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'An entire four quarters': What Josh Heupel wants to see next from No. 21 Tennessee

IMG_3593by: Grant Ramey09/29/23GrantRamey
Josh Heupel, Joe Milton
© Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

There was a stretch against Virginia on September 2 when Tennessee appeared to find its offensive groove. The Vols scored six touchdowns over a span of seven possessions stretching   from late in the second quarter until early in the fourth.

The Vols won 49-13 to open the new season at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.

A week later was four quarters of underwhelming football against Austin Peay at Neyland Stadium, a 30-13 win in Tennessee’s home opener. 

After a quick start at Florida, with Tennessee scoring on a six-play, 71-yard touchdown drive to take a 7-0 lead at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, the wheels fell off in the second quarter. The Gators outscored the Vols 20-0 and took control in what ultimately was a 29-16 win in The Swamp.

No. 21 Tennessee vs. South Carolina, Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network

Last week, Tennessee took a 31-0 lead over UTSA nearly as quickly as Joe Milton III ran 81 yards for a touchdown on the game’s opening play. 

There was a sputter in the third quarter, though, as the Roadrunners outscored the Vols 14-0 before Tennessee answered twice in the fourth in the 45-14 win. 

It all points to one obvious step Josh Heupel wants to see his Tennessee take: 60 minutes of good football.

“Playing dialed in, competitive, consistent football for an entire four quarters,” Heupel said this week. “Not having to dip at any point of it.”

No. 21 Tennessee (3-1, 0-1 SEC) hosts South Carolina (2-2, 1-1) Saturday night (7:30 p.m. Eastern Time, SEC Network) at Neyland Stadium. It’s an ideal setting and situation for the Vols to put together four quarters for the first time in 2023. 

‘It’s time for us to put those four quarters together’

A costly interception in the first half,10 penalties for 79 yards and a defense that couldn’t get off the field doomed Tennessee at Florida. Against UTSA, the Vols punted three times in the third quarter while giving up two scoring drives covering 141 yards over 19 plays. 

Tennessee trailed Austin Peay with five minutes left in the second quarter and didn’t score a touchdown until there were 15 seconds left in the first half. 

“Not that you’re gonna play perfect,” Heupel said, “but just the competitive spirit, the competitive edge. I think that is something that I’ve challenged our team (with), that it’s time for us to put those four quarters together in that way.

“I think we gotta continue to play smarter football as well. And I told the team today, the team that plays the hardest, and the smartest football team, on Saturday wins.”

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