KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The Vols got revenge on their fall in Fayetteville last year with a 34-31 win over the Razorbacks on Rocky Top.

Rocky Top was rocking right away, Jaylen McMurray kicking this one off by sacking Arkansas’ Taylen Green. 

Yet, the Neyland noise was quickly silenced when Green powered through for an 11-yard touchdown on their opening drive, signaling the significant role the run game would play for the Razorbacks.

Tennessee promptly replied, and just over two-and-a-half minutes later, DeSean Bishop capped off the Vols’ initial offensive series with a 17-yard touchdown, leveling the score at seven midway through the first quarter.

However, the offense couldn’t maintain momentum. After that, the Razorbacks and Vols traded field goals. Scott Starzyk scored with a 28-yarder, and Max Gilbert responded with a 37-yard to keep the game tied at ten.

Speaking of the run game, Green leveraged it to position Arkansas in the red zone. A few plays later, Razorback Mike Washington completed a 1-yard touchdown with 10:35 left in the first half.

During a drive highlighted by a 42-yard catch from Braylon Staley—granting him his first 100-yard receiving game—the Vols equalized once more, ending their advance toward the end zone with Joey Aguilar’s 8-yard touchdown pass to Miles Kitselman.

That put this one even at 17, which held to the half. 

After the break, Tennessee had possession but settled for a 50-yard field goal by Max Gilbert. This successful kick marked Tennessee’s first lead of the game.

Second half touchdowns came off a 2-yard punch from Peyton Lewis and 3-yard run, also by Lewis. The sophomore’s trips to the endzone giving the Vols a 34-17 lead with just over 13 minutes remaining.

Tennessee’s defense looked more capable of handling the Arkansas’ attack in the second half, the Vols limiting them to just a single touchdown, brought in off a Taylen Green pass to Rohan Jones.

That made it a 10-point game, 34-24 with 8:17 left to play.

At 2:55, the Razorbacks, scored a touchdown with a Taylen Green pass to Kam Shanks, bringing it to a three-point game. After that, Tennessee got the ball. Aguilar soon got a 28-yard run but had to walk off the field, although he returned shortly after.

Of note, the Vols came away with an astonishing four forced fumbles on the day, done by the likes of Jordan Ross, Edrees Farooq, Joshua Josephs and Daevin Hobbs. The Vols recovered three of those.

NEXT UP: The Vols head to Tuscaloosa next Saturday to face Alabama. Tennessee will look to be the first SEC team to tame the Crimson Tide this year. Kick-off is set for 7:30 p.m.