KNOXVILLE -- Tennessee's win on Saturday was both costly and frustrating for head coach Butch Jones.
Not only did the Volunteers fumble five times and commit nine penalties, but they also lost star defensive players in cornerback Cameron Sutton and linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin to injuries in the first half.
The search for the right combination on the offensive line continued and Tennessee was feast or famine on that side of the ball, while a shorthanded defense made enough red-zone stops to win the game.
Tennessee is 3-0 entering the season's defining stretch, though the level of play against Appalachian State, Virginia Tech and Ohio won't cut against the SEC heavyweights on the schedule.
Before the attention turns to Florida, here's a look back at Saturday's win.
Tennessee's Josh Malone (3) pulls in the Vols first touchdown in front of Ohio's Randy Stites (10). The Ohio University Bobcats visited the University of Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in a non-conference NCAA football game on Saturday September 17, 2016.SATURDAY'S STAR
Tennessee may have found a go-to receiver. Josh Malone's productive start to the season continued as he caught five passes for 69 yards and two touchdowns on Saturday. He could have had two more long scoring plays, too, had quarterback Josh Dobbs not narrowly overthrown him twice. In three games Malone has nine catches for 194 yards and four touchdowns. He needs more targets.
SATURDAY'S STAT
The numbers on offense wound up looking better than the performance would indicate otherwise as Tennessee outgained Ohio 162-40 in the fourth quarter to finish with 404 yards of offense. The Vols ran for 201 yards and averaged 4.8 yards per carry, with Alvin Kamara providing a 6.1-yard per-carry average (67 yards on 11 carries). Dobbs accounted for 262 yards of offense and three total touchdowns.
Jalen Hurd (1) goes for big fourth quarter yardage while teammate Josh Malone blocks Ohio's Mayne Williams (2). The Ohio University Bobcats visited the University of Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in a non-conference NCAA football game on Saturday September 17, 2016. TURNING POINT
The Vols got the fast start they talked about all week, only they didn't sustain it. Tennessee scored 38 seconds into the game and quickly forced a three-and-out on defense, only for a facemask penalty before the punt to extend Ohio's drive. The Bobcats kicked a field goal, and the mistake set the tone for a lethargic, sloppy game Tennessee didn't put away until the final quarter.
HIGHLIGHT PLAY
For all of its struggles Tennessee's offense still produced five completions of 15-plus yards and eight runs of 10 or more yards. Kamara broke a 35-yard run down the sideline on the game's opening play, and Jalen Hurd had a grown-man, tackle-breaking 28-yard run to convert a fourth-quarter third down. The prettiest plays, though, were the two touchdowns to Malone.
Tennessee head coach Butch Jones leaves the field with a injured Jalen Reeves-Maybin (21). The Ohio University Bobcats visited the University of Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in a non-conference NCAA football game on Saturday September 17, 2016.WHAT IT MEANS
Tennessee is 3-0, but the Vols have been underwhelming and far too mistake-prone through three games. The injury to cornerback Cameron Sutton is a crippling blow for a defense already without Darrin Kirkland Jr. and possibly without Jalen Reeves-Maybin. The offense's woes are disappointing and head-scratching. All will be well, though, if Tennessee somehow beats Florida.
BY THE NUMBERS
9: It was ugly, but Tennessee stretched its win streak to nine games, the longest since the Vols won 14 straight during an undefeated 1998 championship season and the 1999 opener. The current streak consists of wins against Kentucky, South Carolina, North Texas, Missouri, Vanderbilt, Northwestern, Appalachian State, Virginia Tech and Ohio -- not exactly a murderer's row.
16: Between its touchdowns early in the second quarter and midway through the third quarter, Tennessee's offense traveled 16 yards on five drives excluding a one-play possession to end the first half. The Vols had minus-7 on their final three of the first half and 23 on their first two of the second half. There were four three-and-outs and a four-and-out.
Tennessee's Nigel Warrior (18) and Ohio's Papi White (4) go after a fumbled Ohio punt return. White recovered the ball for Ohio. The Ohio University Bobcats visited the University of Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in a non-conference NCAA football game on Saturday September 17, 2016. 153-17: Ohio held a huge advantage in total offense in the second quarter and dominated the ball for nearly 11 minutes as Tennessee's offense sputtered. The Vols had just one first down and finished with minus-9 yards rushing. The Bobcats, who had seven first downs and 116 passing yards, were still outscored 7-6, though.
5: Tennessee continues to live dangerously with its poor ball security. The Vols put the ball on the ground five more times on Saturday, but fortunately recovered all of them. For the season Tennessee has fumbled 11 times in three games this season and lost only one of them.
118: Ohio had 200 yards of offense at halftime, but Tennessee limited the Bobcats to only 118 yards and seven points after the break. The shorthanded Vols surrendered only 3.9 yards per play and gave up just one third-down conversion. Four of Ohio's six second-half possessions ended in punts and another on downs.
Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com.