Rapid Reaction: Tennessee bounces back from Georgia loss with massive win over Mizzou
Tennessee had its undefeated season come to an end last weekend in Athens against now-No. 1 Georgia. But, the Vols still have plenty to play for this year, and that means they couldn’t afford a letdown against Mizzou on Saturday afternoon in Neyland Stadium.
The Tigers weren’t going away easy in the first quarter. After Tennessee jumped out to a 7-0 lead, Mizzou tied it up.
As you can see below, the Tigers got the ball in the hands of star freshman Luther Burden, who is capable of a big play every time he touches the rock:
Tie game! ??@MizzouFootball responds ? pic.twitter.com/RVpn5uHdxG
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 12, 2022
However, Hendon Hooker and the Vols’ offense had plenty to say about how the game was going to go. This was a beautiful throw and catch from Hooker to Princeton Fant in the end zone:
What a grab by Princeton Fant as @Vol_Football extends their lead ?
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Tennessee sports betting officially launched on November 1, 2020. Tennessee was the first SEC state to legalize sports betting.
(via @CBSSports)pic.twitter.com/AXd7Czf7IC
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) November 12, 2022
After it became a 21-7 game, Mizzou made a beautiful play on a 4th down, with Brady Cook finding Tauskie Dove for a 43-yard score:
Touchdown Missouri! ?@MizzouFootball makes it a one possession game ? pic.twitter.com/UH8Ifdo7q2
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 12, 2022
But, before halftime, Hooker got the Vols in the end zone again, doing it with his legs on this nice touchdown run:
Hendo Turbo.
pic.twitter.com/UafzMLPZIu— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) November 12, 2022
Some horrendous clock management by Eli Drinkwitz at the end of the half hurt the Tigers’ chance to score a touchdown, so Harrison Mevis booted a field goal through the uprights to cut the Vols’ lead to 28-17 at the intermission.
Coming out of halftime, the Tigers got a defensive stop then scored on perhaps Brady Cook’s best throw of the season:
MIZZOU!!! Brady Cook DIME to Dominic Lovett for the 38 yard TD! ? pic.twitter.com/7EBihUjJRz
— ?????? @???????? (@FTBeard7) November 12, 2022
That made it 28-24 in favor of the Vols, and things were getting tense on Rocky Top. But Hooker didn’t panic. Neither did Jalin Hyatt, who snagged this 68-yard TD pass 2 plays into Tennessee’s ensuing drive to extend the lead:
You’re not gonna catch him.pic.twitter.com/567y0bk2nm
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) November 12, 2022
From that point on, it was all Vols. The Tigers didn’t score again in the game, as Tennessee cruised to a massive 66-24 victory by pouring it on late, adding a pair of late-fourth quarter touchdowns.
Hendon Hooker finished with 355 passing yards, 3 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. He added 54 yards and a touchdown as a runner. Jalin Hyatt finished with 7 catches for 146 yards and 1 touchdown.
With 1 loss on the season, the Vols are still very much alive in the College Football Playoff picture. They’ll play at South Carolina and at Vanderbilt to close out the regular season.