Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs hands off the ball to running back Jalen Hurd during the Vols' 29-21 loss to the Missouri Tigers on Nov. 22, 2014, at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville.KNOXVILLE - What is it about Missouri's visits to Neyland Stadium that brings out the successful fake field goals for Tennessee?
Much like they did two years ago, the Volunteers struck with some trickery again with the 19th-ranked Tigers in town Saturday night.
Trailing 7-3 in the second quarter, Tennessee coach Butch Jones called for a fake field goal that his team executed perfectly. Holder Patrick Ashford, a former quarterback at Morristown West High School and Division II Carson-Newman University, rolled to his right and threw over the top to tight end Alex Ellis for a 31-yard touchdown.
Instead of a 48-yard field-goal attempt by freshman Aaron Medley, the hookup of walk-ons gave Tennessee a brief 10-7 lead with more than 11 minutes left before halftime.
In Missouri's only previous visit to Knoxville, former Tennessee coach Derek Dooley called for a fake in the second overtime, and holder Tyler Drummer scampered in from 5 yards out to give the Vols a 42-35 lead. The Tigers, in their first year in the SEC after moving over from the Big 12 Conference, won in four overtimes.
For Ellis, who is diabetic, it was the fifth straight game in which he's caught a pass, and it was the Delaware native's first career touchdown catch. The 6-foot-4, 238-pounder has been a constant in Tennessee's tight end platoon this season. He would have had a role in 2013, but a foot injury forced him to miss the season.
As a senior at Morristown West, Ashford threw for 1,300 yards and 14 touchdowns, but none were bigger than the pass he threw Saturday night.
North out for year
Tennessee receiver Marquez North did not play Saturday night as he continues to be bothered by a shoulder injury he suffered against South Carolina.
The 6-4, 221-pound sophomore missed practice Wednesday after practicing the last couple of weeks in a noncontact jersey, and after briefly warming up on Saturday night, he came out in street clothes.
After the game, Jones said North would miss the rest of the season
North last caught a pass against Alabama. Although he started at South Carolina and against Kentucky a week ago, he did not have a catch in either game, though the Vols passed for nearly 600 yards in those games.
Von Pearson, Pig Howard and Jason Croom started at receiver for Tennessee against Missouri.
As expected, center Mack Crowder (leg) and backup guard Austin Sanders (ankle), a former Bradley Central High School standout, did not play Saturday night. Freshman tailback Derrell Scott (hand/thumb) was not available for the second consecutive game. Safety and special-teamer Geraldo Orta also did not dress due to an undisclosed injury.
O-line shuffle
With Crowder missing, Tennessee started its sixth different combination along an offensive line that struggled all night with Missouri's defensive line, the Tigers' strength.
Sophomore Dylan Wiesman made his first career start at center, but a couple of injuries forced the Vols to shuffle things up along the line.
Right tackle Jacob Gilliam briefly left the game before returning, and left tackle Kyler Kerbyson flipped to the right side with redshirt freshman Brett Kendrick, who started twice this season, coming in at left tackle.
When Marcus Jackson was shaken up early in the third quarter, Kendrick again entered at left tackle with Kerbyson, who's started at both tackle spots and left guard this season, sliding into Jackson's spot.
Tennessee tidbits
After losing 15 of their last 16 pregame coin tosses, the Vols actually won the toss Saturday night and chose to defer the option until the second half. ... The Vols recognized 18 seniors before the season's final home game. Gilliam, a former walk-on who's starting after tearing his ACL in the season opener, shared the longest hug with Jones. Quarterback Justin Worley got the loudest cheer.
... Senior defensive tackle Jordan Williams replaced the suspended A.J. Johnson as one of Tennessee's three captains with linebacker/defensive end Curt Maggitt and quarterback Josh Dobbs.
Recruiting roundup
Tennessee's lone official visitor for Saturday night's game was Indianapolis linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr., a four-star prospect who recently decommitted from Michigan. The 6-2, 235-pounder already took official visits to Ole Miss and Oklahoma, and Southern California and Texas also are chasing him.
Kirkland's scholarship offer list includes Oregon, Wisconsin, Arkansas and Missouri, among others.
The Vols also hosted one of their top remaining in-state targets, as Nashville Hillsboro defensive end Kyle Phillips, a teammate of Tennessee athlete commitment Vincent Perry, was in Knoxville for an unofficial visit.
The 6-4, 250-pound Phillips took official visits earlier this season to Alabama, LSU and Ole Miss.
Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com