Tennessee vs. Ohio Football 2009
Volunteers Look to Get Back on Track After Loss to Florida
Tennessee takes on Ohio in a non-conference game Saturday, Sept. 26, in Knoxville, Tenn. The Volunteers, coming off a 23-13 Southeastern Conference loss at Florida, will be looking to end a two-game skid in the 7 p.m. EST contest.
The Florida game, despite all the hype and hoopla surrounding it, really didn't expose anything terribly new about the Volunteers. They still have a top-notch defense, and a shaky offense.
Coach Lane Kiffin's Volunteers (1-2) still haven't done much offensively since their 63-7 season-opening rout of Western Kentucky. They were held to 208 yards by UCLA in a 19-15 loss the following week, and were then limited to 210 yards by Florida.
On the flip side, Tennessee did manage to stay in the game against the defending national champions until the fourth quarter. And they gave up 323 yards, which isn't bad against a team of the Gators' caliber.
Still, the Volunteers need to get back into the win column, and they'll be expected to do just that when they face coach Frank Solich's Ohio team.
Ohio (2-1) has won two in a row. The Mid-American Conference team posted a 28-10 victory over Division I FCS school Cal Poly at home last week.
The Bobcats opened the season at home with a 23-16 loss to Connecticut, then won a 31-30 overtime decision at North Texas the second week.
Saturday's matchup will be the first between the Volunteers and the Bobcats. It will be telecast by ESPN Game Plan on a pay-per-view basis.
Vols Giving Up Only 88 Passing Yards Per Game
Tennessee's defense is allowing an average of 197.3 yards per game, and only 88.3 have come through the air.
Star safety Eric Berry has bolstered Tennessee with 24 tackles, including 17 solo, and the junior had his first interception of the season Saturday. Linebackers Rico McCoy, Nick Reveiz and LaMarcus Thompson have added 20, 19 and 15 tackles, respectively.
Dan Williams, the Vols' 6-foot-3, 327-pound defensive tackle, has made 14 stops.
The Volunteers have registered 10 sacks, including three by defensive end Chris Walker, and two apiece by end Ben Martin and tackle Wes Brown. And the pass rush could be overpowering against an Ohio team that's given up eight sacks this season.
Tennessee's forced six turnovers, recovering four fumbles and making two interceptions. But that's been offset by the team's offensive struggles.
Same Old Story for Tennessee Offense
The Volunteers' turnover problems have been such that the two they committed on Saturday actually marked an improvement.
Jonathan Crompton has thrown seven interceptions this season while completing 45 of 73 passes for 419 yards and five touchdowns.
The Volunteers were conservative vs. Florida, with Crompton throwing just 19 times, so they finished with just 210 yards of offense. On the season, they're averaging 358.3.
Running back Montario Hardesty enjoyed a strong game vs. the Gators, rushing 20 times for 96 yards and a TD. The senior now has 345 yards on the season, including three touchdowns.
Freshman Bryce Brown has an additional 159 yards rushing, with one TD. He was also Tennessee's leading receiver with three catches for 34 yards vs. Florida.
Quintin Hancock leads with Vols with 11 catches for 128 yards and a touchdown, but had just one catch for five yards last week.
Ohio Defense Averaging 2 Interceptions Per Game
It might be bad news for the Vols that Ohio has come up with six interceptions this season, including two by redshirt freshman safety Gerald Moore. And the Bobcats have returned two picks for touchdowns.
Another plus is the play of linebacker Noah Keller, who is averaging 13 tackles per game. The junior has 4.5 tackles for losses among his 39 stops this season.
Linebacker Lee Renfro has 30 tackles, including four for losses, and linebacker Errik Ejike has 20 tackles in addition to an interception return for a touchdown. The defensive line is powered by Dak Notestine, who has recorded 16 tackles and forced two fumbles.
The Bobcats are giving up 312.7 yards per game, just a shade more than their offense is gaining (303). They're averaging one sack per game.
Bobcats QB Scott Coming Off Career-Best Game
Solich started the season using both Boo Jackson and Theo Scott at quarterback. But Jackson sat out with an injury last week, and Scott responded by passing for a career-high 236 yards and three touchdowns vs. Cal Poly.
Scott's completed 28 of 56 passes for 397 yards and six touchdowns this season. Jackson, who has been hampered by shoulder problems, is 17-for-30 for 194 yards without a TD or interception.
Ohio's biggest weapon is receiver Taylor Price, who has 17 catches for 247 yards and three TDs. Their leading rusher is Chris Garrett, who's run 41 times for 169 yards.
The Bobcats can certainly relate to Tennessee's turnover problems. They were plagued by them during a 4-8 campaign last season.
Ohio will open its Mid-American Conference season on Oct. 3 at Bowling Green. Tennessee will return to SEC play at home vs. Auburn.
What do you think about this article?
Latest Articles