Tennessee’s Eric Berry and Demetrice Morley each returned interceptions for touchdowns helping the Vols get past Mississippi State 34-3 Saturday night.
Tennessee Vols Safety Eric Berry Broke a 60-year Old SEC Record
Berry broke a 60-year old Southeastern Conference record with a 72-yard interception return when he picked off a pass by Tyson Lee with 10:37 left in the fourth quarter.
Berry became the SEC’s career interception return leader with 397 yards, surpassing Ole Miss’ Bobby Wilson, who totaled 379 yards between 1946 and 1949.
The two interceptions returned for scores rescued the Volunteers offense which continued to struggle against the Bulldogs. Tennessee only managed 275 yards for the game, but didn’t turn the ball over and only committed one penalty.
Mississippi State (2-5, 1-3) had their own offensive problems, gaining only 189 yards against the Vols defense and turned the ball over three times on consecutive possessions in the third quarter.
Morley’s return for a score came just 1:27 after Berry’s return, picking off Lee and scampering 32 yards for the touchdown.
The two lowest-scoring teams in the SEC lived up to their billing in the first half, with Tennessee holding a 6-3 lead at halftime.
Tennessee's Defense Bottled up Mississippi State
The Vols started well in the third quarter, taking the opening kick and scoring on an 11-play drive covering 53 yards, capped off by Montario Hardesty’s 1-yard run to put Tennessee ahead 13-3 with 10:00 left in the third quarter.
After Morley’s return Mississippi State went three-and-out on their next possession. Tennessee used running back Lennon Creer on every down of a 12-play, 51-yard drive that put Tennessee up 34-3 with just under 3 minutes left.
Creer finished with 68 yards on 17 carries while Arian Foster gained 40 yards on 11 carries. Quarterback Nick Stephens completed 10-of-20 passes for 136 yards.
Mississippi State’s lone score came on a 10-play, 44-yard drive highlighted by a 12-yard pass from Lee to Henderson on third-and-11. Adam Carlson hit a 43-yard field goal to tie the game at 3 with 6:34 in the second quarter.
The Vols (3-4, 1-3) will face No. 2 Alabama on October 25 in Knoxville. Kickoff has yet to be determined.
good to see Lennon Creer finally get some work. Anyone think that Arian Foster will be given any kind of a shot to break the rushing mark?
Don’t know about Arian getting touches to break the record. To be honest, I wouldn’t go out of my way to accommodate him. They need to win games and right now Hardesty and Creer give them the best chance to do so.
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