Tennessee stuns Mississippi State, 20-10

The Tennessee Volunteers pulled off a stunner on Saturday.

The Volunteers defeated the Mississippi State Bulldogs 20-10 in Knoxville, giving them their first SEC win of the year. Their win on Saturday over the Bulldogs was also the first conference victory for the Vols since they picked off the Kentucky Wildcats last November.

The win for Tennessee came in rather ugly fashion. They only amassed 357 total yards, including just 167 yards through the air. Mississippi State didn’t fare much better, as the Bulldogs put up 267 total yards and a mere 146 passing yards. All wins count the same though, so Tennessee will assuredly take this win no matter how they got it.

The Volunteers got on the board first after a Tim Jordan rushing touchdown in the first quarter. Mississippi State would find it difficult to answer, but did eventually with a field goal halfway through the second quarter. Later in that frame, Tennessee pushed a field goal of their own through the uprights to prop themselves up 10-3.

The Vols put yet another field goal on the board, but were pushed in the fourth quarter to score more points. That’s because Garrett Shrader found Deddrick Thomas on a 17-yard touchdown pass to make it 13-10. Luckily for Tennessee, they were able to see their lead swell. Tyler Byrd pulled in a 39-yard reception for a touchdown with 2:35 left to shut the door on any possible comeback for State.

This is a rather debilitating loss for Mississippi State, and the stock for Joe Moorhead probably can’t get much lower than it is now. Optimism will be hard to come by in Starkville, but in Knoxville? We figure things will feel pretty great. The Vols have been a punching bag all season, and for the past few seasons of course. But a win like this does a lot for morale for that team.