After all of the great games in week one, the week two slate is light on marquee match ups. Part of those rushing yards were due to the play at quarterback. On the biggest stages they’ve seen under Butch Jones, Tennessee had specialized in heartbreak against Georgia in 2013, Georgia and Florida in 2014, and the Oklahoma/Florida/Alabama triumvirate a year ago. “It’ll never be replicated; it’ll never be duplicated …” This was an incredible experience for our student athletes, something that they will remember for a lifetime. But they all came after the Vols had already missed the chance (usually as an underdog) to announce their presence, their return to the college football world. Primarily because the start was so rocky. Tennessee won the turnover battle against Virginia Tech 5-1. Tennessee cashed in right away as Dobbs hit Jauan Jennings on a fade pattern 17 seconds into the quarter.
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“We knew that when we started the layouts for the locker rooms, we wanted to keep some elements of NASCAR intact, like the murals”, Caldwell said.
Dobbs rushed for 106 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries, setting the program’s career record for most rushing yards by a quarterback with 1,431.
Hurd ran for 118 yards in the game and Dobbs threw for 192 yards and a touchdown, but the Vols’ offensive line struggled, Dobbs made some poor decisions with the ball and the ground game only averaged 3.0 yards per carry, with Dobbs finishing with minus-4 yards. “Their model of community stewardship and investment is inspirational, and we’re excited to once again partner with them for this game”. Hodges going over the middle of the field with players like Reeves Maybin lurking, and a smaller player like Reeves Maybin trying to cover up such a match up nightmare.
Imagine the Vols’ total passing yards amounting to 91 yards against those schools. The offense punted the ball three times and did not achieve a first down in the second quarter. The other drive, the last drive of the game, lasted three minutes and 28 seconds and was simply a result of the Vols running out the final minutes of the clock.
With 14:29 left in the second quarter, Tennessee forced Hokies’ quarterback Jerod Evans into a fumble, recovering at the ball at Virginia Tech’s five-yard line.
The Vols kept going on their next drive, getting a 40-yard run by Dobbs up the sideline before he lofted a 38-yard pass downfield that Josh Malone ripped away from Stroman in the end zone for a touchdown, tying things up at 14 with 9:42 left in the half.
“We had some individuals earn more reps with their work during the week”, Jones said.
I had never failed to walk in this place where I didn’t think about how cool it would be a play a football game in this huge stadium, which has grown in recent years during NASCAR’s heyday to a seating capacity of almost 160,000 fans.
Looking ahead, the Vols battle OH next weekened prior to the beginning of the SEC-portion on the docket.
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The Vols and Bobcats are scheduled for a noon ET kickoff at Neyland Stadium.
