#22 Vols Overwhelm Bucs, 72-17, In Home Opener

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 22/17 Tennessee exploded for 48 first-half points en route to a modern-era record total, dominating ETSU, 72-17, on Saturday afternoon in front of a sold-out crowd of 101,915 at Neyland Stadium in the Vols’ home opener.

With three different quarterbacks leading scoring drives and passing for a combined 458 yards, the Big Orange (2-0) surpassed their previous modern day best (since 1937) point total of 71, set Sept. 14, 2024, against Kent State. The Vols also carded a record number of first downs, finishing with 41 and generating 717 yards of total offense to the Buccaneers’ 216, while marking the fifth time in modern history they surpassed 700 yards, including four times during the Josh Heupel era.

UT put points on the scoreboard less than two minutes into the contest via a 21-yard touchdown toss from senior quarterback Joey Aguilar to redshirt junior wide receiver Chris Brazzell II. Before the end of the quarter, the Vols added a 29-yard field goal from Max Gilbert, a two-yard burst from sophomore running back Star Thomas and a one-yard plunge from sophomore running back Peyton Lewis. The final score of the period was set up by a nifty 40-yard punt return from sophomore Boo Carter, who finished the game with 94 yards on four returns.

Thomas opened the scoring in the second frame, rushing for his second TD of the day from two yards out with 11:41 remaining. Tennessee added a 37-yard field goal from Lewis and a 53-yard TD bomb from Aguilar to sophomore wideout Mike Matthews to take a 41-0 lead before ETSU ended the scoring blitz with 1:55 left before the half on a five-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Cade McNamara to tight end Taharin Sudderth. The Vols countered, though, on a seven-yard run from Jones with 22 seconds left to take a 48-7 lead at the intermission for the program’s third largest point total in a half in modern history.

ETSU opened the second half by cutting into the lead with a 41-yard Ewan Johnson field goal, but UT responded on reserve quarterback Jake Merklinger’s first career touchdown pass, a one-yarder to Brazzell. He added a second TD toss on a seven-yard completion to freshman tight end Jack Van Dorselaer to send Tennessee to the final frame with a 62-10 advantage.

Max Gilbert’s career-long 53-yard field goal opened the fourth quarter before ETSU responded with a 20-yard scoring run from Jason Albritton midway through the period. With freshman quarterback George MacIntyre calling signals, the Vols closed out the scoring with a 10-yard carry from freshman running back Daune Morris.

Aguilar had a productive afternoon, finishing 23-of-31 for 288 yards with two touchdowns in only two quarters of action before giving way to Merklinger and later MacIntyre. Thomas, meanwhile, rushed for a game-high 69 yards with a career-best three touchdowns on 12 carries, and Brazzell II and Matthews produced 100-yard receiving days with nine catches for 125 yards and six receptions for 111 yards, respectively.

Defensively, the Volunteers limited the Bucs to 49 yards rushing and 10 first downs on the day, including a first quarter where ETSU was held to zero first downs, seven total yards and -17 yards rushing. Junior linebacker Arion Carter registered four stops, a tackle for a loss and a forced fumble, while redshirt senior defensive tackle Bryson Eason added four tackles and a tackle for a loss.

UP NEXT
Tennessee is back at Neyland Stadium next Saturday, as No. 4/3 Georgia comes to town for the SEC opener for both schools. Kickoff is slated for 3:30 p.m. on ABC.