Avery Journal-Times
KNOXVILLE- The Volunteers were tired of losing. Eric Berry and the Tennessee were determined to avoid a 0-4 league start.
Berry intercepted a Mississippi State pass with 10:37 left in the contest an
d returned it for a touchdown that put Tennessee (3-4, 1-4) up 20-3, and swung the momentum to the Volunteer side as Tennessee took a 34-3 victory over the struggling Bulldogs."It's almost indiscernible the difference between winning and losing,” Coach Phillip Fulmer said. “I want to say a special thanks to the team who did one heck of a job this week preparing, staying the course and working. To the coaches, for the work they did during the week and especially tonight we got some really nice work done. Overall, it was just a fantastic win for us. That win is something to build on."”
The game was suppose to be a lackluster affair between two of the SEC’s worst, and for the first half it appeared to be headed in that direction. The Vols scored on two Daniel Lincoln field goals, and took a 6-3 lead into the locker room.
However, Nick Stephens and the Volunteer offense answered the call as they marched down the field on the opening possession in the second half. Austin Rogers appeared to catch a Stephens’s 21-yard touchdown pass, but was ruled down at the one yard line.
However, the offense would not be shut out of the end zone as Montario Hardesty jumped over the pile into the end zone.
The Tennessee defense continued to shut down the Bulldogs offense. Berry electrif
ied the Neyland Stadium crowd as he returned an interception 72 yards.“I don't know if I've ever seen anybody like Eric Berry,” Fulmer said. “It's amazing what he does when he has a football in his hands and the spirit that he brings to the team.”
Berry finished the game with 10 tackles, one tackle for loss, one sack, and an interception for a touchdown. With the interception, Berry became the SEC’s career interception return leader as a sophomore.
"On the interception I was headed to the ball and I think Ellix (Wilson) tipped it and it went downhill from there,” Berry said. “As far as breaking the record, I feel like it's really a team effort as well as an individual effort. We're getting great pressure up front week-in and week-out and doing great blocking down the field after the interception."
On the next Bulldog posse
ssion, it was Dematrice Morley’s turn to get an interception as he sprinted 32 yards for the touchdown. The Vols then put the game in Lennon Creer’s hands as he carried the ball for 12 straight plays for 51 yards, and Creer got into the end zone from one yard out.Creer ended the game with 17 carries for 68 yards and one touchdown. Stephens ended the game 10 of 20 for 136 yards, and Adrian Foster added 40 yards on 11 carries.
The Volunteer defense had five sacks on the night, and limited Mississippi State’s offense to 189 yards.
However, Coach Fulmer knows that the victory was important, but UT still have work to do.
“There is still much to be done, but I think this is something we could build-on and build the confidence of the football team,” Coach Fulmer said. “The energy from the team and the stadium in the second half when we finally started making plays (was great). We have sometimes been our own worst enemy. We had no turnovers tonight and one penalty for the evening, and if nothing else, that's great progress.”The Vols host #2 Alabama on Saturday evening.
