KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Regardless of an upper-overall body harm and the absence of his favourite concentrate on, Hendon Hooker was at his best Saturday night time.
The Tennessee quarterback threw for 349 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 112 yards and a rating to lead the No. 11 Volunteers to a 38-33 victory about No. 20 Florida.
It was Tennessee’s 2nd earn in excess of Florida in the final 18 meetings and snapped a six-game dropping streak in the collection. The get gave the Volunteers their to start with 4- get started considering the fact that 2016.
“This is a person of the wonderful stories in higher education football,” Tennessee coach Josh Heupel reported of his staff. “The recreation-day atmosphere… That is Rocky Major. It’s what we constructed.”
“The work we place in is showing,” stated Vols managing again Jabari Modest, who rushed for 90 yards and a TD. “It shows how much we have occur.”
Tennessee (4-, 1- Southeastern Conference) took command in the fourth quarter when it traveled 87 yards for a TD after a fumble by Gators (2-2, -2) quarterback Anthony Richardson.
Richardson had a job-significant 453 passing yards and two touchdowns and ran for 62 and two scores in a raucous Neyland Stadium.
Tennessee led 17-14 at halftime pursuing a initially 50 % loaded with big offensive performs on both sides.
Hooker, who shook off the personal injury, threw for 248 yards, which includes a 70-yard relationship with Bru McCoy for the Vols’ longest perform from scrimmage this season.
“I didn’t come to feel any spotlight or phase,” Hooker reported. “Just an additional day at the office.
“Injuries are element of the sport. If you can go, you go. You are likely to get banged up.”
“Hendon is a warrior,” stated Heupel.
McCoy, a transfer from Southern California, stepped in for the wounded Cedric Tillman (left leg) with five catches for 102 yards and a TD.
“I function really hard just about every day to do my career,” McCoy stated. “We check out not to think about who’s on the subject.”
Florida mentor Billy Napier claimed Tennessee deserved “a lot of credit score.”
“But I think when we get back again and observe the film, there is going to be 12-15 plays exactly where Florida beats Florida,” Napier mentioned.
A 99-garden travel that ended with a a person-lawn go from Hooker to McCoy, gave Tennessee the direct 7 seconds in advance of the split.
Richardson experienced a vocation-superior 220 passing yards by intermission and linked with his initial TD go of the season. Keon Zipperer broke a few arm tackles on his way to a 44-lawn rating.
“It feels excellent just to have entertaining out there and play football,” reported Richardson. “It’s exciting. It is a blessing.”
Lacking (OR NOT) IN Action
The left leg personal injury that pressured Tennessee WR Cedric Tillman to miss out on a fantastic deal of the Akron sport brought about him to be held out. … Vols WR Jimmy Calloway could not enjoy in the 1st 50 percent in opposition to the Gators due to the fact of a staff suspension right after remaining ejected last 7 days for punching an Akron player. … Florida OT Michael Tarquin (decrease leg injuries) and extensive snapper Marco Ortiz did not play. …. LB Ventrell Miller, who missed final week’s video game with a proper foot damage, started out.
Info & FIGURES
Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker experienced a string of 14 consecutive move completions, like 12 versus Akron, right before a misfire. … In again-to-back second-quarter plays, Richardson threw his to start with TD go of the year, for 44 yards to Keon Zipperer, before Hooker’s 70-yarder to McCoy. … Midway by means of the next quarter Richardson experienced thrown for 207 yards, a profession large. … Florida had just three sacks in its to start with a few game titles. It experienced 3 Saturday. … RB Jabari Small’s 16-yard TD reception was his first. … Florida was five of six in fourth-down conversions.
THE TAKEAWAY
Florida: In get to have accomplishment in the remainder of their SEC online games, the Gators will require to increase a dimension to their offensive attack. After defenses focus on made up of Richardson in the pocket, the variables in the offense are restricted. Richardson was able to stay away from the stress and has been sacked just twice this period.
Tennessee: Receiving WR Cedric Tillman (leg) balanced is imperative if the Vols program on competing versus the elite in the SEC. Possessing that weapon readily available is key to providing LSU, Alabama and Kentucky one thing to video game-system towards.
UP Future
Florida: After actively playing a few ranked teams in the to start with 4 months of the period, the Gators get a crack by internet hosting Jap Washington Saturday.
Tennessee: An open up day Saturday gives the Vols an possibility to catch their breath right before heading to LSU and then web hosting No. 2 Alabama.
Copyright 2022 The Affiliated Press. All legal rights reserved. This product might not be revealed, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
