KNOXVILLE — The University of Tennessee has a proud and tradition-rich football program, and over the years, the Volunteers have earned some monumental victories.
This season, Vols Wire will take a look back at a memorable victories for the Big Orange against its upcoming opponent.
This installment will revisit Tennessee’s victory over Missouri in 2015, it was the first time that the Volunteers defeated the Tigers, who have a 5-3 lead in the all-time series.
In 2015, the Vols, coached by Butch Jones, made a trip to Columbia and outlasted Missouri, 19-8.
In addition to being the first time that Tennessee defeated the Tigers, after beginning the series with three consecutive losses, it was also the last home game for then-Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel. Pinkel made the Tigers a contender, first in the Big 12 and later in the Southeastern Conference.
The star of the game for UT was kicker Aaron Medley, who made four field goals in the contest.
Medley gave the Vols a 3-0 lead with a 34-yard field goal with 8 minutes, 19 seconds remaining in the first quarter. He would extend UT’s advantage to 6-0 later in the frame when he made a 22-yard kick.
In the second stanza, Medley gave the Big Orange a 9-0 lead with a 44-yard field goal with 12:59 left until halftime.
Tennessee scored its lone touchdown of the game when quarterback Joshua Dobbs had an 8-yard scoring run. Medley added the PAT to make it 16-0 with 17 seconds to go in the first half.
Medley made it 19-0 with a 30-yard field goal with 5:13 left in the third frame.
Missouri avoided a shutout when quarterback Drew Lock (now with the Denver Broncos) scored on a 1-yard plunge early in the fourth quarter.
Notable performers for the Vols included Dobbs, who went 16-for-24 for 89 yards through the air and had a rushing touchdown. Running back Jalen Hurd had 34 carries for 151 yards. He would later transfer to Baylor where he became a wide receiver.
Josh Malone (now with the New York Jets) had two receptions for 35 yards.
Hurd is on injured reserve for the San Francisco 49ers. Dobbs currently plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers.