Lincoln boots Vols to OT win

KNOXVILLE -- The surreal wasn't reserved for Halloween this year.

Spectators of Tennessee's thrilling 27-24 overtime triumph over South Carolina at Neyland Stadium were treated to a mixed bag of tricks and treats on Saturday night.

Tennessee safety Eric Berry returns a fumble recovery 52 yards against South Carolina. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge]

It began when the Volunteers (5-3, 3-2 SEC) blew a 21-point lead at halftime, watched South Carolina grab a 24-21 advantage with 1:11 left in regulation, and faced the prospect of marching downfield after struggling to move the ball at all in the second half.

LaMarcus Coker provided the first thrill with a 37-yard kickoff return to get the Volunteers to midfield. Tailback Arian Foster added a quick chill by fumbling the ball as Tennessee attempted to get into scoring position. Fortunately, reserve offensive guard Jacques McClendon hustled downfield and fell on the loose ball to keep UT's fledgling hopes alive.

"I came off my man and saw the ball was fumbled," McClendon said. "I just knew I had to give 100 percent to get that ball back for my team."

Redshirt freshman kicker Daniel Lincoln added to the drama by missing a 43-yard field goal with nine seconds remaining that seemingly ended the game. Tennessee's luck was intact again, however, as a false start gave Lincoln another chance. He responded with a 48-yard field goal moments later, then tacked on a 27-yarder in the first overtime to put the Vols ahead 27-24.

"That's what my job is all about," Lincoln said. "I may get one kick or two or three opportunities a game. I just have to be ready when it is my time."

To top it off, Tennessee's much-maligned defense stepped up in the first overtime and finally stopped a Gamecock offense that had reeled off over 500 yards through the first four quarters. When South Carolina's Ryan Succop missed a 40-yard kick that could have tied the game at the end, it completed an unbelievable turn of events that left most everyone stunned well after the game.

"We played just good enough to lose -- that's about how well we played," South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier said. "We made some yards and hit some passes, but in the clutch we didn't hit crap and we got beat."

Naturally, Tennessee had a different perspective.

"A lot of things had to go right for us to win this football game," said Vol quarterback Erik Ainge, who threw for just 216 yards, one touchdown and one interception. "We kept fighting though. That's the one thing I'll say about this team -- we keep fighting."

Vol receiver Josh Briscoe celebrates a TD with teammates. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge]

"It wasn't pretty all the time, but it was a darn fine effort," UT coach Phillip Fulmer said. "This team has a great team spirit about it. A lesser team with lesser spirit and a lesser will would have lost that game tonight."

Instead, the Volunteers find themselves tied with Georgia in the loss column atop the topsy-turvy SEC Eastern Division. And since the Vols defeated the Bulldogs earlier this month, Tennessee is now the only team that controls its own destiny in regards to winning the division.

"It's been an emotional roller coaster. Who would have thought after that Alabama game (41-17 loss last week) that we would have been back in first in the Eastern Division?" quipped center Josh McNeil.

"It has been crazy, really crazy," Fulmer added. "We have to keep fighting if we want to get to Atlanta and the SEC championship game."

"We control our own destiny right now, 100 percent, nobody else."

Tennessee steps out of conference to face Louisiana-Lafayette this Saturday. The Vols then close with conference home games against Arkansas and Vanderbilt before heading to upstart Kentucky for the season finale.