Tennessee Football Notes: South Carolina Game

Oct. 26, 2009

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GAME 8: Vols Face Gamecocks on Halloween Night

Quick Facts

Tennessee: 3-4, 1-3 SEC

S. Carolina: 6-2, 3-2 SEC

UT: Lane Kiffin: 3-4 (1st yr)

SC: Steve Spurrier: 176-64-2 (19th yr)

UT: NR AP / NR USA Today

SC: 21 AP / 21 USA Today

Series: UT leads 21-4-1

At Knoxville: UT leads 13-1

Site: Neyland Stadium (100,011)

TV: ESPN

Announcers: Brad Nessler, Todd Blackledge, Erin Andrews

Radio: Vol Network

Announcers: Bob Kesling, Tim Priest, Mike Stowell

Next Game: Nov. 7 vs. Memphis

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Series History: Tennessee holds a 21-4-2 all-time advantage in the series and a 13-1 advantage in games played in Knoxville. The two teams have split the last four games, with the Vols winning in 2006 and 2007 and the Gamecocks claiming victory in 2005 and 2008.
Last Meeting: Tennessee turned it over twice in the second quarter en route to a 21-0 halftime deficit and couldn't recover in a 27-6 loss in Columbia last season. The Vols held South Carolina to 255 total yards but produced only 207 yards.
Close Calls: Since Steve Spurrier took over in Columbia, the Vols and Gamecocks have played three of four games to final margins of a touchdown or less. Only the 2008 game finished with a two-score final margin.
Youth Served: Tennessee and South Carolina rely on first-year college players more than any other teams in the Southeastern Conference. The Vols have 14 true or redshirt freshmen on their two-deep depth chart, while South Carolina has 15.
October is Important: Tennessee closes the month of October with the South Carolina game as the fourth of four contests critical to the Vols' bowl hopes. The Vols dropped a close game vs. Auburn to open the month, but rebounded with a convincing win over Georgia a week later. They fell two points short last week of upsetting No. 1 Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Entering the month, Tennessee had won just 51 percent of its games all-time vs its October opponents. UT's has won 74 percent of its games against its November opponents.
On Halloween: Tennessee is 11-3 all-time on Oct. 31 and 1-1 vs. South Carolina on that date. The Vols have not played a home game on Halloween since 1942, but in four home Halloween contests from 1914-42, Tennessee was a perfect 4-0.
A win would: A victory over South Carolina would ensure the Vols of at least a .500 mark at Neyland Stadium this season and prevent the Gamecocks from winning consecutive games in the series for the first time.
A loss would: A loss would give Tennessee a losing record in the month of October for the first time since 2005.

Offenses Can't Find Endzone vs. Vols

The Tennessee defense has held its opponents without an offensive touchdown in each of the last two games and surrendered a total of 15 points. The last opponent to score an offensive touchdown vs. Tennessee was Auburn on Oct. 3. The Vols gave up a score early in the fourth quarter of that game, but have gone a total of 133 minutes since last allowing an offensive touchdown.

On the season, the Vols have allowed just seven offensive touchdowns, which is the second-best mark in the Southeastern Conference behind Florida's four touchdowns allowed.

The Vols rank among the nation's best on defense, coming in sixth nationally in pass defense at 155.6 yards per game, 10th in total defense at 269.71 yards per game and 25th in scoring defense at 18.43 points per game.

Crompton Turning the Corner

Senior quarterback Jonathan Crompton has made strides in his last three games after struggling through three of the first four contests this season. In his last three games, the Waynesville, N.C., native has completed 61 of 106 (.566) passes for 834 yards and seven touchdowns vs. two interceptions. In those three games, Crompton averaged 278 yards through the air and an interception every 53 attempts.

Through the season's first four games, Crompton had completed 62 of 105 (.590) passes for 641 yards and seven touchdowns vs. eight interceptions. Those numbers work out to an average of 160.25 yards per game and an interception every 13 attempts.

In the last three games, Crompton has a quarterback rating of 141.66, while in the first three games his rating stood at 117.09.

The senior signal-caller has also made improvements within games. In the last three contests, his second-half completion percentage is .627 vs. a first-half rate of .521.

Crompton has either started or seen significant action in 17 career games and his top three passing yardage totals have come in the last three games. He had never thrown for 250 yards in a game entering the Auburn contest, but has now done so in three-straight games.

