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Foster, Taylor are one-two punch for Vols

Wide receiver was captain for first time; mom gets to see career-high game

By Dave Hooker (Contact)
Originally published 10:17 p.m., October 13, 2007
Updated 10:17 p.m., October 13, 2007

STARKVILLE, Miss. - It's far too early to dub Arian Foster and Lucas Taylor thunder and lightning.

It'll take many more performances like Saturday's performance before nicknames are in order.

But against Mississippi State, Foster and Taylor were Tennessee's weapons on offense as the Vols beat the Bulldogs 33-21.

Taylor had a career high 186 yards on 11 receptions, including a 51-yarder that was his career long, the longest completion of the season by senior quarterback Erik Ainge and the longest play of the year by a UT receiver.

"It was a big play for us," Taylor said of the second quarter score. "It set the momentum for the game."

Taylor's play capped an emotional week. Named a captain for the first time in his career, Taylor was playing in front of his mother, who made a rare trip from Carencro, La., to see her son play.

"I was really proud of him and his effort," UT receivers coach Trooper Taylor said.

Almost as proud as Lucas Taylor was when he was named a game captain.

"Every one of them stood up and clapped," Trooper Taylor said. "It was a loud cheer."

Lucas Taylor certainly didn't earn his captainship by speaking up. The soft-spoken junior isn't that type of leader.

"I believe it's the way he works," Trooper Taylor said. "He doesn't take any days off."

Perhaps that work ethic is why Taylor hasn't dropped a pass this season. Perhaps that's why he's UT's leading receiver with 41 catches for 618 yards.

Foster headed up the ground attack, rushing for 139 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries.

Those yards didn't come easy for Foster, who specializes in running inside - into the strength of State's defense.

"Those are some tough guys on the other side of the ball," said a visibly exhausted Foster. "My hats off to them.

"Man, I'm hurtin'."

Many of Foster's yards came after cutbacks, possibly surprising a State defense that was prepared for a straight-ahead runner. Foster said the cutbacks are a result of experience.

"The more and more I get the ball on this level, the more the field opens up and the more I can see it," Foster said.

The cutback runs had Foster harkening back to years past, when he played youth football.

"I wasn't always the big guy in the back field," he said. "I used to be the little scat back. I guess it's kind of tricking them (defenses) because I'm big but I can cut back at the same time."

With Foster's cutbacks and Taylor's catches, UT knew who to turn to when it needed a game-clinching drive.

The Vols drove 68 yards to the State 9 in the fourth quarter, setting up a field goal for a 30-21 lead. Foster (27) and Taylor (15) accounted for 42 of those 69 yards on the 14-play, decisive drive.

"That was a big, big drive," Foster said. "We felt like we had to do that one for the defense."

The Vols outrushed Mississippi State's vaunted ground game 211 yards to 135. The same running game that State coach Sylvester Croom said would take nine men in the box to contain.

Foster admitted he was surprised by the final stats.

"Yeah that's satisfying," Foster said. "I didn't know that."

With 211 yards rushing and 259 yards passing, the Vols once again achieved the offensive balance that eluded them in September as they lost two games.

"It can be real dangerous," Taylor said of being a balanced offense. "It's a big part of our game."

Now, with that balanced attack resulting in two consecutive SEC wins in October, Ainge expects more of the same - especially from Foster and Taylor.

"What Arian did today and what Lucas did today, that's what we expect every week," Ainge said. "Those guys have proven themselves to be big-time SEC football players."

© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.

       23 Comments

Posted by creepykev on October 13, 2007 at 10:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Thunder and Lightning? Throw Hardesty into the mix too and make it a three headed monster.

Posted by TurboFan on October 13, 2007 at 10:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Wouldn't that make Hardesty the rain?

Posted by movol77 on October 13, 2007 at 11:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

www.where'sCRVol,mbumburu,TouchdownTN,jwraymond,andTheRestOfFireFulmer?.com

When you get through eating another helpin of "crow," come make your regular defaming posts again. We need some entertainment for next week's game.

Posted by auttat on October 14, 2007 at 12:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Does the (15) refer to Taylor's number? Cause he is #12.

Posted by rootin4volz on October 14, 2007 at 12:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Auttat: (27) + (15) = 42...of those 69 yards.

Posted by auttat on October 14, 2007 at 12:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Thanks, just got confused with Foster's number being 27. Now who is the idiot?

Posted by DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu on October 14, 2007 at 1:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I'm right here, movol77. Eat crow? For what "defaming posts" I'm glad we got another W, of course.

But the jury's still for me on our long-term prospects; back-to-back wins does not a turnaround make.

Get back to me in January.

