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Milton, sack-happy defense lead No. 21 Tennessee to 41-20 revenge victory over South Carolina
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) The mission for No. 21 Tennessee on Saturday night against South Carolina was to dictate the game from the trenches.
The domination ultimately paved the way, with Joe Milton throwing for 239 yards and Tennessee sacking Spencer Rattler six times in a 41-20 victory.
Jaylen Wright ran for 123 yards and a touchdown for the Volunteers (4-1, 1-1 Southeastern Conference) in their first game against the Gamecocks (2-3, 1-2) since a meltdown last season that cost them a spot in the College Football Playoffs.
“This was a line of scrimmage game,” Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said. “We challenged (the players on offense and defense) all week. They had to own it.”
Vols defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. had two sacks.
“We had to play together and play relentless,” Pearce said. “(Heupel) was preaching all week that we've got to take over the game.”
South Carolina struggled on third down (2 of 14) and fourth down (2 of 5).
“When you (struggle on third and fourth down) you make it tough on yourself,” Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer said.
Kamal Hadden returned an interception 28 yards for a touchdown to give Tennessee a 24-10 lead at halftime.
“I trust Spencer in that situation,” Beamer said.
Rattler threw for 164 yards and Mario Anderson ran for 101 yards, with a 75-yarder for a score.
“We just didn’t find a rhythm all night,” Rattler said. “We’re 2-3, but it doesn’t feel like 2-3. It’s their Super Bowl. Congrats to them.”
Milton targeted slot receiver Squirrel White nine times and he caught all nine for 104 yards, including an amazing 50-yarder that set up a touchdown.
“I didn't even see the ball," White said about the pass that came with a defender draped in front of his face. "I felt the ball hit my hands and just held onto it.
ODDS & ENDS
Tennessee's Cooper Mays, generally regarded as one of the top centers in the SEC, saw his first action of the seasont. Midway through preseason camp, Mays underwent an unspecified medical procedure. At the time, he was expected to be ready for the start of the season. Five weeks later, he finally made his debut. ... A special guest of the Vols was former quarterback Hendon Hooker. Now a rookie with the Detroit Lions, Hooker was able to visit because the Lions played Thursday night. It was the South Carolina game last year when Hooker suffered a torn ACL, which derailed his Heisman Trophy campaign. ... Vols receiver Bru McCoy, a redshirt senior transfer from Southern California, was taken from the field on a stretcher after a right leg injury midway through the second quarter.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Still smarting from a frustrating loss to Florida a couple weeks ago, Tennessee is slowly climbing its way back up the ladder. The victory over the Gamecocks added a bit more credibility than the conquest of UTSA, but the Vols’ next couple opponents - Texas A&M and Alabama - would be very impressive.
UP NEXT
South Carolina: Hosts Florida on Oct. 14.
Tennessee: Hosts Texas A&M on Oct. 14.
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AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll
