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Hadden
5 DB
|
K. Hadden | 1-1 | 0.0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Carter
7 LB
|
A. Carter | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
O. Thomas
21 DL
|
O. Thomas | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Eason
20 DL
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