Tennessee jumped on South Alabama early, scoring touchdowns early and often while cruising to a 60-14 victory.
Here are four quick takeaways.
Vols Play Complete First Half
Tennessee has gotten off to excellent starts all season so it was no surprise when the Vols’ scored on their first two offensive drives and jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter.
However, the Vols have been bad in the second quarter this season. That wasn’t the case Saturday night as the Vols stacked two good quarters together in the first half to open up a 35-7 lead at halftime.
Tennessee scored touchdowns on all but one of its first half possessions and that was a one play, 14 second drive to end the first half.
The Vols’ offense was extremely efficient, averaging 8.6 yards per play in the first half. That came without any massive splash plays as Tennessee’s longest play in the first half was 28 yards.
Tennessee had success both on the ground and through the air, averaging 6.8 yards a rush and 12.6 yards per completion.
On defense, the Vols gave up two long drives. One ended in a turnover on downs and the other ended in a three-yard touchdown pass from Desmond Trotter to Lincoln Sefcik.
Overall, Tennessee’s defense was really strong, forcing two three-and-outs and two five-and-outs.
South Alabama’s Jalen Tolbert beating Warren Burrell for three catches between 27 and 37 yards was the only negative from Tennessee’s defense in the first half.
Even the special teams, which gave up a fake punt conversion in the second quarter, got in on the fun as Velus Jones Jr. took a kick off 96 yards for Tennessee’s first special teams touchdown of the season.
Hooker Bounces Back
Hendon Hooker played his worst game in a Tennessee uniform last week against Georgia. The senior quarterback overthrew open receivers, had a costly interception and wasn’t his normal efficient self in the loss.
Hooker got back on the right track Saturday, picking apart the Jaguars’ secondary in the dominant win.
The Vols’ quarterback had just one more incompletion than he did touchdowns in the first half. Hooker was extremely efficient in the first half, completing 13-of-16 passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns.
The Virginia Tech transfer wasn’t asked to do much in the second half and didn’t play in the fourth quarter, but Hooker’s success continued. The Vols’ signal caller ended his day completing 17-of-20 passes for 273 yards and three total touchdowns.
Hooker was dynamic with his legs too Saturday. The senior quarterback recorded 21 rushing yards on seven carries. Two of those carries were sacks that lost a total of five yards.
The dual threat quarterback had an impressive 15-yard scramble on third-and-11 that kept a Tennessee drive alive in its own territory and led to a Vols’ touchdown to go up 21-0.
With a touchdown pass in today’s game, Hooker tied Tyler Bray with the sixth longest streak of touchdown passes in a game from a Tennessee quarterback. Hooker has thrown a touchdown in all 10 games he’s played in this season.
Improved Third Down Defense
Tennessee’s third down defense had been its crux the last four games. All four of Ole Miss, Alabama, Kentucky and Georgia gave the Vols’ fits on third downs.
The Vols defense showed some life in that facet Saturday night, holding South Alabama to one-of-16 on third downs.
A large part of Tennessee’s success on third downs was its ability to force the Jaguars into third-and-long. With Desmond Trotter playing for an injured Jake Bentley, South Alabama’s passing game was severely limited when it had to throw it down the field.
South Alabama’s average third down distance was 7.67 yards in the loss.
While Trotter was limited with what he could do with his arm, the sophomore is a strong runner. Tennessee did a good job of limiting Trotter’s legs, holding him to 10 yards on 12 carries.
The Jaguars did have success on fourth downs, converting five-of-seven attempts. One came on a fake punt, the second fake punt conversion against the Vols this season.
Odds and Ins
Linebacker Jeremy Banks didn’t play a snap in the first quarter but was on the field for the first play of the second quarter. The senior recorded a team high seven tackles in the win.
Three Tennessee running backs recorded over 50 yards and found the end zone. Jabari Small totaled 73 yards and two touchdowns, Jaylen Wright totaled 83 yards and a touchdown and Len’Neth Whitehead totaled 60 yards and a touchdown.
Outside of its one play drive before halftime, Tennessee scored a touchdown on its first eight drives of the game.
Tennessee recorded 13 tackles for loss and four sacks in the blowout win.
Tennessee receivers Velus Jones Jr. and Cedric Tillman continued their fantastic senior seasons Saturday. Tillman hauled in five catches for 100 yards and a touchdown while Jones Jr. caught six passes for 103 yards and had a touchdown on a punt return.
With a matchup against Vanderbilt and a bowl game still on the docket, Tillman just needs 175 yards to become the first Tennessee receiver to record 1,000 yard since Justin Hunter had 1,083 yards in 2012.
Tillman’s touchdown catch gave him touchdowns in five straight games. That’s the longest streak of games with a touchdown reception since Josh Malone had five straight games with touchdowns in 2016.
Gaston Moore played quarterback for the last drive of the game.
