Sep 24, 2016; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Joshua Dobbs (11) runs the ball against the Florida Gators during the second quarter at Neyland Stadium. Photo Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
No. 14 Tennessee ended its 11-year losing streak against 19th-ranked Florida in dramatic, emphatic fashion.
Josh Dobbs threw for four second-half touchdowns Saturday as the Volunteers erased a 21-0 first-half deficit to post a 38-28 Southeastern Conference win at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Booed off the field at halftime with the Gators leading 21-3, Tennessee (4-0, 1-0) flipped the script behind Dobbs, whose passing has come under criticism during his career.
Dobbs started the second-half rally with a 23-yard scoring strike to running back Jalen Hurd with 7:29 left in the third quarter, followed by a 20-yard touchdown reception by tight end Ethan Wolf with 59 seconds remaining that drew the Vols within 21-17.
Dobbs then hit wide receiver Jauan Jennings for a juggling 67-yard score down the right sideline with 12:45 left in the game, giving Tennessee its first lead of the day as a crowd of 102,455 roared.
The next touchdown came less than 90 seconds later after an interception by Todd Kelly set the Vols up at the Gators’ 42-yard line. Three plays later, Dobbs found Josh Malone on a slant and Malone outraced defenders for a 42-yard score and a 31-21 advantage. Dobbs tacked on the final score with 8:27 remaining on a 5-yard keeper.
Florida’s offense, which moved skillfully up and down the field during the first half, grinded to a halt while Tennessee took command. The Gators (3-1, 1-1) didn’t manage a first down in the second half until an 86-yard touchdown march concluded with a 10-yard pass from Austin Appleby to Freddie Swain with 4:17 left.
Appleby, who completed 23 of 39 passes for 296 yards and three touchdowns, got Florida off to a fast start with a 3-yard scoring pass to tight end DeAndre Goolsby 85 seconds into the game.
It became 14-0 when Appleby hit Jordan Cronkrite with a 15-yard touchdown pass with 14:10 left in the first half and 21-0 on Josh Scarlett’s 1-yard plunge 5:12 before halftime.
The Vols managed just a 28-yard field goal by Aaron Medley late in the first half. But Dobbs, who finished with 319 yards passing and 80 on the ground, led them to their long-awaited win over their fiercest SEC East rival.
NOTES: This is the first time the teams met as unbeaten, ranked squads since 2012. … Tennessee LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin left in the first quarter with a shoulder injury that was supposed to sideline him for the remainder of the game, but he returned in the third quarter. … Florida’s defense entered the game allowing opponents to convert just 19 percent of their third down chances.
