KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Dee Williams returned a punt 39 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter to put No. 19 Tennessee ahead for the first time and the Volunteers shut down Texas A&M the rest of the way in a 20-13 victory Saturday.
Vols punter Jackson Ross backed up the Aggies to the 1, with a three-and-out setting up Williams for the pivotal return.
Jaylen Wright rushed for 136 yards for the Volunteers (5-1, 2-1 Southeastern Conference). The victory was sealed when Gabe Jeudy-Lalley picked off a pass and returned it to the A&M 6 to set up a field goal.
Max Johnson threw two interceptions for Texas A&M (4-3, 2-2). The Aggies were 5 of 15 on third-down conversions.
Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton III was 11 of 22 for 100 yards and touchdown — a 7-yarder to Jacob Warren to tie it in the first quarter.
Johnson had a 2-yard scoring run on Texas A&M's first possession.
THE TAKEAWAY
The only chance Tennessee had at being effective on offense against Texas A&M was to be productive in the run game. The Vols have three talented ball carriers, but finding a seam in the Aggies’ vaunted defensive front wasn’t easy. Jaylen Wright's impressive showing caused a lot of problems for Texas A&M. Special teams and the defense sewed up the victory.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Tennessee’s most impressive victory of the season so far will give the Vols some credibility when it comes to taking some steps up the ladder. The early loss to Florida is still a liability as Tennessee is measured on a national stage. Making up for that loss doesn’t happen in a hurry.
UP NEXT
Texas A&M: At South Carolina on Oct. 28.
Tennessee: At Alabama on Saturday.
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AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll
