Long day catches up to Tennessee defense

South Carolina running back Ty'Son Williams tries to escape the grasp of Tennessee defensive back Micah Abernathy during Saturday's game. The Vols' short-handed defense spent much of the second half on the field as the Gamecocks controlled possession and wound down the game clock.
South Carolina running back Ty'Son Williams tries to escape the grasp of Tennessee defensive back Micah Abernathy during Saturday's game. The Vols' short-handed defense spent much of the second half on the field as the Gamecocks controlled possession and wound down the game clock.

KNOXVILLE - Despite injuries and a suspension affecting its depth, Tennessee's defense held South Carolina at bay for much of Saturday's game at Neyland Stadium, giving Tennessee a chance to win late before the Gamecocks ultimately prevailed 15-9.

However, with the Volunteers' offense going three-and-out three times in the second half, the defense was forced to stay on the field for most of the final two quarters. South Carolina's offense was 5-for-7 on third-down conversions in the second half and was on the field for 12 minutes and 22 seconds of the fourth quarter.

"They came out with a little more energy, and we were a little winded in the second half for sure," Vols junior defensive end Kyle Phillips said. "Drives where we should've gotten off the field and didn't they really impacted the rest of the drive. That's one thing we have to work on, sustaining energy for 60 minutes."

Tennessee, which rarely substituted on defense, held South Carolina to 323 total yards.

It would have been understandable if Tennessee defensive players were frustrated by the underwhelming offensive performance - the Vols failed to score a touchdown for the second straight game - but junior safety Micah Abernathy said that played no effect.

"No, that doesn't change anything," Abernathy said. "We are going to play as hard as we can as a defense regardless of what our offense is doing. That doesn't really affect us. We know our mentality and our mindset, so we just have to go out and play."

In the first half, the Vols held South Carolina to three points, 104 yards and an 0-for-6 performance on third-down conversions. They also stopped South Carolina on fourth down once in the first half.

Redshirt junior defensive back Rashaan Gaulden led the Vols with 10 total tackles, including one for loss, while tackle Kahlil McKenzie recorded the Vols' only sack in the game.

This past Monday, Vols coach Butch Jones announced that defensive end Darrell Taylor, a redshirt sophomore with 20 tackles and a sack this season, was suspended indefinitely for "multiple factors."

Cimaglia's chance

With senior Aaron Medley out because of mononucleosis, freshman Brett Cimaglia took over the kicking duties and made the most of his opportunity.

Cimaglia made all three of his field-goal attempts in the game, hitting kicks of 29, 33 and 24 yards. He also kicked three of his four kickoffs for touchbacks.

Cimaglia and Medley have split duties all season, with Medley handling kickoffs and shorter field goals and Cimaglia handling the longer attempts. Cimaglia is now 4-of-7 on field goals this season, while Medley is 2-of-3.

Medley was 20-of-26 his freshman year but has struggled with consistency since then. Cimaglia made a 51-yard field goal against Florida on his first collegiate kick earlier this season but also missed two field goal tries in that game.

Injury report

Along with Medley, junior offensive lineman Jack Jones, freshman defensive end Deandre Johnson and freshman safety Cheyenne Labruzza were all out for Saturday's game.

With Johnson and Taylor out, the Vols relied heavily on defensive ends Phillips and Jonathan Kongbo. Both played the majority of the game, with their occasional breaks coming when freshman Matthew Butler entered.

"Me and Kongbo knew we were going to have to take most of the snaps today," Phillips said. "In the second half, there was a couple times when I felt a little winded. I think I got out maybe two plays in the first half."

With the injuries already mounting before the game, the Vols have been stretched thin on defense, forcing some freshmen into action. Butler's playing time was his first significant action of the season. Freshman safety Theo Jackson also entered after junior safety Abernathy was briefly injured.

Contact Rob Harvey at sports@timesfreepress.com.

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