The Volunteers got off to a rocky start Saturday night on Rocky Top. Fans had barely settled into their seats before Tennessee's Tyler Bray carelessly threw a ball off his back foot into Akron defensive back Avis Commack's hands for an interception which was taken back for six quick points. The game was 35 seconds old, and the Vols had already fallen behind by a score of 7-0. The Vols responded nicely however, with a long drive capped off by a 2-yard TD run from Tennessee linebacker A.J. Johnson. This was Johnson's second touchdown of the season. Johnson gives the Vols a much needed power look out of the wildcat formation any time the Vols get close to the Checkerboards. Tennessee and Akron swapped field goals as the opening frame expired, and headed into the second quarter tied at 10.
In the second quarter, the Vols and Zips once again traded field goals to tie the game at 13. It wasn't until midway through the second quarter that the Vols found some separation when Tyler Bray connected with Brendan "Downsy" Downs for a 6 yard touchdown and a 7 point Volunteer lead. Akron was not willing to fade into the night however. Akron kicker Robert Stein pulled the Zips within 4 points with 5 minutes to go in the half when he connected on a 37 yard field goal attempt. This was his 3rd successful attempt of the game. After a botched Tennessee possession, Akron took over at their own 30 yard line when running back Quentin Hines broke loose for an uncontested 70 yard touchdown scamper. A late Derrick Brodus field goal for the Vols tied the game at 23 as the teams headed for the locker room.
The second half started with no real emotion coming from the Volunteer team or its dejected fan base of around 80,000. Akron seemed poised on taking its opening possession and scoring on the Volunteers. Just when it seemed as though the Zips were about to punch the ball into the end zone, quarterback Dalton Williams threw an interception deep in Tennessee territory to completely swing the momentum of the game. The interception was safety Byron Moore's second of the night. It was the first time a Tennessee player had recorded two interceptions in one game since 2007. The Volunteers went on to score on a 3 yard pass from Tyler Bray to Rajion Neal to pull the Vols ahead of Akron 30-23.
The fourth and final frame began with Akron driving deep on the Tennessee side of the field. Robert Stein nailed his fourth field goal of the night to bring Akron within 4 points of the Vols. But from this point forward Tennessee was determined to put this pesky opponent away. Akron would not score again, as Tyler Bray proceeded to connect on a pair of touchdowns to receivers Justin Hunter and Jacob Carter. An additional Derrick Brodus field goal was added, and the Volunteers went on to close out the Zips en route to a 47-26 victory inside Neyland Stadium. The Vols travel south next weekend, as they prepare for battle with the Georgia Bulldogs in Athens...
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