Tennessee football’s turning points in 65-24 win vs. UT-Martin
Yes it was a blowout win, but no, the game wasn’t completely in hand from the start. While Tennessee football came out strong on offense, they needed some key plays in certain moments, and the defense needed quite a few big plays in the first half to really turn this into a blowout.
Most of the plays to break the game open still happened in the first half, though, as the Vols were in complete control early in the second quarter. Let’s take a look at when those plays occurred and the effect they had. Here are the key moments that changed the game in the Vols’ 65-24 win over the UT-Martin Skyhawks.
Dresser Winn incomplete pass on 3rd and 3 opening drive
If Jason Simpson’s team was going to threaten Tennessee football l in this game, they needed a strong start to try to catch them in a hangover with their elite offense. They took the opening kickoff and had a five-yard completion on the first play. A two-yard run made it 3rd and 3.
Then Dresser Winn threw an incompletion. It may not seem like much, but forcing a three-and-out on the opening drive was huge to proving the Vols wouldn’t have any letdown in this one. Any letdown would’ve involved UT-Martin’s offense clicking early, and it didn’t happen here.
Hendon Hooker 44-yard pass to Jalin Hyatt on 3rd and 5
Another part of the Vols avoiding a hangover was scoring the first time they had the ball. That looked like it might be more difficult than initially expected, as an incomplete pass by Hendon Hooker brought up a 3rd and 5 and put them in danger of going three-and-out.
Well, in a sense of deja vu from last week, Jalin Hyatt then stepped up to make a play. Hyatt caught a 44-yard grab from Hooker, and the Vols scored six plays later on a Jabari Small touchdown run to go up 7-0, letting everybody know they were still rolling.
William Wright interception
Although Tennessee football stopped UT-Martin on their opening drive, the Skyhawks began threatening. Their offense scored a touchdown on the next drive, and after the Vols went up 14-7, UT-Martin began driving again. It was about the pass defense woes that have plagued this team.
Well, a walk-on stepped up to change the flow. Easily in field goal range and threatening to tie it up again, Dresser Winn threw a pass that William Wright made an epic jump on to intercept. Wright is a walk-on, and this was his breakout play to give the Vols the ball back with the lead.
Hendon Hooker 22-yard run on 3rd and 19
Clinging to that 14-7 lead after that Wright interception, Hendon Hooker drove the Vols into UT-Martin territory, but then Jaylen Wright was stopped for a four-yard loss on 1st and 10 at their 30. Then Hooker was sacked for a five-yard loss. All of a sudden, it was 3rd and 19.
Rocky Top was out of field goal range at that point too. On the next snap, though, nothing was there, and Hooker made a heads up play to run 22 yards for the first down. That was crucial, as UT scored a touchdown two plays later to go up 21-7 and really take control.
Sam Franklin fumble
A huge tackle for a loss by Solon Page III killed the next UT-Martin drive, and the Vols were able to go up 24-7 on a field goal after that. However, they still hadn’t yet broken the game open. This play allowed them to do that. It was the first play of UT-Martin’s next drive after that field goal.
Sam Franklin took a handoff six yards before Trevon Flowers knocked the ball out. Aaron Beasley was there to recover. Immediately, the Vols capitalized with a 22-yard pass from Hooker to Hyatt two plays later to put them up 31-7 and in control, but the fumble started that final nail.
Next. Five takeaways from Vols' 65-24 win vs. UT-Martin. dark
If one play stood out above all of them, it was the Wright interception. That was the key play to put Tennessee football in control, as UT-Martin showed no signs of threatening after that. However, it took a few plays before the Vols were in complete control, which they were by the second quarter.