Tennessee football trounces Missouri to reignite College Football Playoff push
Adam SparksTennessee football broke its single-game school record in total offense with a 66-24 win over Missouri on Saturday, bouncing back from its first loss to Georgia.
The No. 5 Vols (9-1, 5-1 SEC) topped the record of 718 yards (vs. Troy in 2012), finishing with 724 yards. Their 66 points were the most scored against an SEC team in school history and the third-most by Tennessee in any game in the modern era, since 1933.
It was a welcomed outcome after Tennessee lost at Georgia and fell out of the top four in the College Football Playoff rankings.
Tennessee posted an undefeated home record (7-0) for the first time since 2007. It will finish the regular season with road games at South Carolina and Vanderbilt and then head into the postseason.
Here are six observations from Tennessee’s win over Missouri (4-6, 2-5) on a wet and chilly afternoon at Neyland Stadium.
Hendon Hooker regains Heisman pace
Quarterback Hendon Hooker, a Virginia Tech transfer and sixth-year senior, was accompanied by about 30 family members for his final home game. He was one of 21 players recognized on senior day.
Hooker had good stats to continue his Heisman Trophy campaign and rebound from a sub-par outing against Georgia. He finished 25-of-34 passing for 355 yards, three TDs and no interceptions. And he rushed for 54 yards and one TD.
Hooker moved to No. 5 on the school’s career list with 55 TD passes despite playing less than two seasons for the Vols. Only Peyton Manning (89), Casey Clausen (75), Erik Ainge (72) and Tyler Bray (69) are ahead of Hooker's 55 TD passes.
In the fourth quarter, backup quarterback Joe Milton hit Ramel Keyton for a 46-yard TD pass.
Offense bounces back from Georgia game
A week after gaining only 289 yards against Georgia, the Vols exceeded that total by halftime. They looked more like the team that led FBS in total offense and ranked No. 2 in scoring offense entering the game.
Tennessee marched 91 yards on its first possession, capped by Jabari Small’s 10-yard TD run. It was the Vols’ sixth scoring drive of at least 90 yards this season and their first since the Alabama game.
Small, Jaylen Wright and freshman Dylan Sampson helped Tennessee rush for more than 200 yards. And Hooker spread the ball around in the passing game.
Jalin Hyatt tops 1,000 yards, approaches Vols record
Jalin Hyatt became the ninth player in Tennessee history to reach 1,000 yards receiving in a season. Robert Meachem holds the school record with 1,298 yards in 2006.
Hyatt had seven catches for 146 yards and a TD. He has 1,116 yards this season. In the third quarter, Hooker faked a jet sweep to Sampson and tossed a pass to Hyatt streaking up the sideline. Hyatt ran behind Bru McCoy’s downfield block for a 68-yard TD.
It was Hyatt’s school-record 15th TD reception this season, which leads FBS and ranks sixth on the SEC’s single-season list.
Princeton Fant scores again and again
Princeton Fant, a sixth-year senior, kept up his scoring spree in his final game at Neyland Stadium. He caught two TD passes, a 19-yarder and 2-yarder, at tight end.
In recent games, Fant has flexed his versatility as a runner and passer on trick plays. He has accounted for seven TDs in the past five games, including four rushing, two receiving and one passing.
Cedric Tillman sat out for precautionary reasons
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman was in uniform during warm-ups and senior day recognition. But when the team came out of the tunnel, he wore a jersey and track pants.
A Tennessee spokesperson said Tillman did not play due to injury-related precaution. He suffered an ankle injury against Akron on Sept. 17 and missed the following four games. He returned against Kentucky on Oct. 29 and played against Georgia.
Tillman, a preseason All-SEC selection, was a 1,000-yard receiver last season. He has 28 catches for 336 yards and a TD in five games this season.
Vols’ miscues kept Missouri close
A Tennessee penalty and sloppy pass coverage led to Missouri’s first two TDs. It turned what could have been an early rout into a 28-17 halftime lead for the Vols.
In the first quarter, the Vols stopped Missouri inside the 10-yard line. But on the field-goal attempt, Aaron Beasley lined up over the long snapper, resulting in a penalty and a first down. Missouri scored a TD on the next play.
In the second quarter, Missouri quarterback Brady Cook lobbed a pass to Tauskie Dove on a fourth-and-1 play. Cornerback Brandon Turnage lost track of the ball, and safety Jaylen McCollough collided with Turnage as Dove made the catch. Dove jogged into the end zone for a 43-yard TD.
Tennessee's defense buckled down in the second half for a series of three-and-out stops and a fumble recovery by Doneiko Slaughter.
Reach Adam Sparks at adam.sparks@knoxnews.com and on Twitter @AdamSparks.