The 2018 Tennessee football season is off to a 1-1 start. Here is how the Volunteers and ETSU Buccaneers game broke down by the numbers.
First-year head coach Jeremy Pruitt and the Tennessee football team got their first win of the season. Sometimes in these types of game, the underdog plays tough and hangs around till the fourth quarter. However, the Vols didn’t allow that this game as they had a convincing 59-3 win.
The game was never in question thanks to the outstanding play of the defense which almost had two interceptions returned for a touchdown. Here is a look at how the game broke down by the numbers.
414 – total yards from the Vols offense. 224 was through the air while 190 was on the ground. ETSU had no answers to Tennessee’s effective offensive attack.
78 – yards receiving for wide receiver Marquez Callaway. With five receptions, Callaway led both teams in receptions for the second straight game.
72 – passing yards from ETSU quarterback Logan Marchi. This was the lowest amount of passing yards in his college career when attempting over five passes.
69 – passing yards is what the Vols defense gave up. Looking back on recent seasons it is the lowest amount I could find. In 2014 the Vols held the Gators to 76 yards passing.
59 – points is the highest amount of points scored since the 63 scored against Missouri in 2016.
51 – yards was the long reception of the day by Marquez Callaway and Josh Palmer.
44 – rushing attempts for Tennessee’s offense. To be fair, the Vols didn’t need to throw the ball the entire second half. Still, 44 attempts feels like old school Tennessee football.
8 – total tackles from defensive lineman Emmitt Gooden. He led both teams in total tackles and with three tackles for loss.
7 – different Vols scored a touchdown. Keller Chryst went 3-of-3 for 70 yards and one touchdown. Running back Jeremy Banks rushed for 62 yards with two touchdowns. Madre London rushed for 47 yards and two touchdowns.
Wide receiver Josh Palmer scored on an end around that went for 20 yards. Jordan Murphy looked great with three receptions for 75 yards and a touchdown.
On defense, Darrin Kirkland Jr. had a pick-six. And, finally, Marquill Osborne had a blocked punt for a touchdown.
3 – penalties is all the Vols got called for. The three calls equaled just 19 yards compared to ETSU’s 39 yards in penalties.
2 – interceptions. Darrin Kirkland Jr. had a 33-yard interception returned for a touchdown. This came right after freshman Bryce Thompson cut a route and almost returned the interception for a touchdown.
1 – game in the win column and the first win of the 2018 Tennessee football season. This was also the first win of Jeremy Pruitt’s tenure as a head coach.