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Tennessee football: Five takeaways from Vols’ 62-24 win at Missouri

By Caleb Calhoun

Oct 2, 2021; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Tiyon Evans (8) celebrates with quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) after scoring at touchdown against the Missouri Tigers during the first half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 2, 2021; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Tiyon Evans (8) celebrates with quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) after scoring at touchdown against the Missouri Tigers during the first half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tennessee running back Tiyon Evans (8) runs for a long touchdown during an NCAA football game between Tennessee and Missouri on Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Mo., on Saturday, Oct. 2 , 2021.Utmizzou 1002 0699
Tennessee running back Tiyon Evans (8) runs for a long touchdown during an NCAA football game between Tennessee and Missouri on Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Mo., on Saturday, Oct. 2 , 2021.Utmizzou 1002 0699 /

1. Running game was historically great.

We can talk about the offense in general. Putting up 62 points and over 600 yards of total offense is amazing. However, the story with Tennessee football is the rushing attack. The Vols had over 450 yards on the ground, which is insane.

In a previous slide, we already addressed the 80 yards and touchdown Hendon Hooker had on the ground. However, the star of the game was Tiyon Evans, who had 15 carries for 156 yards and three touchdowns. Evans had a 92-yard touchdown run in the first quarter to give the Vols a 21-3 lead. All three of his touchdowns were in the first.

Beyond Evans and Hooker, though, Len’Neth Whitehead had a breakout game, gaining 76 yards on nine carries. Even Marcus Pierce Jr. got in on the action, as he had 11 carries for 45 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown run. That was on a drive late in the game in which Josh Heupel was just trying to run out the clock with him and Joe Milton III, but even Milton had a 32-yard run.

Simply put, Tennessee football’s offense was elite all the way around, but the run game was where the dominance truly happened. It came despite Jabari Small being limited due to injury. Heupel’s offense goes as the run game goes, and with Mizzou already having a bad rush defense, he took advantage in this game.

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