The No. 19 Oklahoma Sooners rallied to defeat the No. 23 Tennessee Volunteers in double overtime.
Joshua Dobbs had himself quite the day. The Tennessee quarterback made moves with his arm and moves with his legs as he helped lead Tennessee to a revenge win over Oklahoma. The Voluteers had all the motivation they needed after the Sooners had trounced them in Norman last season.
Tennessee came out with the necessary energy to put the foot down on Oklahoma and the crowd at Neyland Stadium followed suit early on. It all got started when Todd Kelly Jr. picked off Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield on the first drive. The Volunteers would get the ball to the goalline of the Sooners early, but decided to kick the field goal and take the three points.
Before you knew it, Joshua Dobbs and the Vols had built a 17-0 lead on the Sooners and things were looking grim for Oklahoma.
Baker Mayfield and the Sooners put together a better drive at the end of the first half, but they couldn’t capitalize on the drive as they were forced to settle for a field goal. The two teams would head into the locker rooms at halftime with Tennessee up 17-3.
Tennessee would have a chance for more points at the start of the second half, but neither Dobbs nor his receivers could connect. They would end up sending out the kicking unit on the play, but Aaron Medley would miss from 48 yards out.
Alabama could move the ball nowhere in the third quarter as Tennessee’s defense was all over Baker Mayfield. With constant pressure in his face, Mayfield couldn’t break free and make plays with his legs as he kept getting bottled up on the field.
Late in the third, Oklahoma would ramp up their defensive pressure on Dobbs and thought they had a fumble return for a touchdown, but the refs ruled that Dobbs forward progress had stopped. Bob Stoops was extra animated after the ruling on the field. It could have easily been ruled the other way and one that will stick with the Sooners. To make matters worse, Baker Mayfield would throw a second interception to Todd Kelly Jr. at the end of the third quarter.
In the middle of the fourth, Oklahoma would finally get on the board as Baker Mayfield scrambled and found Samaje Perine in the back of the endzone. Suddenly, the Sooners found themselves right back into the game and it was up to Tennessee to try and find a way to finish off Oklahoma. Oklahoma would get the ball down to the Volunteers’ one. They would run the ball in initially for a touchdown but it would be called back due to a holding call.
With Oklahoma at a third down and 42 seconds left in the game, they would have two final shots to tie Tennessee. That’s when Baker Mayfield found Sterling Shepard on the fade and the Sooners would do the unthinkable and tie the game after the early hole they dug themselves. The game would head to overtime in what was turning out to be a classic battle between heavyweights.
In the first overtime, Jalen Hurd would put the Volunteers on the board with a touchdown run off to the right side. It would be up to the Volunteers defense to hold off the Sooners offense for the win. Shepard would catch a pass right away for the Sooners in the first overtime and put the Sooners right on the door of tying the Volunteers. The Sooners would have fourth and goal on the one-yard line to score and tie the game. That’s when Baker Mayfield would step up and score the tying score with his legs and tie the game at 24.
In the second overtime, Oklahoma had the ball first. Baker Mayfield would find Shepard yet again for another score to put Oklahoma up. With their backs against the wall, Tennessee would throw an interception as Oklahoma rallied to win the game.
Three Stars
3. Joshua Dobbs
Joshua Dobbs didn’t have his best numbers on Saturday, but he made the plays when they mattered the most. He threw a first quarter touchdown pass on the run to Josh Malone and then later ran for a score himself into the endzone to extend the Volunteers lead in the first half.
2. Todd Kelly Jr.
Sophomore defensive back Todd Kelly Jr. was the emotional lift for Tennessee every time they needed him. He started the game off by picking off Oklahoma on the Sooners first drive which led to a Tennessee field goal. Later in the game he picked off the Sooners and gave the Volunteers and their crowd even more momentum. Without those two interceptions the Sooners could have put up points on the board.
1. Baker Mayfield
Baker Mayfield had an absolutely rough first half. He then grew up as a football player in the second half and led the Sooners to a tie game against the Volunteers. His biggest play came in the first overtime when on fourth down he ran for a touchdown to tie the game. He would make the big plays when Oklahoma needed it.
Odds
Oklahoma was favored by two heading into the game. Oklahoma covered the spread.
Next Week
Next week Tennessee is at home again when they play host to a visiting Western Carolina before they begin SEC play in a couple of weeks. It should be another good chance for Joshua Dobbs to continue to make plays for the Volunteers and for the defense to get some prep work in.
Next week, the Oklahoma Sooners return home as Baker Mayfield and the team play host to Tulsa. It will be one last chance for Oklahoma to prepare themselves and work on fixing some things offensively and defensively before beginning Big-12 play in a couple of weeks.
More from FanSided
- Joe Burrow owes Justin Herbert a thank you note after new contract
- Chiefs gamble at wide receiver could already be biting them back
- Braves-Red Sox start time: Braves rain delay in Boston on July 25
- Yankees: Aaron Boone gives optimistic return date for Aaron Judge
- MLB Rumors: Yankees-Phillies trade showdown, Mariners swoop, India goes to Seattle