Quarterback Joshua Dobbs set the school’s career rushing record at his position, compiling 106 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries Saturday night in the Volunteers’ 45-24 verdict over sloppy Virginia Tech.
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But even Jones couldn’t have foreseen what his Vols would face in the first 15 minutes of the Battle at Bristol. “The field is the same size and you have to try as much as you can to block that out”, said Rogers, who scored Virginia Tech’s first touchdown.
No. 15 Tennessee will be missing two defensive starters for Saturday’s game against OH with linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr. and end LaTroy Lewis out with injured their ankles. The Vols take over at their own 30 yard line with 9:30 left in the first quarter.
After a slow start Tennessee tapped into its “hunt the ball” preseason mantra and forced five turnovers, with one coming on special teams. The Vols know they are just 2-0. Mook Reynolds had a fourth quarter interception.
Tennessee thrashed Virginia Tech at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday night. “And I think things like this, friendly rivalries, getting people excited to do something a little different”. The 6-foot-3 Jennings, a former quarterback, showed excellent desire and leaping skills to make on a well-thrown fade pattern by quarterback Josh Dobbs. Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster’s group has already faced three sudden change situations in which the opponent had 10 yards or less to the end zone. The defense was out of sorts to begin the game before recovering to lock up the Hokies, but the injury to Darrin Kirkland Jr.is a huge concern. After hosting OH (1-1) on Saturday (TV: SEC Network, noon), Tennessee enters a four-game SEC gauntlet against Florida, Georgia, Texas A&M and Alabama.
No. 17/14 Tennessee drafted behind Virginia Tech in the first quarter before lapping the Hokies and emerging with a 45-24 win at the Pilot Flying J Battle at Bristol on Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Dobbs started Tennessee’s next drive with a 40-yard run on a quarterback draw. Yet, the their turnover seemingly awoke the Vols from a massive slumber, dating back to last week’s disastrous win against Appalachian State. Tennessee now hold the nation’s third-longest win streak behind Alabama (13) and San Diego State (11), which won 45-40 at California on Saturday night.
For a while, it appeared that Virginia Tech would be making most of it after jumping out to a 14-0 lead.
The Vols were more disciplined on the field, taking only six penalties for 66 yards as opposed to Tech’s 8 penalties for 101 yards of real estate. The Vols ran 10 plays in the opening frame as Virginia Tech dominated the ball with almost 11 minutes of possession. And in the first quarter, Tennessee having stage fright was the best of all possible options in your head. Not only did the Vols score 24 unanswered points, but they generated a wide difference in total offense.
“We didn’t have a great week of practice, for whatever reason that is, I don’t know”, said Rogers, who caught three passes for 47 yards and a touchdown. He was unable to get consistent pressure on Evans and gift-wrapped a first down for the Hokies by jumping off-sides early on.
156,990 excited fans packed the stands, their energy radiating throughout the racetrack for over three hours.
The previous NCAA record was 115,109 for Michigan’s 2013 victory over Notre Dame at Michigan Stadium.
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1937: The campuses of Tennessee and Virginia Tech are separated by only 234 miles, but the two border-state programs haven’t played in the regular season since 1937.