Posted by orangeblood on October 14, 2007 at 2:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)

good point mbumburu...now don't get me wrong everyone, i'm all for everyone looking through orange colored glasses and being positive all the time....CRvol pisses me off sometimes with what he writes, but he IS entitled to an opinion as well as the rest of us. After all these losses from all these good teams (i think this weekend was bigger than last weekend) im done predicting anything. Who do I think is going to the SEC championship game? Last week I said Auburn and UT. This week I say the only thing i know to be a fact at this moment: nobody is going until the regular season is over. Im getting a headache making new predictions each week.
Now, to Tennessee. They do have a history of playing huge (last year vs. Cal; this year vs. UGA) and playing not so huge the next week (last year vs. Air Force and this year vs. MSU). If they go on the road and sock it to the Tide I may have a better idea, but not until next sunday.
I will however make one prediction though. Well...two predictions. If UT finishes October with no losses they win out. I also predict Georgia to beat Florida (crazy I know...but i stand by it). That is all.

Posted by Feared_Mustang_Package on October 14, 2007 at 6:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I'll start being optimistic if I'm sitting in Neyland on Oct. 27th and we're smashing the Cocks.

Posted by slovog on October 14, 2007 at 7:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)

You probably are doing a lot of that yourself, huh FMP?!

Posted by BuckFama on October 14, 2007 at 8:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)

"Beating South Carolina"? Desirable.

"Gutting the Gamecocks"? Encouraged.

"Crushing Spurrier"? Delightful.

But "smashing the Cocks"? Unfortunate use of words.

Posted by tngeoff on October 14, 2007 at 8:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)

It is great to see Foster finding redemption. He has been dogged mecilously here by many. I lived in San Diego when we were recruiting him and he was outstanding. Glad to see that potential coming to life.

Posted by DadwasaVol on October 14, 2007 at 8:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Buck, we'll be looking for plenty more of your good posts during this Bama week.

Posted by callen825 on October 14, 2007 at 9:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)

These young men played another good game. We control our destiny now, and it must go one game at a time. Can't wait until the thud Saturday in October, as that cartoonist puts it.
Congrats to the defense, all positions, for keeping Mr Dixon East to West yesterday when it mattered.
Mr. Foster, we hope you are feeling good by this Tuesday!

Posted by wisonsinvol on October 14, 2007 at 10:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)

To an early post, throwing Hardesty into the mix makes him the storm, not the rain. Notice the focused attention on Lucas catching every ball thrown to him. Can someone please tell me why Rogers cannot catch the ball? We ought to have Coleman and Crompton throwing speed balls a day to the kid from 5 yards away until he learns how to catch the damn ball. Did you notice how the momentum changed after that drop? Same thing against Cal, same thing against Florida. And what's up with Eric throwing two or three really bad balls when no one was around him and he could have waited a little longer for a receiver to get open? I know, it was a good game and a good win, but those darn mistakes have to be corrected or we don't win next week or agains either Arkansas, South Carolina or Kentucky.

Posted by littletheyknow on October 14, 2007 at 10:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Last week I said TN needed to win big over MS, but I think this win was great. TN has to keep playing hard on D and the O line keep blocking for the run and you will see TN in Atlanta. If you can't see the improvement TN has shown then you are not watching what I'm watching or you just don't know football. There were a few missed tacles but tell me one team who doesn't miss a tackle. TN is not perfect but they are a very good team. There are 11 guys on the other side of the ball and if they couldn't play they wouldn't be there. TN will coach and play this thing out, if you think you can do better get youself some pads or find your own team to coach. TN 24 - AL 10 GO VOLS

Posted by invisiblekid on October 14, 2007 at 5:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

If it weren't against NCAA rules, I'd suggest taking up a collection to make sure Taylor's mom is at every game. Stating the obvious but he was outstanding yesterday. I am really impressed with the way he has stepped up this year. I think we will get a much tougher test next week and expect Taylor to see some double teams. It'll be interesting to see how they respond but that balance they talk about should serve them well. Now if they could just get some more balance on the defensive side, the Vols would be in good shape.

Posted by andy112382 on October 14, 2007 at 7:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hardesty is a hard runner, so we could have Thunder, Lightening, and Hail.....

I love the balance we have, it is dangerous to be a running team, or passing team, because if you have a day where you just come out flat or the other team just happens to be great at stopping your strength, you are in trouble, but being balanced, you make it harder to stop, playaction works much better and if you just aren't clicking one day on one, the other is there to pick up the slack.

Beat Bama! 2-0 in october, lets make it 4-0 at the end of the month!

GO VOLS!!!

Posted by 55Vol on October 14, 2007 at 8:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hey Buck...good post..LOL!!!

Posted by BuckFama on October 14, 2007 at 9:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Thanks guys.

Just having a little fun. I'm enjoying autumn and the Vols.

Posted by why36knot on October 14, 2007 at 9:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This is the first totally POSITIVE piece I can remember that was written by Hooker.
I tip my hat!

Posted by kdt0725 on October 14, 2007 at 11:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

when arian has been healthy hes always put up solid numbers, so I'm no suprised to see him perform well and he seems to have fixed his fumbling problem(knock on wood) lucas taylor is definately a pleasant suprise. i think we're finally headed in the right direction but it's definatley a work in progress.

Posted by orangebloodgmc on October 15, 2007 at 9:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Bama will probably give extra attention to Taylor, so now would be good time to burn them with wr's previously unseen.

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