In a last-second loss to South Carolina, Tennessee football quarterback George MacIntyre completed 16 of 23 passes for 136 yards and no touchdowns. He had 101 yards and three touchdown passes wiped away by penalties.
The margin for error was razor thin as MacIntyre and No. 11 Vols (6-2, 3-2 SEC) suffered a 27-24 loss to South Carolina (4-3, 2-3) at Williams-Brice Stadium on Oct. 24. And untimely miscues from MacIntyre and the rest of the Tennessee offense turned what could have been a comfortable win into a season-altering loss.
"We all know how different this game would have looked if we didn’t have those penalties. It didn’t feel like we had that many penalties the whole game, they just happened at the worst time possible," MacIntyre said. "Just really shooting ourselves in the foot."
Despite having three touchdowns called back because of penalties, MacIntyre and the Vols had multiple chances to lock up a win. But two costly mistakes by the sophomore allowed for a South Carolina comeback.
MacIntyre made a couple of "missteps," as Tennessee coach Josh Heupel put it, on a fourth down and one play from the South Carolina 38-yard line with 3:37 to play in the fourth quarter. Seven plays later, Gamecock quarterback LaNorris Sellers tied the game on a 4-yard run.
On the ensuing possession, MacIntyre didn't feel pressure from South Carolinas star defensive end Dylan Stewart, who came up with a game-ending strip sack to set up the game-winning field goal. MacIntyre said he thought he had a receiver coming open, but couldn't let go of the ball in time.
"I know after every game, every coach and player says they didn’t feel like they stopped us, we stopped ourselves, but that was very true for this game," MacIntyre said. "It was one of the most frustrating games I’ve ever played in."
Heupel said he'll challenge MacIntyre, who has made only three career starts, to continue improving.
“Hard, as a quarterback. Some of those things you feel responsible for and are responsible for," Heupel said. "You got to learn, grow and continue to improve. Everybody’s got to learn from something tonight. That’s the nature of the game.”
Stephen Thompson covers Tennessee Volunteers men's basketball. Email him at stephen.thompson@knoxnews.com and follow him on X @stephenethom.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Josh Heupel reacts to George MacIntyre, Tennessee football loss vs South Carolina