Throughout its tradition-rich football history, the University of Tennessee football program has captured some monumental victories.
This season, each Thursday, Vols Wire will look back at one of Tennessee’s memorable victories against its upcoming opponents.
This installment will revisit the Volunteers’ 2011 overtime victory over Vanderbilt at Neyland Stadium. Tennessee edged the Commodores, 27-21.
The game was decided when Eric Gordon intercepted a pass from Vanderbilt’s Jordan Rodgers and returned it 90 yards for the game-winning score, culminating a comeback in one of the few Southeastern Conference wins during Derek Dooley’s tenure as UT’s head coach.
The Vols jumped out to a 7-0 lead with 9 minutes, 2 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Tauren Poole scored on a 1-yard touchdown plunge and Michael Palardy added the extra point.
The Commodores pulled even in the second frame on Zac Stacy’s 6-yard scoring run.
Quarterback Tyler Bray helped the Vols regain the lead when he connected with Da’Rick Rogers on a 17-yard scoring strike a short time later. That touchdown represented the final points of the first half.
Vanderbilt again knotted the contest in the third quarter when Bray lofted an interception that was returned 100 yards for a touchdown by Archibald Barnes.
Vanderbilt took its first lead of the game with 12:21 remaining in the game when Rodgers threw a 20-yard scoring strike to Chris Boyd.
The Vols would tie the game, 21-21, when Bray found Rodgers for a touchdown pass from two yards out with 6:27 left in the fourth quarter, setting the stage for Gordon’s overtime heroics.
Bray finished the game 16-for-33 with 189 yards, two touchdowns and a pair of interceptions.
Poole had 107 rushing yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.
Rogers finished with 116 yards and two touchdowns, while hauling in 10 receptions.
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