KNOXVILLE, TN. — Appalachian State was one bounce away from the second biggest regular-season victory in its football history on Thursday night in the season-opening game against Tennessee.
But enough breaks went the Volunteers way in the second half to allow ninth-ranked Tennessee to escape with a 20-13 overtime win before an announced crowd of 100,074 fans at Neyland Stadium.
The Mountaineers fell one second short of having time for a potential game-winning field goal attempt in regulation and Tennessee converted a fumble by quarterback Joshua Dobbs (16-of-29 passing for 192 yards) near the goal line into Jalen Hurd’s go-ahead touchdown to start overtime.