Vols White team wins out, 24-7

In a split-squad exhibition, one side — the Orange team — trotted out the starting quarterback and running back, the top returning receiver and three first-team linemen, and got pushed around in a 24-7 loss in the Orange and White Game on Saturday, strengthening Dooley’s case about the importance of physical football.

“It was a great example that it doesn’t matter what kind of game it is, spring game, SEC game, you name it — the team that can win at the line of scrimmage and run the football has the best chance of winning,” Dooley said. “Today was evidence of that. It doesn’t matter how many fancy guys you’ve got at the skill positions, you better be a physical football team.

“The White came in a heavy underdog, Orange was confident and talking smack, had all the skill — and the White went blue-collar on them and punched them right in the mouth. It was fun to watch.”

On the flip side, the Orange team often made it look painful to move the ball as quarterback Tyler Bray struggled from start to finish during a dreadful 5-for-30 outing through the air.

The sophomore didn’t throw an interception, led all passers with 122 yards and added a 54-yard touchdown to wide-open tight end Mychal Rivera to make the game competitive in the third quarter. But with Bray’s accuracy consistently lacking, his decision-making questionable as he forced at least one pass into quadruple-coverage and his frustration evident as the game wore on, the Orange offense struggled to find a way downfield.

And with the White pounding away with 22 carries for 113 yards between Rajion Neal and Toney Williams, the contrast in styles was clear.

“You know what I said Thursday — if Tyler would have gone 27-of-30 for 300 (yards) I would have said, ‘Yeah, we’re doing good,’ ” Dooley said. “If he would have gone 5-for-30, which is what he did, ‘It’s just the spring game, it doesn’t matter.’