Crompton was named SEC Offensive Player of the Week and AT&T All-American Player of the Week for completing 20-of-27 passes for 310 yards and four touchdowns vs. Georgia.

Crompton Improved in Last Two Games

Senior quarterback Jonathan Crompton has made strides in his last two games after struggling through the three of the first four contests this season.

Through four games, Crompton had completed 62 of 105 passes for 641 yards for a .590 completion percentage and 160. 25 yards per game. He threw seven touchdown passes and eight interceptions. In his last two games, the Waynesville, N.C., native has completed 40 of 70 passes for 569 yards and six touchdowns vs. just one interception.

In just his last five quarters, Crompton has completed 68.8 percent of his passes (33-of-48) for 491 yards and six touchdowns. His quarterback rating through four games was 114.20, and in the last two games it is 150.85.

Crompton was named SEC Offensive Player of the Week and AT&T All-American Player of the Week for completing 20-of-27 passes for 310 yards and four touchdowns vs. Georgia.

Vols Finding Big-Play Potential

Tennessee has produced 16 plays of 20 yards or more in the last three games, and five of those plays have gone for touchdowns.

In the previous three games, the Vols managed just eight plays of 20 yards or more.

At Alabama, the Vols posted four 20-plus yard plays, but had eight plays that gained between 10 and 19 yards.

The Vols also developed some explosiveness vs. Georgia, scoring on drives of three plays or less three times. In the Vols' previous four games, they produced only one touchdown drive of three plays or less, and that came off a UCLA turnover in its own red zone.

Hardesty Among SEC's Top Backs

In seven starts during the 2009 season, senior tailback Montario Hardesty has averaged 102.9 yards per game and scored six rushing touchdowns.

At Alabama, Hardesty was stymied for much of the game, but produced career highs in receptions and receiving yards with four grabs for 66 yards.

The New Bern, N.C., native currently ranks 20th in the nation and fourth in the SEC in rushing yards per game. He is on pace for 1,234 rushing yards in 2009, which would rank as the eighth-best single-season performance in school history.

Hardesty has reeled off 23 runs of 10 yards or more, including five 20-plus yard treks and touchdown runs of 39 and 43 yards. His six rushing touchdowns are tied for third in the SEC.

He became the 27th back in school history to eclipse the career 1,500-yard mark with a 140-yard effort vs. Ohio on Sept. 27. He now ranks 17th in school history with 1,766 yards. Hardesty has scored 19 career rushing touchdowns, which ranks 14th in program history.

Hardesty rushed for 1,046 yards in his first three seasons and worked primarily as a goal line back in 2008, scoring six touchdowns.

Thanks in large part to Hardesty, the Vols are rolling up an average of 168 yards per game on the ground and have scored 10 rushing touchdowns.

Tracking The True Freshmen

Tennessee has played no fewer than seven true freshmen in each of its seven games this season. Among those players are offensive standouts Bryce Brown, David Oku, Nu'Keese Richardson and Marsalis Teague.

The four have combined for 107 offensive touches and 679 total yards, good for 97 yards per game and 6.3 yards per touch.

Oku and Richardson are combining to average 22.7 yards per kickoff return as well.

Jones Becoming Threat at Receiver

Junior wideout Gerald Jones has overcome an ankle injury suffered in preseason camp and made himself the Vols' top wide receiver threat through seven games.

Jones caught just three passes in his first three games of the season after sitting out the Western Kentucky game due to injury. In the last three games, Jones has caught 19 passes for 252 yards and three touchdowns.

He set a career high for receptions with seven in the Auburn and Alabama games and set a career high for receiving yards with 105 in the Georgia game. He was Tennessee's first 100-yard receiver in 15 games. Jones' top three career single-game yardage totals have come in the last three games.

Moore In Top Form As Well

Senior Denarius Moore has also overcome early season injuries to become a threat in the passing game. Moore made only one catch for four yards in the season's first three games, but he has posted 15 catches for 237 yards and two touchdowns in the last four contests.

After using three different starting lineups at wide receiver in the first five games, Moore and Jones have each started the last two contests and combined for 20 catches, 323 yards and four touchdowns.