Copyright 2024 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
M. Anderson Jr.
2 RB 101 RuYds, RuTD, 8 ReYds, 2 RECs |
|
J. Wright
0 RB 123 RuYds, RuTD |
Team Stats | ||
---|---|---|
1st Downs | 11 | 24 |
Rushing | 5 | 13 |
Passing | 5 | 11 |
Penalty | 1 | 0 |
3rd Down Conv | 2-15 | 7-15 |
4th Down Conv | 2-5 | 1-1 |
Total Net Yards | 333 | 477 |
Total Plays | 63 | 72 |
Avg Gain | 5.3 | 6.6 |
Net Yards Rushing | 132 | 238 |
Rush Attempts | 27 | 40 |
Avg Rush Yards | 4.9 | 6.0 |
Yards Passing | 201 | 239 |
Comp. - Att. | 25-36 | 21-32 |
Yards Per Pass | 4.1 | 7.1 |
Penalties - Yards | 5-35 | 7-58 |
Touchdowns | 2 | 5 |
Rushing TDs | 2 | 3 |
Passing TDs | 0 | 1 |
Other | 0 | 1 |
Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
Fumbles - Lost | 0-0 | 2-0 |
Int. Thrown | 1 | 2 |
Punts - Avg | 5-45.8 | 3-49.0 |
Return Yards | 16 | 52 |
Punts - Returns | 0-0 | 3-24 |
Kickoffs - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Int. - Returns | 2-16 | 1-28 |
Safeties | 0 | 0 |
|
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
S. Rattler
7 QB
|
S. Rattler | 24/35 | 169 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Kroeger
39 P
|
K. Kroeger | 1/1 | 32 | 0 | 0 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
M. Anderson
24 RB
|
M. Anderson | 10 | 101 | 1 | 75 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Rattler
7 QB
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S. Rattler | 11 | 19 | 1 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||
X. Legette
17 WR
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X. Legette | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. McDowell
0 RB
|
J. McDowell | 3 | 4 | 0 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Joyner
5 RB
|
D. Joyner | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
T. Knox
1 TE
|
T. Knox | 8 | 7 | 51 | 0 | 20 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
X. Legette
17 WR
|
X. Legette | 7 | 5 | 50 | 0 | 32 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Brown
10 WR
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A. Brown | 3 | 2 | 47 | 0 | 44 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
O. Blake
89 WR
|
O. Blake | 3 | 2 | 20 | 0 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Simon
6 TE
|
J. Simon | 3 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Anderson
24 RB
|
M. Anderson | 3 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Russell
21 WR
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T. Russell | 1 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Joyner
5 RB
|
D. Joyner | 4 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
L. Doty
9 QB
|
L. Doty | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
N. Emmanwori
21 DB
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N. Emmanwori | 7-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Kilgore
24 DB
|
J. Kilgore | 7-5 | 0.0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Smith
1 DB
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D. Smith | 3-8 | 0.0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Blanton
52 LB
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S. Blanton | 3-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Dial
6 DB
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M. Dial | 2-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Strachan
7 LB
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J. Strachan | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Martin-Scott
22 LB
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B. Martin-Scott | 1-0 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
O. Fortune
3 DB
|
O. Fortune | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Thomas Jr.
46 LB
|
B. Thomas Jr. | 1-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Williams
0 LB
|
D. Williams | 1-4 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Hemingway
91 DT
|
T. Hemingway | 1-4 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
E. Davis
11 DL
|
E. Davis | 1-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Geer
12 LB
|
J. Geer | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
G. Howard
5 LB
|
G. Howard | 1-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Johnson
10 LB
|
T. Johnson | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Umeozulu
9 LB
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D. Umeozulu | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. Barrett
93 DT
|
N. Barrett | 0-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Huntley
95 DT
|
A. Huntley | 0-2 | 0.0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
M. Jeter
98 K
|
M. Jeter | 2/2 | 47 | 2/2 | 8 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
K. Kroeger
39 P
|
K. Kroeger | 5 | 45.8 | 2 | 48 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
X. Legette
17 WR
|
X. Legette | 1 | 20.0 | 20 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
J. Milton III
7 QB
|
J. Milton III | 21/32 | 239 | 1 | 2 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
J. Wright
0 RB
|
J. Wright | 16 | 123 | 1 | 42 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Small
2 RB
|
J. Small | 11 | 59 | 1 | 21 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Sampson
6 RB
|
D. Sampson | 9 | 49 | 1 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. White
10 WR
|
S. White | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Milton III
7 QB
|
J. Milton III | 2 | 4 | 0 | 10 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
S. White
10 WR
|
S. White | 9 | 9 | 104 | 0 | 50 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Sampson
6 RB
|
D. Sampson | 3 | 2 | 42 | 0 | 37 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Warren
87 TE
|
J. Warren | 4 | 3 | 26 | 1 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
R. Keyton
9 WR
|
R. Keyton | 4 | 2 | 25 | 0 | 19 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. McCoy
15 WR
|
B. McCoy | 3 | 2 | 21 | 0 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Castles
34 TE
|
M. Castles | 4 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Nimrod
81 WR
|
C. Nimrod | 2 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Webb
84 WR
|
K. Webb | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Wright
0 RB
|
J. Wright | 1 |