Quarterly Report

What follows is a quarter-by-quarter recap of Tennessee's 31-13 defeat of South Carolina Saturday night at Neyland Stadium:

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UT 0	Quarter 1 15:00	0 SC
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Dressed in black jerseys in honor of Halloween, Tennessee came out smoking against South Carolina. On the game's third scrimmage play Vol safety Janzen Jackson forced a Justice Cunningham fumble that Dan Williams recovered at SC's 43-yard line. One play later Jonathan Crompton hit fullback Austin Johnson with a 38-yard touchdown pass for a 7-0 lead. Rico McCoy caused a Kenny Miles fumble on the second play of SC's ensuing possession, and Wes Brown recovered at the Gamecock 27-yard line. Four Montario Hardesty runs - the last covering 14 yards - bumped the lead to 14-0. Tennessee had a chance to tack on three more points but Chad Cunningham - subbing for injured kicker Daniel Lincoln - had a 41-yard field goal blocked.
KEY PLAY
Hardesty's 14-yard touchdown run that produced a 14-0 lead. The two-TD bulge got the rain-drenched UT crowd fired up and really put Carolina on its heels.
KEY PLAYER
Crompton. He was 5 of 6 passing for 79 yards and a touchdown in the quarter.
KEY STAT
The Vols ran 16 plays and gained 137 yards in the quarter, putting them on pace for 548 yards of total offense.

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UT 14	Quarter 1 00:00	0 SC
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Tennessee's defense was at it again on the fourth play of the second quarter. Savion Frazier belted SC quarterback Stephen Garcia, causing a fumble that was recovered by Dennis Rogan at the Carolina 22-yard line. Crompton hit fullback Kevin Cooper for the TD on fourth-and-goal from the 2-yard line, expanding the lead to 21-0. The Gamecocks scored on the final play of the half when Spencer Lanning booted a 47-yard field goal.
KEY PLAY
The fourth-and-goal TD toss to Cooper. A goalline stand at that point by South Carolina could've turned the momentum the Gamecocks' way.
KEY PLAYER
Frazier. In addition to his fumble-causing hit on Garcia, he had a hurry and a pass breakup near the end of the quarter.
KEY STAT
Tennessee converted on just 1 of 5 third-down tries but outscored SC 7-3, thanks to the short-field touchdown.

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UT 21	Quarter 2 00:00	3 SC
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Lanning hit a 32-yard field goal that narrowed the gap to 21-6 with 6:40 left in the period but Tennessee answered with a five-play, 56-yard TD march to go up 28-6. The big plays were a 21-yard pass from Crompton to Jeff Cottam and a 23-yard run by Hardesty, who got the score on a seven-yard burst up the middle. Carolina needed just three plays to retaliate, however - a 23-yard run by Miles, a 23-yard pass from Garcia to Weslye Saunders and a 31-yard TD strike to Moe Brown. With 2:05 left in the period SC trailed just 28-13.
KEY PLAY
The 31-yard touchdown pass to Brown. The Vols appeared to have the game under control until that play pulled the Gamecocks within two scores.
KEY PLAYER
Hardesty. The Vol tailback gained 33 of the 56 yards on Tennessee's clutch touchdown drive.
KEY STAT
Tennessee had three 3-and-outs in the quarter but produced a 56-yard TD march on the other possession.

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UT 28	Quarter 3 00:00	13 SC
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Freshman linebacker Greg King intercepted a pass that skipped off Miles' hands and returned it five yards to the SC 47-yard line. Eight plays later Cunningham booted his first career field goal, a 39-yarder that widened the gap to 31-13 with 4:23 to play.
KEY PLAY
King's interception. Coupled with UT's subsequent field goal, it closed the door on Carolina's comeback hopes.
KEY PLAYER
Cunningham. After having his previous field goal blocked, he showed some heart by nailing that clutch fourth-quarter kick in a steady downpour to seal the deal.
KEY STAT
King's interception was the first one thrown by Garcia in 120 attempts.

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UT 31	Quarter 4 00:00	13 SC
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More in-depth info...

Game #: 1163
Site: Knoxville
Date: Oct. 31
Conference: SECE
Coach Match-up:
For the Vols - Kiffin and for the Gamecocks - Spurrier