The Vols stormed back to beat Virginia Tech 45-24 Saturday at Bristol Motor Speedway with an attendance of 156,990, the largest crowd in college football history.
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Immediately following the concert, both Tennessee and Virginia Tech took their team walks around the outside of Bristol Motor Speedway with cheering fans lining the sides of the streets.
A spectacle nearly 20 years in the making, the “Battle at Bristol” saw the Hokies (1-1) take a 14-nothing lead, thanks to 7-yard touchdown toss from Jerod Evans to Sam Rodgers, and the next drive after, a 69-yard touchdown scamper from Travon McMillian.
But just when you thought the Hokies may just lap the Vols on college football’s biggest stage, Tennessee found itself, seemingly getting a new set of tires and a full tank of fuel inside the world’s fastest half-mile. Kicker Aaron Medley drilled a field goal and gave Tennessee a 17-14 lead, and then the Vols added five-yard touchdown run by Dobbs put the Vols up 24-14 at halftime.
The Tennessee Volunteers take on the Virginia Tech Hokies in the “Battle at Bristol”.
The next time out, Virginia Tech – which totaled 330 yards, including 239 on the ground – will see another elite defense in Boston College, which is allowing 180 yards per game.
And while the Vols (2-0) looked in the first quarter eerily similar to the team that almost lost to Appalachian State in their opener, they’ve discovered a deep threat in their passing game that’s been so sorely missing.
We came here to learn about an (at times) bumblin’, fumblin’, underachieving Tennessee.
It’s not fair to say Tennessee quarterback Josh Dobbs established himself. He only passed for 91 yards, but he ran 14 times for 106 yards and two touchdowns.
In his second career start, Richmond looked more like a redshirt freshman than he did in his debut, while Jones appeared to prove himself when again given an opportunity. Virginia Tech won its season opener by three scores, and now quarterback Jerrod Evans and the VT Hokies hit the road for this non-conference game. Florida looked great on Saturday in a dominating win over Kentucky but struggled dispatching of UMass-one of the worst teams an SEC team faced in Week 1.
Arkansas, for some reason, kicked to Turpin on the ensuing kickoff, which he returned 64 yards to the Arkansas 27.
I know now that even when we are fierce competitors, we find time to help our brothers and sisters in times of desperate need, without reservation, without regard to which team we root for, just true human compassion for one another. You can expect over 150,000 to be on hand when Virginia Tech takes on Tennessee in the Battle at Bristol. Three led to Tennessee touchdowns.
“Turnovers have raised their heads in a huge way the first two ballgames”, said first-year Hokies coach Justin Fuente.
“I know as a leader I will make sure I do a better job of making sure my guys are in tune”, echoed Evans.
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Virginia Tech lost four fumbles in their opening win against Liberty. “Senior leaders have to step up and be more vocal on those days and make sure that we get it right”. Last night’s game plan looked a lot like the one we saw at Florida a year ago for what it’s worth.
