Tennessee 48, Arkansas State 27
Quarterly Report

Posted Sep 23, 2007


Here's a quarter-by-quarter recap of Tenenssee's 48-27 thumping of Arkansas State Saturday night at Neyland Stadium:

V
O
L
S
UT 0 Quarter 1 15:00 0 ASU
JUMBO-VIEWER
After winning the coin toss and wisely taking the ball, Tennessee needed just six plays to grab a 7-0 lead. Erik Ainge and Lucas Taylor hooked up twice on the drive - for a 23-yard gain and then for a 17-yard touchdown pass. Arkansas State answered in six plays, however. The big play was a 45-yard pass from Corey Leonard to Levi Dejohnette and the score came on a six-yard toss from Leonard to Chris Miller. UT answered with an eight-play, 89-yard drive to go up 14-7. Ainge hit Chris Brown for 15 yards and the score. The Vols tacked on a 29-yard Daniel Lincoln field just before the quarter ended.
KEY PLAY

Two critical penalties, both against ASU's Mortis Harrison. The first was a pass interference call that gave UT a first down at the Indian 17-yard line. The second was a running-into-the-kicker call that gave UT a first down at the 15. Each time the Vols scored on the very next snap.

KEY PLAYER

Ainge. He completed 10 of 13 passes for 159 yards and two TDs in the quarter.

KEY STAT

Tennessee gained 193 yards in the period, putting the Vols on pace to post 772 yards for the game.



V
O
L
S
UT 17 Quarter 1 00:00 7 ASU
JUMBO-VIEWER


A horrible throw by Ainge was intercepted by Tyrell Johnson and returned 54 yards for a TD, enabling ASU to pull within 17-14. Tennessee went up 24-14 on a 10-play, 80-yard drive that ended with a 25-yard LaMarcus Coker TD on a screen pass. Following an interception by converted receiver Brent Vinson, the Vols went 40 yards in just five plays to take a 31-14 lead. Arian Foster got the TD from five yards out. Josh Arauco hit a 45-yard field goal on the final play of the half, narrowing the gap to 31-17.
KEY PLAY

Vinson's interception. Middle linebacker Jerod Mayo, lined up as a rush end, pressured Leonard into a hurried throw that was behind his receiver and into the waiting arms of Vinson. Tenneseess scored five plays later to go up 31-14.

KEY PLAYER

Coker. The speedy tailback had a 25-yard TD catch, three carries for 22 yards and a 32-yard kickoff return in a very productive quarter.

KEY STAT

UT converted 3 of 5 third-down tries. Each of the last two conversions set up touchdowns.



V
O
L
S
UT 31 Quarter 2 00:00 17 ASU
JUMBO-VIEWER


Arauco hit a 37-yard field goal as Arkansas State closed to 31-20 but Tennessee answered later in the quarter. Marsalous Johnson returned an interception 28 yards to the ASU 19-yard line. A five-yard pass and five Coker runs produced the TD and a 38-20 lead. ASU had marched to UT's 1-yard line as the period ended, however.
KEY PLAY

Johnson's interception and return. It set up a short-field TD that widened an 11-point lead to 18 and gave the Vols some breathing room.

KEY PLAYER

ASU running back Reggie Arnold. He single-handedly kept his team in the game by carrying seven times for 85 yards in the period.

KEY STAT

Arkansas State outgained UT 142 yards to 44 in the quarter but the Vols outscored the Indians 7-3.



V
O
L
S
UT 38 Quarter 3 00:00 20 ASU
JUMBO-VIEWER


Arnold scored from a yard out on the first play of the quarter, narrowing the gap to 38-27. Tennessee put the game away, however, with a five-play, 65-yard TD drive. Ainge hit Josh Briscoe for 17 yards, handed to Foster for 14 and hit Lucas Taylor with a quck hitch that turned into a 24-yard TD, boosting the lead to 45-27. Lincoln added a 39-yard field goal later in the quarter to secure the final score.
KEY PLAY

Taylor's TD. After catching the quick hitch, he broke one tackle, then raced into the end zone for a game-clinching score.

KEY PLAYER

Ainge. The Vol QB completed five of six passes for 73 yards, including the TD toss to Taylor.

KEY STAT

UT finished 6 of 6 in the red zone, scoring four touchdowns and kicking two field goals.



V
O
L
S
UT 48 Quarter 4 00:00 27 ASU
JUMBO-VIEWER
More in-depth info...

Game #: 1133
Site: Knoxville
Date: Sep. 22
Conference: SUNB
Coach Match-up:
For the Vols - Fulmer and for the Indians - Roberts



Related Stories
Vols unleash Coker in win
 -by InsideTennessee.com  Sep 22, 2007
Trick plays aren't working
 -by InsideTennessee.com  Sep 22, 2007
Explosives vs. expletives
 -by InsideTennessee.com  Sep 22, 2007

Story Tools
Top Stories 
Search Stories 
Discuss on Forums 

MAGAZINE COVERAGE
Get the 2010 Recruiting Yearbook and a full year of Rocky Top Magazine with an Annual Total Access Pass.
Sign Up Today!

Upgrade Now!
Free Email Newsletter
Don't miss any news or features from InsideTennessee.com. Subscribe to our newsletter to have our newest articles emailed to you on a daily or weekly basis.
Click here for a list of all Team Newsletters.

Add Topics to My HotList
Get free email alerts with news about your favorite topics. Click link to add to My HotList.
Football > Tennessee
[View My HotList]