Joshua Dobbs had two touchdown passes and two touchdown runs, Jalen Hurd had a touchdown reception and a touchdown run, and the Vols had a kickoff return and punt return for touchdowns for the second time this season as the Tennessee Vols beat the Kentucky Wildcats 52-21 at Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington, Ky. Saturday night.
Kentucky threatened the Vols early in the first half, returning a fumble by Dobbs for a touchdown to take a 7-0 lead and taking a 14-10 lead off of a fourth down touchdown run by Patrick Towles.
But Dobbs responded to the first touchdown with a 28-yard touchdown run, and he responded to their second touchdown with a 75-yard touchdown pass of his own to Josh Malone on the first play of the very next drive to give the Vols a 17-14 lead. They never looked back.
A run by Alvin Kamara to the Kentucky one-yard line on the next drive set up another touchdown run by Dobbs to give the Vols a 24-14 halftime lead.
Dobbs finished 16 of 26 for 233 yards and an interception while also running seven times for 51 yards.
In the second half, a screen pass to Jalen Hurd went for a touchdown, and a Darrin Kirkland interception set up a touchdown run by Hurd, putting the Vols on top 38-14 with just over 10 minutes left in the third quarter.
Hurd finished with 18 carries for 61 yards along with one reception for 37 yards.
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Butch Jones kept his team calm and ready to respond to everything that came the Vols’ way. After being on the hot seat earlier in the year, he now has the Vols at 4-4 and poised for a very strong finish, right on track where they were expected to be.
The Vols held Kentucky to two total yards in the first quarter, and their only first down was off of a penalty. Meanwhile, they drove into Kentucky territory every time they had the ball in the first half.
Tennessee stopped Kentucky for a three and out on their first drive and immediately drove into the Wildcats territory before the Dobbs fumble.
The Vols got back into Kentucky territory again but could not capitalize and had to punt. Then, after they got back inside Kentucky territory the third time, Dobbs had his 28-yard touchdown run.
The next drive, Aaron Medley nailed a 44-yard field goal to give Tennessee a 10-7 lead.
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Kentucky got their first first down on their first offensive drive in the second quarter, the drive in which they would take the 14-10 lead over the Vols before Dobbs responded with the pass to Malone.
Malone was the leading receiver with four receptions for 103 yards to go along with the touchdown.
With Tennessee leading 38-14 in the second half, Patrick Towles responded with a touchdown pass to cut it to 38-21, but Evan Berry responded with a kickoff return to make it 45-21.
After another Tennessee stop, Cameron Sutton returned a Kentucky punt for another touchdown to give the Vols a 52-21 lead.
Weapons made plays everywhere. Kamara also starred with four carries for 70 yards and two receptions for 13 yards.
Next: 5 Things We Learned About the Vols in their Victory Over the Wildcats
On defense, Derek Barnett and Corey Vereen were the stars of the defense, with Barnett racking up two sacks, his third and fourth in three games, and Towles was pressured the entire game. Kirkland also starred with his interception.