Vols avoid stunning upset, edge UMass at Neyland Stadium

Tennessee backup quarterback Jarrett Guarantano hasn't had much playing time this season, but that could change in Saturday's game against UMass.
Tennessee backup quarterback Jarrett Guarantano hasn't had much playing time this season, but that could change in Saturday's game against UMass.

KNOXVILLE -Tennessee narrowly avoided a stunning upset at the hands of a winless Massachusetts team on Saturday.

The Volunteers escaped with a 17-13 victory in front of an announced crowd of 95,324 that thinned considerably throughout the second half.

UMass (0-5) got the football with several chances to take the lead in the fourth quarter. But the Minutemen struggled to move the football without quarterback Andrew Ford, who was injured in the the third quarter.

With Quinten Dormady at quarterback, Tennessee's offense struggled early before scoring on consecutive possessions late in the second quarter to take a 14-6 lead to halftime. Tennessee (3-1) led 17-6 after an Aaron Medley field goal in the third quarter.

Backup quarterback Jarrett Guarantano played three series in the second half, but the offense sputtered when the redshirt freshman was in the game.

This is a developing story.

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