GAME 12
NOVEMBER 26, 2011 – 12:21 PM
COMMONWEALTH STADIUM LEXINGTON, KY
TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS 5-6 (1-6)
TV – SEC NETWORK
SERIES NOTES:
LAST WIN VS UT: 1984
LAST WIN IN LEXINGTON: 1981
Pride, honor, and ending decades of frustration are what the Cats will be playing for on Saturday when they take on the rival Tennessee Volunteers. At 4-7, the Cats will be unable to qualify for postseason play, and at 5-6, the Vols will be looking for their sixth win and bowl eligibility. It will be Senior Day for the Cats, as they honor a senior class that helped UK get to three bowls while winning one, beat Steve Spurrier for the first time, won 24 games, and gave us many lasting memories. Here is what to look for from the Vols:
Offensive Stats:
Rank No 101 in scoring offense with 21.5 points per game
Ranks No 117 in rushing offense with 92 yards per game
Ranks No 44 in passing offense with 245 yards per game
Ranks No 98 total offense with 337 yards per game
Rank No 38 in sacks allowed giving up 16 on the season
Defensive Stats:
Scoring defense ranks No 46, allowing 23 points per game
Rush defense ranks No 66, allowing 159 yards per game
Pass defense ranks No 22, allowing 192 yards per game
Total defense ranks No 35, allowing 351 yards per game
As a unit, their defensive unit hasn’t made many big plays, getting only 15 sacks on the season and only have 9 interceptions on the season.
Who to Watch for:
Offense:
QB Tyler Bray
The sophomore QB will lead the Vols’ prolific passing offense into Commonwealth after helping lead his team to a come-from-behind win against Vanderbilt. He’s recovering from a broken thumb that cost him five games in which the Vols went 1-4 in. He is the UT offense and getting pressure on him will be the key to stopping Tennessee on offense. He’s a very efficient passer, throwing for 16 TD’s to only four interceptions. In his first game back from injury last week, he went 16 for 33 for 189 yards, two TD’s, and two picks. He should be close to his best come Saturday and UK has to focus on stopping him if they hope to win.
WR Da’Rick Rogers
The sophomore WR leads the Volunteers with 65 catches for 1002 yards and nine TD’s. He’s been the Vols’ most consistent offensive weapon this year, playing in every game and accounting for at least two catches in every game, despite having Matt Simms and Justin Worley as his QB most of the year. When Tyler Bray returned from injury last week, Rogers tied a season high with 10 catches for 116 yards and two TD’s. The Cats will have to put double coverage on him, as his playmaking ability exceeds that of any single UK defensive back.
Defense:
LB Austin Johnson
The senior LB is an all-around great SEC LB. Think the Danny Trevethan of the UT defense. His been their best playmaker against the run and pass. He leads the team in interceptions with four on a team that has only nine on the year. He also leads the team in tackles with 74. He is the heart of the Vols’ defense and UK must keep him blocked at all times. With UK’s lack of production from the TE position, expect UT to play Johnson close to the line of scrimmage early and often Saturday.
My Prediction:
The Cats will fight hard to ensure their seniors end their college careers on a high note while ending the streak that has plagued UK for almost three decades. UK comes out of the gates looking to pressure Bray as much as possible, throwing everything but the kitchen sink at him, until Rick Minter throws that as well. UK does this while running the ball and executing their short and intermediate passing game to have long offensive possessions while keeping Tennessee’s offense on the sidelines. The Vols will fight back, trying to keep their bowl dreams alive. Bray will burn our defense a few times, but UK does just enough to keep the game in the 20’s, and UK pulls off the upset and ends 26 years of losing to the Vols. UK fans everywhere riot, then go to the basketball game later to watch the football team get honored at half-time. Yes, I said it folks.
CATS FREAKIN WIN!!! 21-20