Vols Beat South Carolina

The Vols are far from the perfect football team. But give them this-- they're very good when they have to be. Saturday night's win over South Carolina is the most recent example.

Marvin Mitchell's 17-yard interception return for the opening touchdown set the tone for one UT's strangest wins of the season.

South Carolina controlled the 1st quarter. They had the ball ten minutes. But had nothing to show for it. The Vols owned the ball for just over four minutes. In that time-- they scored on Mitchell's interception, watched a tipped pass fall into Bret Smith's hands for another touchdown, and had Jonathan Wade intercept a ball in the endzone to smush a potential Gamecock scoring drive.

Smush. I don't get to use that word much.

The Vols won with another second-half surge. And while two big plays helped produce touchdowns that secured the win, it's the little (critical) things that will be overlooked.

Montario Hardesty's block in the backfield on a blitzing Gamecock gave Erik Ainge just enough nano-seconds to complete a 3rd and 15 pass to Jayson Swain. Also, Robert Meachem's downfield blocking helped spring Jonathan Hefney on a 65-yard punt return.

The Vols came from 17-14 down, and won the game 31-24. They're not perfect, just 7-1-- and a team that could still earn a BCS invitation.