The George MacInyre experience was an up-and-down ride on Saturday against Arkansas.

Despite the struggles, the Vols held on to a gritty 24-17 win in MacIntyre’s first career start.

MacIntyre finished with 247 passing yards, going 18-for-29, and throwing one touchdown and two interceptions. The game plan felt simplified at least through the first two and a half quarters, as he didn’t throw beyond the line that often in the game.

Yet MacIntyre was relieved of the pressure as DeSean Bishop continued his impressive stretch, rushing for 138 yards on 19 attempts, he added a touchdown as well.

The first drive kicked off with the Vols (5-1, 2-1 SEC) getting to the quarterback early despite two big gains early from the Razorbacks (2-4, 0-3 SEC). Xavier Gilliam was the man to get to the quarterback, sacking KJ Jackson before recovering his own forced fumble and giving the Vols the ball.

“Smart, touch and relentless competitor, loves ball, he’s the same dude every day in the meeting room and on the practice field,” Tennessee football head coach Josh Heupel said of Gilliam. “That parlays itself into playing consistently on gameday too, and he’s been playing extremely well.”

The offense moved to the Arkansas 33-yard line but couldn’t cash in, Cooper Ranvier missed a 51-yard field goal, keeping the game knotted at zero.

It took a full quarter for the first team to find the end zone, and it was the Vols who cashed a 5-yard pass from MacIntyre to Trent Thomas. The Vols had a chance to add to their lead in the final seconds of the first half, but instead MacIntyre fumbled the ball on a botched throw and allowed the Razorbacks to enter field goal range on the recovery.

Former Vol kicker Max Gilbert, now the starter for the Razorbacks, missed the 33-yard kick going into the half, keeping the game at 7-0 in favor of the Vols.

The Razorbacks came out of the half seeming like they had the answers, stopping the Vols' offense on a three-and-out, before piecing together a quick five-play drive and tying the game at seven.

The Tennessee offense had no response, as MacIntyre tossed up a deep throw into double coverage for his first interception and second turnover in the game.

“I don’t know that he was getting better as the game went on,” Heupel said. “I do think he finished really strong. There were some good things early in the football game too, this game comes down to the finest of details.”

The Razorbacks capitilized on the turnover with a touchdown, and the Vols found themselves quickly trailing by a touchdown.

A 49-yard field goal gave the Vols offense some life, but the team still trailed by four entering the final quarter.

Staying on theme with the season, though, the defense once again came through and stopped the Razorbacks and gave the ball back to the offense. A 68-yard connection from MacIntyre to DaShaan Brame put the offense in prime position to score, and Bishop did so, finding the end zone and giving the Vols the lead back.

Gilbert tied the game back at 17 before Bishop put the Razorbacks away with a 94-yard drive headlined by a 59-yard run. He eventually found the end zone for the first time, and the Vols wouldn’t give the lead back.

The Vols return to action next week against none other than the Alabama Crimson Tide, a 3:30 matchup at Neyland Stadium.

Source: Yahoo Sports