Oklahoma running back Alex Ross (28) can't get to a pass thrown by Trevor Knight in their game in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014. Tennessee linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin (34) defends at left.NORMAN, Okla. - Facing its biggest test of the embryonic football season so far, Tennessee's shaky running game again struggled against one of the nation's best defensive fronts.
On the way to a 34-10 loss, the Volunteers ended the first half of Saturday night's trip to fourth-ranked Oklahoma with minus-11 rushing yards, and the numbers were hardly prettier without the four sacks the Sooners had of Justin Worley.
Tailbacks Jalen Hurd and Marlin Lane combined for nine carries and 19 yards in the first half, and Tennessee's longest run of the half was just 4 yards.
After struggling to a 110-yard performance in the season opener against Utah State and gaining 168 yards last week against Arkansas State, the Vols faced an Oklahoma defense that held its two opponents, Louisiana Tech and Tulsa, to less than 100 yards rushing.
The Sooners continually blitzed Tennessee's young, inexperienced offensive line, too, and it led to the four sacks for 25 yards. Oklahoma would have had a fifth stop if not for an offside penalty, and Tennessee turned that drive into its lone touchdown of the half.
The lack of a running game meant 19 first-half passing attempts for Worley, who completed 12 of those throws for 144 yards and a 40-yard touchdown pass to Josh Smith.
It also meant the Vols spent most of the half in third-and-long situations. Tennessee was just 1-of-10 on third downs in the first half, and the shortest one of those was 4 yards. The Vols faced four third-down scenarios of 10-plus yards.
O-line shuffle
As expected, Kyler Kerbyson started the game at left tackle after starting Tennessee's first two games at right tackle, and true freshman Coleman Thomas made his first start at right tackle. It was the third different starting O-line for the Vols in their three games.
Jacob Gilliam started at left tackle in the season opener against Utah State, but the fifth-year senior former walk-on tore an ACL in the third quarter and will miss the rest of the season. Redshirt freshman Brett Kendrick manned the starting spot last week against Arkansas State.
With two new tackles, Oklahoma repeatedly brought blitzes off the edge, and a couple of miscommunications led to sacks, including one that forced a fumble that the Sooners turned into a first-quarter touchdown.
Thomas and fellow freshman Jashon Robertson started at right tackle and right guard, respectively, and that was the first time the Vols have started two true freshmen on their offensive line since the 2010 Music City Bowl, when Ja'Wuan James, Zach Fulton and James Stone all started against North Carolina.
McNeil makes a move
LaDarrell McNeil may not have started at safety for Tennessee, but the junior didn't let freshman Todd Kelly taking his spot deter him.
The Dallas, Texas, native stepped in for Kelly after the freshman appeared to bust a coverage on Oklahoma's first touchdown and made a couple of nice plays. His best play saved Tennessee at least three points.
With the Sooners threatening to add to a 20-7 lead late in the first half, McNeil was in the right place at the right time when he intercepted a Trevor Knight pass after nickel back Justin Coleman broke up the throw. It was McNeil's second career pick after one he had against South Alabama last season.
McNeil, Tennessee's fourth-leading tackler last season, had a big hit in kickoff coverage and also made a nifty open-field tackle on Oklahoma return man Sterling Shepard on a punt. He finished the half as Tennessee's second-leading tackler with five stops.
Status updates
Freshman tight end Ethan Wolf (bruised knee) made the trip with the Vols and warmed up, but he did not play a week after he was hit low on his right knee against Arkansas State. Fellow freshman Daniel Helm made his first start in Wolf's place, and senior Brendan Downs also was in for some snaps at tight end.
Freshman defensive back Rashaan Gaulden (wrist) also made the trip as one of 23 first-year players on Tennessee's 72-man travel roster.
Michael Sawyers, a freshman defensive tackle who played in the season's first two games, did not make the travel roster. Neither did walk-on linebacker and former Baylor School standout Colton Jumper.
Tennessee tidbits
As it did for the trip to Oregon last September, Tennessee sold out of its allotment of 5,000 tickets, associate athletic director Chris Fuller confirmed to the Times Free Press via text message before Saturday night's game. ... Former Oklahoma and current Minnesota Vikings star tailback Adrian Peterson, who was arrested and booked on charges of child abuse involving his 4-year-old son Saturday morning, was featured on the game ticket for the Tennessee game. ... Tennessee's captains for the game were quarterback Worley, linebacker A.J. Johnson and defensive end Curt Maggitt. ... Johnson led Tennessee with seven tackles in the first half. ... Defensive tackle Jordan Williams had a sack, and defensive ends Corey Vereen and Derek Barnett each had tackles for loss in the first half. ... Tennessee's five true freshman starters are the most the Vols had in a game since the 49-7 loss at No. 8 Arkansas in 2011.