Vols Crank Up Ground Game in Beating Kentucky 49-36

Knoxville, TN (WDEF) – The Tennessee Vols used a big ground game Saturday in Knoxville to beat Kentucky and stay in the race for the SEC East title.

Smokey does not like Cats in the house, much less the end zone.

Kentucky grabbed an early 7-0 lead on a 10-yard touchdown run from Boom Williams.

Then boom goes the offense.

Kentucky finished with 635 yards, while Tennessee had 599, including 350-yards on first down plays alone.

Said Vols quarterback Josh Dobbs:”We only had five third downs all day, which is a very productive day. That just shows we were ahead of the sticks, and the points we put up proved that.”

The Vols put up 49-points and 376-yards rushing.

Josh Dobbs led the way with 147 yards rushing.

He also hit 11 of 18 passes for 223-yards.

Said head coach Butch Jones: “You know Josh is really effective when he can run the football and obviously throw the football. That opens so many things for us offensively.”

Tennessee welcomed back injured running back Alvin Kamara, who responded with 128-yards rushing.
Said Kamara: “You know it feels good to be back out there with my teammates and my coaches. Just playing again. I mean I feel real good.”

The Vols led only 21-16 early in the third when Dobbs hit Josh Malone for a 51-yard touchdown. UT got the lead to 27, but the Cats gashed the Vols for 443-yards rushing to keep the final somewhat respectable at 49-36.

Said Vols defensive end Corey Vereen: “Just in terms of our defense I feel like we didn’t play up to our standard in terms of just rushing defense. That was upsetting.”

Said Dobbs: “Who has more yards. Who has more first downs. Doesn’t matter. You just want to come out with more points, and that’s what we were able to do today.”

Tennessee will host Missouri next Saturday at 3:30pm in a game televised on News 12 Now.