AUBURN, Ala. – Tennessee took its third-quarter futility to a new level Saturday night inside Jordan-Hare Stadium, falling to No. 23 Auburn 30-17 to extend its losing streak to five games.
The Volunteers played Auburn to a 10-10 standoff in the first half and trailed 13-10 midway through the third quarter when they assembled a 10-play, 63-yard march to the 12-yard line of the Tigers. Instead of taking the lead or at least pulling even, Tennessee suffered its latest disaster when quarterback Jarrett Guarantano, under pressure from linebacker Owen Pappoe, lofted a pass to Josh Palmer that was intercepted by safety Smoke Monday and returned 100 yards for a touchdown.
Monday’s stunning score provided the Tigers their first double-digit lead at 20-10 and represented the fifth touchdown this season gift-wrapped to opponents by Tennessee’s offense – a fumble return by Georgia, two interception returns by Kentucky, a fumble return by Alabama and the lengthiest of pick-sixes by Auburn.
“That falls on us,” Vols sophomore running back Eric Gray said. “We’ve got to get that guy on the ground. We can’t let him take that one all the way back.”
Tennessee regrouped to drive to Auburn’s 24-yard line as the third quarter came to a close, but Brent Cimaglia failed to make it a one-possession game again by pushing a 37-yard field-goal attempt wide right with 12:33 remaining.