Vols almost pull off another miraculous comeback but fall to Texas A&M in double overtime

Texas A&M's Cullen Gillaspia celebrates after causing a fumble by Tennessee on a kickoff return during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016, in College Station, Texas. Texas A&M recovered the fumble. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Texas A&M's Cullen Gillaspia celebrates after causing a fumble by Tennessee on a kickoff return during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016, in College Station, Texas. Texas A&M recovered the fumble. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
photo Tennessee defensive back Evan Berry (29) fumbles a kick return as Texas A&M's Larry Pryor (11) tackles him during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016, in College Station, Texas. Texas A&M recovered the fumble. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Tennessee has shown a knack for wild comebacks this season, and the Volunteers pulled off their wildest one here on Saturday.

The ending, though, was very different.

Armani Watts intercepted Josh Dobbs on the first play of Tennessee's second-overtime series to preserve a wild 45-38 extra-time in the top-10 showdown in front of a raucous at Kyle Field.

Tennessee, which rallied from double-digit deficits in four of its first five games, overcame a 28-7 deficit in the third quarter and scored two touchdowns in the final three minutes to force overtime.

The Vols (5-1, 2-1 SEC) swapped field goals in the first overtime before the Aggies (6-0, 4-0) took the lead after Christian Kirk's diving catch set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Trevor Knight.

It was remarkable the Vols even got to that point.

Tennessee turned the ball over six times in regulation. Three fumbles led to 21 Texas A&M points and two more ended Tennessee drives into the red zone. Dobbs's game-ending interception was the seventh turnover.

The Vols forced three turnovers, none of them more remarkable than Malik Foreman punching the ball out of Trayveon Williams's hands as he neared the goal line.

The touchback set up Tennessee's tying drive, and Alvin Kamara scored with 41 seconds left to tie it.

In the absence of Jalen Hurd, Kamara rolled up 288 yards of offense and three touchdowns.

Williams broke off big runs late to finish with 217 rushing yards, while Knight ran for 110 yards and three scores and passed for 239 yards and two touchdowns.

Tennessee finished with 684 yards of total offense, but the Vols gave up a handful of big plays on defense and holding strong through three quarters.

The Vols lost multiple players to injury during the game, the most significant occurring to defensive tackle Danny O'Brien in the fourth quarter.

The fifth-year senior laid on the field for a while before he was put on a backboard and carted off. According to a Tennessee official he had feeling in all four extremities. O'Brien was taken to the hospital for precautionary reasons.

Tennessee finished the game with two starters on the offensive line as Dylan Wiesman and Jashon Robertson left the game. Wiesman looked dazed after taking a hard hit in the first half. Robertson left the stadium on crutches.

Already down Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Darrin Kirkland Jr. and Quart'e Sapp, linebacker Cortez McDowell left the game in the fourth quarter and did not return.

Coleman Thomas and Venzell Boulware replaced Wiesman and Robertson, while Elliott Berry stepped in for McDowell.

Tennessee hosts No. 1 Alabama next week.

Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com

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