LEXINGTON, Ky. – One, a much-maligned quarterback of the offense. The other, a stalwart quarterback of the defense.
Together, Tennessee’s Jarrett Guarantano and Daniel Bituli helped maintain the Volunteers’ bowl hopes Saturday night. Both played big roles in a 17-13 win over Kentucky at Kroger Field.
Guarantano came off the bench to start the second half in relief of an ineffective Brian Maurer and immediately helped rally the Vols with a pair of touchdown drives. Bituli was the man credited with a fourth-down stop at the goal line on the Wildcats’ final possession, shutting down quarterback Lynn Bowden 2 yards shy of the end zone.
The victory improved Tennessee to 5-5 for the season and 3-3 in Southeastern Conference play. The Vols have an open date next weekend before playing at Missouri on Nov. 23, needing a win against the Tigers or Vanderbilt in the regular-season finale Thanksgiving weekend at Neyland Stadium for bowl eligibility.
A level record didn’t seem anywhere near possible at the beginning of Saturday’s game, when Kentucky (4-5, 2-5) took the opening kickoff and drove 75 yards on 17 plays, eating 10 minutes and 18 seconds off the clock. Tennessee aided the drive by jumping offside twice, with one of the penalties putting the Wildcats closer to a first down and the other producing a first down.