KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Redshirt senior quarterback Hendon Hooker threw for two touchdowns and rushed for two more scores, as Tennessee rolled past Ball State in the season opener, 59-10, Thursday night in front a crowd of 92,236 at Neyland Stadium.
The Vols, who employ a high-octane offensive attack under second-year head coach Josh Heupel, eclipsed the 45-point mark for the fourth straight game. That feat matched a school record set over the final four games of the 1993 season.
UT intercepted the Cardinals on their initial play from scrimmage and scored on its own first offensive snap, building leads of 17-0 after one and 38-0 through the opening 30 minutes. Tennessee rolled up 306 yards of offense in the first half, with Hooker producing 211 of it through the air on 17-of-23 passing. He finished 18-of-25 for 221, directing his troops to six touchdowns and a field goal in eight possessions before departing early in the third quarter.
Hooker now has thrown touchdown passes in 13 straight games, tying Tony Robinson for second place in Tennessee history. He also moved to 10th in career TD tosses on Rocky Top with 33, passing the 32 of Tee Martin and Bobby Scott.
Nine different receivers were the beneficiaries of passes from Hooker and redshirt senior reserve Joe Milton III, who went 8-of-9 for 113 yards and a score in two touchdown-netting drives before giving way to freshman Tayven Jackson. Leading UT’s receiving corps was redshirt senior Cedric Tillman, who hauled in six balls for 69 yards, followed by junior Jimmy Holiday (4-62, 1 TD) and senior Ramel Keyton (4-57). That trio helped their squad generate 351 passing yards and 569 in total offense.
On the ground, the Big Orange churned out 218 yards and tallied five touchdowns. Jaylen Wright had 88 yards and a score on 13 rushes, while Jabari Small carried 13 times for 63 yards and a score to set the tone. Freshman Dylan Sampson also found the end zone in his Rocky Top debut.
The defense was paced by senior corner back Warren Burrell, sophomore corner Christian Charles and senior linebacker Aaron Beasley with eight tackles each. The Vol stop-troops also got interceptions from Tamarion McDonald and cornerback Kamal Hadden, with each leading directly to touchdowns in the first and second quarters, respectively.
The Vols struck swiftly on the warm evening, thanks to McDonald’s pick on the game’s first play from scrimmage. The junior short-circuited a flea flicker…
The Vols, who employ a high-octane offensive attack under second-year head coach Josh Heupel, eclipsed the 45-point mark for the fourth straight game. That feat matched a school record set over the final four games of the 1993 season.
UT intercepted the Cardinals on their initial play from scrimmage and scored on its own first offensive snap, building leads of 17-0 after one and 38-0 through the opening 30 minutes. Tennessee rolled up 306 yards of offense in the first half, with Hooker producing 211 of it through the air on 17-of-23 passing. He finished 18-of-25 for 221, directing his troops to six touchdowns and a field goal in eight possessions before departing early in the third quarter.
Hooker now has thrown touchdown passes in 13 straight games, tying Tony Robinson for second place in Tennessee history. He also moved to 10th in career TD tosses on Rocky Top with 33, passing the 32 of Tee Martin and Bobby Scott.
Nine different receivers were the beneficiaries of passes from Hooker and redshirt senior reserve Joe Milton III, who went 8-of-9 for 113 yards and a score in two touchdown-netting drives before giving way to freshman Tayven Jackson. Leading UT’s receiving corps was redshirt senior Cedric Tillman, who hauled in six balls for 69 yards, followed by junior Jimmy Holiday (4-62, 1 TD) and senior Ramel Keyton (4-57). That trio helped their squad generate 351 passing yards and 569 in total offense.
On the ground, the Big Orange churned out 218 yards and tallied five touchdowns. Jaylen Wright had 88 yards and a score on 13 rushes, while Jabari Small carried 13 times for 63 yards and a score to set the tone. Freshman Dylan Sampson also found the end zone in his Rocky Top debut.
The defense was paced by senior corner back Warren Burrell, sophomore corner Christian Charles and senior linebacker Aaron Beasley with eight tackles each. The Vol stop-troops also got interceptions from Tamarion McDonald and cornerback Kamal Hadden, with each leading directly to touchdowns in the first and second quarters, respectively.
The Vols struck swiftly on the warm evening, thanks to McDonald’s pick on the game’s first play from scrimmage. The junior short-circuited a flea flicker…
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