Postgame Mini-Pod: Tennessee hammers Kentucky to stay unbeaten
Tennessee did what it was supposed to do once again against a team it was favored to win by almost two touchdowns. The Vols scored early and often en route to the 44-6 win over Kentucky Saturday night.
Catch the instant reactions from the Volquest crew as Tennessee is now 8-0 on the season and 4-0 in SEC play. With the win, the nation will once again have eyes on the Volunteers next week with a potential No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup in Athens against Georgia.
Scoring Plays
Didn’t take long for Tennessee to find its way onto the scoreboard. After Kentucky won the toss and deferred, the Vols needed only four plays before Hendon Hooker found Jalin Hyatt down the sideline for 55 yards. Hyatt and Cedric Tillman were stacked outside, Kentucky’s corner and safety bit on the Tillman slant while an outside linebacker was charged to run with Hyatt. Total bust it seemed, but Tennessee went up a touchdown early.
Kentucky answers back later in the first quarter when Chris Rodriguez scooted in from the three-yard line. DJ Terry, however, blocked the PAT, so Tennessee remained out in front 7-6. The Wildcats found 24 yards through the air on the drive from Will Levis dropping a perfect pass over the shoulder of tight end Jordan Dingle down the sideline.
Tennessee found the endzone again just seconds into the second quarter to go up 13-6 with 14:56 left in the half. It was Princeton Fant taking the handoff from Hooker out of the gun, following behind Hunter Salmon for the two-yard score. Chase McGrath misses the PAT after first try was negated as Parker Ball held.
Jaylen Wright was the star of the next Tennessee scoring possession, rushing for the one-yard score to give the Vols a 20-6 lead in the second quarter. Wright picked up the big gain of the drive, 35 yards after breaking a tackle just beyond the line of scrimmage.
The Vols added one final score in the first half after getting the football back with 37 seconds left on the clock, thanks to freshman Kalib Perry forcing a poor punt with pressure. Hooker found Hyatt on the second play of the drive for a 31-strike down the sideline. Again, Hyatt was wide open on the abbreviated wheel route. The linebacker got hands on him, but Carrentine Valentine was slow getting over the topo to help in coverage.
Hyatt’s record-setting 14th touchdown put Tennessee up 27-6 right before the break.
After forcing a three-and-out with back-to-back sacks on Kentucky’s first series of the second half, Tennessee marched 29 yards on 10 plays to tack on three more points with plenty left to play in the third quarter. Chase McGrath was good from 29 yards and the new score was 30-6 in favor of Tennessee.
The Vols found the end zone for the first time in the second half on an eight-yard run from Hendon Hooker to the left side on the speed-option. The drive consisted of five plays for 58 yards and was highlighted by a 25-yard run from Jaylen Wright. Tennessee led Kentucky 37-6 with 3:58 remaining in the third quarter.
Hooker and the Vols added one final touchdown of the game on a one-play drive. It was Hooker, accounting for his fourth touchdown of the day, finding Jabari Small out of the backfield for the 13-yard scoring reception. Tennessee led Kentucky 44-6 with just under eight minutes remaining in the ballgame.
