Best Plays of 2010: End Zone Alchemy vs. How Did He Do It

by Joel Hollingsworth on Jun 9, 2011 10:01 AM EDT in Tennessee Volunteer Football

End Zone Alchemy -- Janzen Jackson turns a TD into an interception in the end zone against North Carolina

After starting the season 2-6, with those two wins being in overtime over UAB and a game against FCS opponent UT-Martin, the Vols finished on a four-game winning streak to get bowl eligible at 6-6. The asterisk for that strong finish denoted the level of competition -- Memphis, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, and Kentucky. So playing North Carolina in the Music City Bowl provided an opportunity to get a solid win against a good team, one that had started the season ranked 18th in the nation.

The game was a back-and-forth affair, with the Tar Heels drawing first blood with a TD, Tennessee matching them, North Carolina going up by three, the Vols going up by four, and the bad guys going up by three again to close out the first half. After a scoreless third quarter with the Heels leading 17-14, they were driving again to make it a two-score lead near the top of the fourth.

But Janzen Jackson turned a sure Tar Heel TD into his own interception and kept the game alive for UT:

We know how this ended -- with twitches and boiling blood and flirtations with a night in the clink -- but this was a great play.

How Did He Do It -- Denarius Moore's 44-yard catch in double coverage against Kentucky

Before Tennessee was bowl eligible, though, it was On The Edge Of Bowl Eligible for four straight games, and the last of those four games -- against Kentucky -- was perhaps the biggest challenge of all. The Wildcats got out to a quick 7-0 lead after the Vols missed a field goal attempt and punted on their first two drives. But then Kentucky fumbled, and Tyler Bray remembered that Denarius Moore could do stuff like this:

Bray tossed a TD to Gerald Jones on the next play, and it was game on. The Vols put up 24 for the game on a TD from Bray to Moore, a Tauren Poole score, and a field goal from Daniel Lincoln, and they won the game 24-14.

Poll

Which play should advance in this year's Best Plays Bracket?

End Zone Alchemy

84 votes

How Did He Do It

55 votes

139 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I'm still not sure

exactly what Bray saw on the UK throw that made him turn it loose.

These are both crucial moment plays and both great individual efforts – that UNC interception was a 3rd and 1 play where Carolina almost surely would’ve gone for it on fourth down, just trying to hit the home run. But I voted for Moore just because it sparked our run in a game we actually won.

Rocky Top Talk

by Will Shelton on Jun 9, 2011 10:34 AM EDT reply actions

You could say

Bray threw a perfect ball right over the CB’s head and right in front of the safety. It’s not exactly how it’s supposed to be, but that’s what ended up happening haha.

Still had to go with JJ though. One heck of a play that was a true game changer.

by JustaStudent on Jun 9, 2011 5:27 PM EDT up reply actions

I voted for JJ

Because, you know, please come back

by Rx Salt on Jun 9, 2011 12:16 PM EDT reply actions

The Pick

was a better play.

Bray just threw that one up and Moore happened to come down with it. Not much to it.

by golfballs03 on Jun 9, 2011 12:32 PM EDT reply actions

I went with JJ

Because that was some serious Alchemy. While D-Moore made a great play on the ball, that also comes with the defenders being in position and not making the play. Better individual awesomeness on that pick, not only to get hands on it, but to rip it away and shelter it from the receiver.

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by bobothevol on Jun 9, 2011 12:34 PM EDT reply actions