Vols head coach Josh Heupel earned the signature win of his young Tennessee tenure Saturday afternoon. Tennessee held on to defeat No. 20 Florida, 38-33, inside Neyland Stadium.
Heupel’s high tempo offense delivered in the biggest game of the young season, scoring on six of nine possessions with five of them being touchdowns.
The leader of that offense, Hendon Hooker, couldn’t have been much better in the win. The super senior quarterback completed 22-of-28 passes for 349 yards and two touchdowns while adding 127 yards and another touchdown on the ground.
“Hendon played his butt off tonight,” Heupel said. “He played at an elite level. Decisive with the football. Accurate with the football— intermediate, short, long— used his legs at the right time. Created big plays there and a tough competitor man. The offense fed off of him all night long.”
Tennessee’s fifth touchdown drive of the game gave the Vols a three-score lead in the fourth quarter. However, Florida didn’t go away. After scoring a touchdown with 17 seconds remaining, Florida recovered an onside kick and had one last chance.
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Defensive coordinator Tim Banks dialed up pressure on the game’s final play. Tyler Baron hit Anthony Richardson as he threw and Kamal Hadden intercepted the pass to seal the win.
“Make a play,” Heupel said of the aggression. “Didn’t want them to be able to sit back there and pad it all day long. Find a way to get off the football field and come away with a win.”
The second-year head coach also discussed Ramel Keyton stepping up in Cedric Tillman’s absence, the atmosphere inside Neyland Stadium and more.
One Response
Great Win for the Vols, Hooker, & Heupel. We have improved a lot! We still have some room for growth on defense & rushing but great job. If there is one thing I would criticize, it is the same old, protect the lead in ultra-conservative play calling at the end that keeps us from even trying to get another first down, much less score, so that we could put the game away earlier. That is exactly what has cost us so many big games in the past. No guts, no Glory!