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Tennessee Vols’ Jalen Hurd scores game-winning TD in OT (Video)

By Matt Couden

Sep 1, 2016; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Jalen Hurd (1) runs the ball against the Appalachian State Mountaineers during the second quarter at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 1, 2016; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Jalen Hurd (1) runs the ball against the Appalachian State Mountaineers during the second quarter at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Tennessee Volunteers managed to stave off a college football upset against Appalachian State on Thursday night with an exciting touchdown in overtime.

In Thursday night’s college football action, the Tennessee Volunteers were on upset alert courtesy of Appalachian State. In a wild game that went to overtime, the Vols managed to keep themselves in the Top 25, for now.

The overtime play saw quarterback Joshua Dobbs rush towards the end zone on the team’s opening drive of overtime. He got all the way there, almost. Dobbs tried to make the exciting dive, only to have Appalachian State’s defenders crash into him. That caused the fumble.

Luckily for the vols, Jalen Hurd had the presence of mind, grit and determination to recover the ball in the end zone. Some simply say he was lucky. Being in the right place at the right time brings opportunity.

That fumble recovery for the touchdown gave Tennesse the game with a 20-13 win. It also kept them in the Top 25. The Volunteers were ranked No. 9 coming into the game. However, Appalachian State had them on the ropes throughout. The Vols will probably be dropping a bit after the newest polls arrive.

The Mountaineers led the game 13-6 heading into the fourth quarter. However, quarterback Joshua Dobbs had a big play in that quarter, finding Josh Malone for the 67-yard touchdown. That evened the score and set up the sudden-death overtime situation.

Hurd finished the game with 28 carries for 110 total yards. However, no play was bigger for his team tonight than his fumble recovery, keeping the Vols alive in the Top 25 for at least another week.

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The junior running back will look to have another strong season. So far for his college career, he’s compiled 2,187 yards and 17 touchdowns, including the game-winning one tonight. Hurd’s key play may also have taken a bit of pressure off his quarterback, who may need to do some evaluation of his decision-making from tonight’s outing.

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