#30 Tennessee – 6
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Sensationalizationalism 2010 got under way with one of the sloppiest games in tournament history as neither Arizona nor Tennessee looked liked they wanted anything to do with the football in a first half that featured 7 turnovers, including 2 on one play. Yes, you read that right; 7 turnovers in the first half.
Showing the understandable Sensationalizationalism jitters, the Vols put the ball on the ground on their opening drive only to see Arizona return the favor with a fumble of their own on the way into the end zone. Three plays later, HB Montario Hardesty suffered the same fate and the Wildcats took over in the redzone. On 3rd and 9 with time running out in the first quarter, Nick Scott was intercepted by DE Ben Martin, but his momentum took him backwards and WR Delshaun Dean pushed him out of the side of the end zone for a safety.
On the ensuing drive, the Wildcats faced a 3rd and Goal and again QB Nick Scott was intercepted near the goal line, this time by CB Dennis Rogan. However HB Nic Grigbsy stayed with the play and caught up to Rogan, stripping him from behind and giving the Wildcats another shot. Grigbsy was rewarded with 2 carries, punching it in to the end zone to give Arizona a 9-0 lead.
It looked liked the Vols had finally settled down and were poised to get on the board before halftime as Jonathan Crompton completed a 61 yard pass to Gerald Jones setting up a 1st and Goal from the 2 with just 16 seconds remaining. But Crompton was intercepted in the end zone on the next play by FS Cam Nelson to kill the threat.
CB Trevin Wade took away another Crompton pass on Tennessee's 2nd play of the third quarter, and again the Wildcats took advantage with a second Grigsby touchdown.
Sophomore reserve Nick Lamaison was brought in to try his hand on the Vols next possession, but was picked off by Nelson on his first play from scrimmage. Grigsby capped off his day with a 20-yard TD scamper to put the 'Cats up by three scores. The Vols finally got on the board with 1:18 remaining in the game, but few fans were left in Neyland Stadium to see it, heading for the exits much earlier and showering head coach Lane Kiffin with a chorus of boos.
Despite their own turnover problems, the Wildcats were able to pick up 13 first downs and held the ball for over 12 minutes while gaining 235 yards of offense. Nic Grigsby finished the day with 149 of those, scoring 3 TDs on 20 carries.
The 'Cats now await the winner of #3 Alabama vs. #62 Nevada.
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