KNOXVILLE -- For any quality coach in any sport, the same philosophies appear to be implemented when facing a game-changing performer.

Coach Phillip Fulmer and his staff knew coming in that the more they could keep the ball out of the hands of Arkansas tailback Darren McFadden, the greater their chances were of winning on Saturday.

Arkansas tailback Darren McFadden looks to turn the corner while Tennessee linebacker Ryan Karl (39) lines up to make a play. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge]

"You just can't let those guys stay on the field," he said. "McFadden's too good."

McFadden ran 34 times for 321 yards as part of a team total of 542 rushing yards in a 48-36 win versus South Carolina the week before.

Those numbers are scary enough to bring any defensive coordinator to his knees.

In basketball a coach can scheme to deny the ball away from a playmaker. In football you're pretty much at the mercy of the playcalling if the star is in the backfield. About the only thing you can do is play keep-away and simply not allow that team to go on offense.

In one of their better performances from an execution standpoint, the No. 22-ranked Volunteers held the ball 33:20 as opposed to Arkansas' 26:40 (20:55-9:05 in first half) and UT left Neyland Stadium with a 34-13 victory to remain in control of the SEC East.

"We worked our butts off to get ready for this football game," Fulmer said. "The game was won with our preparation during the course of the week."

Tennessee set the tempo early with an 11-play, 64-yard drive that resulted in a 16-yard touchdown pass from Erik Ainge to Austin Rogers.

"The first drive we kind of set the tone," UT tailback Arian Foster said. "We executed on fourth-and-short and a couple third-and-shorts."

The Vols' rushing statistics weren't mind-boggling -- 43 attempts, 151 yards. In fact, portions of the crowd booed the play-calling when several runs were stopped for zero or minimal gain.

What some of the faithful didn't realize is that a 1-yard gain that takes 45 seconds off the game clock is far better than a incomplete pass that counts off 15 ticks. That's 30 seconds UT doesn't have to worry about opposing playmakers touching the ball.

"That was one of our goals coming in," Foster said. "We knew we had to control the clock. The best defense is a good offense, keep them off the field."

"That was great team ball," said Vol linebacker Rico McCoy, who had six tackles. "The offense held the ball. That gave (Arkansas) less time to try to make big plays on us. We took advantage of it and had a couple three-and-outs out there. We didn't get tired."

McFadden still had quality numbers -- 22 carries, 117 yards -- but it was hardly the effort Arkansas needed to win an SEC road game versus a ranked opponent.

"When they started stopping the backs it made our jobs a lot easier," said Rogers, noting how the offense felt less pressure to put up numbers as the game went on. "We tried to sustain the long drives and keep our defense off the field."

Tennessee totaled 68 offensive plays compared to 65 for Arkansas. But, they made the best out of each and every snap.

Vol tailback Montario Hardesty is wrapped up by a host of Razorback defenders. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge]

"We did a good job of getting ourselves off the field," Vol defensive coordinator John Chavis said. "It helps when you only play 20 snaps in the first half."

That's a complete turnaround from the field time the Orange and White defense had been logging.

In the 41-17 loss at Alabama, the Crimson Tide won the time of possession battle 37:38-22:22. They outdid the Vols in play count 84-57 thanks in part to UT totaling but 19 rushes for 103 yards.

Despite a 27-24 overtime victory against South Carolina, the Vols only had 28 rushes for 101 yards and consequently lost the TOP battle 36:25-23:35 and the Gamecocks tallied 89 offensive plays.

"I'm not going to judge this football team by one outing or two outings," Chavis said. "Football coaches say this all the time, 'You're probably not as good as your best outing and you're probably not as bad as your worst. You're somewhere in the middle.'

"This is a defensive football team that's continuing to grow. We've got a lot of work to do. As long as they stay hungry and respond the way they did this week, then certainly I think we can get to where we want to be."

Where everyone at Rocky Top wants to be on Dec. 1 is the Georgia Dome in Atlanta for the SEC championship.

Each side of the ball complimenting the other should help toward that goal.

"If we can run the football and play defense like we did today, we're in great shape," Ainge said.

Danny Parker is Times-Gazette sports editor.