Stocker Emerging as Favorite Target

Junior tight end Luke Stocker has nine catches for 147 yards in the last three games. Through seven games, Stocker has 13 catches after making only 13 grabs a season ago.

He is second on the team at 14.7 yards per catch and has scored two touchdowns after not scoring at all in 2008.

Stocker has also contributed to UT's big-play success in the last three contests as he has three catches of more than 20 yards, including a 23-yard reception that set up a potential game-winning field goal attempt at Alabama.

McCoy Shining in Reveiz's Absence

Tennessee lost starting middle linebacker and team captain Nick Reveiz in the Ohio game and has seen weakside linebacker Rico McCoy step up in his absence. McCoy led the team in tackles for the fourth-straight game at Alabama, posting 12 stops and adding half a tackle for loss. The Washington, D.C., native posted a career-high 16 tackles vs. Auburn and has led the team in stops 18 times in his career.

He leads the team through seven games with 65 stops after posting 87 a year ago. His 65 tackles (9.3 per game) rank second in the SEC as well.

Berry A Standout in New Role

Junior defensive back Eric Berry entered the 2009 campaign in search of the school record for career interceptions and the NCAA record for career interception return yards, but a change in coordinators has forced Berry into a new role playing closer to the line of scrimmage.

While Berry is second nationally among active players in interceptions with 13, he is also second on the team and eighth in the Southeastern Conference in tackles with 55, an average of 7.8 per game. He is also third on the team in tackles for loss with five for nine yards. In his first two seasons, Berry averaged six stops per game and 5.25 tackles for loss per season.

He tied his career high with 14 stops vs. Auburn, and has posted three double-digit tackle games this season and seven in his career.

He got back into his big-play act in the last two games, posting a 46-yard fumble return that set up UT's final score vs. Georgia and forcing and recovering a crucial fumble in the fourth quarter at Alabama. He has 101 career fumble return yards on three returns.

Vols Dominant in Fourth Quarter

Through seven games, the Tennessee defense is allowing an average of 61 yards per game and 2.3 points in the fourth quarter. The Vols have allowed just 16 points to be scored in the fourth quarter while scoring 73.

UT opened the season by playing 49 fourth-quarter minutes without allowing a point before surrendering a field goal to Ohio. After giving up a touchdown and a field goal to Auburn in the final frame, the Vols returned to form vs. Georgia and Alabama, giving up 131 total yards and three points in the two games combined.

Kiffin's Defense Making Mark Each Game

Through seven games, the Tennessee defense ranks sixth nationally in passing defense and 10th nationally in total defense. The Vols are surrendering 155.86 passing yards per game and 269.71 total yards per game. The cumulative stats through seven games are impressive, but the UT defense has produced at least one eye-catching statistic in each game this season.

Western Kentucky: Allowed 83 yards of total offense and posted 12 tackles for loss and five sacks.
UCLA: Did not allow the Bruins a first down on six of 13 possessions.
at Florida: Posted eight tackles for loss and three sacks while holding Gators to lowest passing yardage total of the season.
Ohio: Held Ohio to just 21 total rushing yards and one rushing yard in the first half
Auburn: Held Tigers to their then-lowest point total of the season and allowed just two touchdowns, then a season-low for Auburn.
Georgia: Did not allow Bulldogs into the red zone and surrendered just 85 total yards in the second half.
at Alabama: Did not allow Crimson Tide a touchdown and forced two fourth-quarter three-and-outs.

University of Tennessee Athletics

GAME 8: Vols Face Gamecocks on Halloween Night

Quick Facts

Related Links

Quick Hits

Offenses Can't Find Endzone vs. Vols

Crompton Turning the Corner

Crompton Improved in Last Two Games

Vols Finding Big-Play Potential

Hardesty Among SEC's Top Backs

Tracking The True Freshmen

Jones Becoming Threat at Receiver

Moore In Top Form As Well

Stocker Emerging as Favorite Target

McCoy Shining in Reveiz's Absence

Berry A Standout in New Role

Vols Dominant in Fourth Quarter

Kiffin's Defense Making Mark Each Game

Players Mentioned

Eric Berry

Bryce Brown

Jonathan Crompton

Montario Hardesty

Gerald Jones

Rico McCoy

Denarius Moore

David Oku

Nick Reveiz

Nu'Keese Richardson

Luke Stocker

Marsalis Teague

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