After the first drive, Tennessee’s matchup with North Texas appeared to be heading the direction that everybody expected it would.
The Vols marched 56 yards in just five plays and capped off the drive with a 27-yard touchdown run by Alvin Kamara, with the sophomore making the run look far easier than it should have.
After that, however, the offense failed to find any kind of rhythm as the Vols relied on their defense on the way to a 24-0 victory over the Mean Green to secure bowl eligibility on homecoming.
“There isn’t a ‘U’ behind the ‘W’ that stands for ‘Ugly Win,’” Tennessee coach Butch Jones said. “They’re all wins, but we have to go back and we have to get better. We’re going to be challenged the next couple weeks, but I thought our kids were gritty and grinded it out, and we got bowl eligible.”
Tennessee’s defense picked up the slack that the offense left, as the Vols (6-4) held North Texas (1-9) to just 199 yards for the game, the fewest Tennessee has given up to an FBS opponent since it held UCLA to 186 yards on Sept. 12, 2009.
The Vols sacked North Texas quarterback DaMarcus Smith twice and recorded a total of six tackles-for-loss, as they held the Mean Green to less than 100 yards rushing for the first time this season.
The Mean Green were able to push into Tennessee territory on several occasions, but the Vols defense always managed to get a stop when they needed one most.
“Really we just took our opportunities when they presented themselves,” freshman linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr. said. “I think we did a good job as a whole containing what they gave us. … It was just our preparation through the week.
“We’ve been getting better and better as time goes on, and we’re just grateful for the opportunity this week.”
Derek Barnett was one of two Vols to register a sack in the game, giving him six over the last five games after having just one over the first five games.
After being banged up early in the season, the sophomore credits his increased mental toughness for the recent spike in his production.
“I just think I’m just mentally tough,” Barnett said “At the end of the year, everybody is getting tired and everybody is beat up, including myself, but I just know I have to keep grinding through it. If I keep grinding, good things are going to come.”
On offense, Tennessee failed to get the passing game going, forcing the Vols to rely on the running game for production. Josh Dobbs completed 15-of-23 passes for 136 yards, but when the quarterback missed on his throws, he missed badly.
The junior was erratic throughout the game, overthrowing and underthrowing receivers on multiple occasions. He could have been intercepted on multiple throws, but luckily had only a single pick with less than a minute left in the first half. He tried to fit the ball between two defenders in the end zone, and Chad Davis was able to come away with the ball for the Mean Green.
With the struggles in the passing game, Alvin Kamara became the focal point of the Tennessee offense. The redshirt sophomore carried the ball 15 times, tied with his season high for 127 yards and two scores.
He was able to consistently get to the second level of the defense and turn what looked to be a short gain into a long play. This was the first time since the season opener against Bowling Green that Kamara was able to break 100 rushing yards.
“It felt good, just getting those touches,” Kamara said. “Give credit to the line. They did great all week. Those receivers out on the perimeter, they did great all week blocking. Our scheme really came through and I was able to get a lot of those big runs.”
For the first time since the 2006 and 2007 seasons, Tennessee is bowl eligible for consecutive years under the same head coach. This is also the first time since 2009 that the Vols have become bowl eligible before the last game of the season.
“I’m very happy with this whole team,” senior offensive tackle Kyler Kerbyson said. “To be able to get to six wins before a last game nail biter. It feels good to have that clinched.”
Sophomore defensive lineman Derek Barnett blocks a Mean Green player during the Homecoming game.
