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Tennessee football: Five takeaways from Vols’ 45-42 win at Kentucky

By Caleb Calhoun

A view during an SEC football game between Tennessee and Kentucky at Kroger Field in Lexington, Ky. on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021.Kns Tennessee Kentucky Football
A view during an SEC football game between Tennessee and Kentucky at Kroger Field in Lexington, Ky. on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021.Kns Tennessee Kentucky Football /
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Tennessee wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. (1) celebrates a touchdown with Tennessee wide receiver JaVonta Payton (3) in the end zone during an SEC football game between Tennessee and Kentucky at Kroger Field in Lexington, Ky. on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021.Kns Tennessee Kentucky Football
Tennessee wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. (1) celebrates a touchdown with Tennessee wide receiver JaVonta Payton (3) in the end zone during an SEC football game between Tennessee and Kentucky at Kroger Field in Lexington, Ky. on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021.Kns Tennessee Kentucky Football /

1. Big plays

This is how you overcome losing the time off possession battle, not winning the turnover battle and being outgained by over 150 yards. Tennessee football got the big plays, and Josh Heupel’s system was put on full display. It started immediately.

The Vols scored on the first play from scrimmage, as JaVonta Payton took a screen pass from Hendon Hooker 75 yards for a touchdown. After Kentucky tied it up on the next drive, Hooker found Velus Jones Jr. for a 72-yard touchdown. He should’ve had another 70-yard touchdown to Jalin Hyatt, but as we mentioned on the previous slide, Hyatt was ruled out after 41 yards.

Down 28-24 in the second half, Jabari Small had a 37-yard touchdown run, largely thanks to one of the greatest moves of the year in the sport. Then came Alontae Taylor’s pick-six to put the Vols up 38-28 in the third quarter, which allowed them to have complete control late.

Of their 45 points, it’s safe to say the Vols had at least 28 through big plays. Now, they did have two very good touchdown drives, in the second quarter and the fourth quarter, to stay in control, but the big plays were the story. Tennessee football won this game the Heupel way. More games like that will make them the most fun team to watch in the future.

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