Vols bring home first SEC win of the season against Oklahoma

NORMAN, Okla. (WATE) — Josh Heupel’s homecoming to Oklahoma was a sweet one. Tennessee’s head coach won a national championship with the Sooners back in 2000 and returned to Norman to claim a 25-15 win in OU’s first ever SEC game.

Elijah Simmons set the tone on defense early with a tackle for loss on Oklahoma’s first offensive play of the game. Facing 4th and 2, Tennessee’s defense forced a turnover on downs as Jermod McCoy broke up a pass from Jackson Arnold.

However, the Sooners defense also got out to a strong start, forcing a three-and-out on Tennessee’s first offensive drive. It was another quick three-and-out for the Vols on their next possession.

Tennessee got on the board first thanks to its defense. Jermod McCoy picked off Jackson’s Arnold’s pass and returned it 17 yards to the 50-yard line. Nico Iamaleava then connected with Bru McCoy on a 38-yard pass to put the Vols in the red zone. However, the Vols had to settle for a field goal as Max Gilbert booted a 26-yarder to give Tennessee a 3-0 lead with 3:45 in the first.

The Sooners marched back down the field and responded with their own 27-yard field goal to tie the game at three with 42 seconds left in the opening quarter.

That gave plenty of time for Iamaleava and the Vols offense to strike again before the second. Tennessee needed just two plays to find the endzone. Iamaleava connected with Squirrel White on a 14-yard pass, and then Nico found Dont’e Thornton on a 66-yard touchdown pass. It marked the freshman quarterback’s longest pass of the season, as the Vols took a 10-3 lead into the second quarter.

The Sooners came into the game leading the nation in fumble recoveries. Oklahoma forced another as Iamaleava was sacked and Oklahoma’s Ethan Downs recovered the ball at the 5-yard line.

It looked like OU was in perfect position to score. However, Tennessee’s defense forced a fumble of its own on the very next play as Arnold lost the ball and Joshua Josephs recovered it. The Vols weren’t able to capitalize on the drive though.

However, once again, Tennessee’s defense put up points for the Vols. Following a Jackson Ross punt to the four-yard line, the Sooners’ offense was called for an offsides penalty, backing up Oklahoma into the end zone. Jayson Jenkins stopped Jovantae Barnes for a two-yard loss, and two points for the Vols thanks to a safety.

With Lance Heard out and John Campbell injured in the second quarter, the Vols had two backup offensive tackles out on the field with Dayne Davis at right and Larry Johnson at left. It caused an issue up front as Nico Iamaleava was sacked and stripped again as OU recovered the football.

However, just as we saw in the first quarter, Tennessee got the ball back right away as a backwards pass from Arnold was recovered by Jakobe Thomas. The Vols took advantage on the drive as Dylan Sampson 10th rushing touchdown of the season gave Tennessee a 19-3 lead late in the second quarter.

The Sooners made a quarterback change following Sampson’s touchdown as Michael Hawkins replaced Jackson Arnold.

With the Sooners punting the ball back to Tennessee, the Vols made headway back with Bru McCoy catching a 42-yard pass. Max Gilbert finished the job with another field goal to extend the lead to 22-3.

The Sooners made an attempt to close the gap in the fourth with a Javontae Barnes touchdown Tennessee responded with another field goal to make it a 25-9 ballgame.

Oklahoma cut the deficit to 25-15 with a garbage time touchdown.

UP NEXT: The Vols will be taking on University of Arkansas in Fayetteville on Saturday, October 5.

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