WATCH: Hendon Hooker discusses huge win for Vols in annual Florida-Tennessee rivalry
Have a day, Volunteers. The No. 11 Tennessee football program scored a massive win in its annual rivalry with No. 20 Florida on Saturday, holding on late for a 38-33 win in the key SEC East matchup.
Quarterback Hendon Hooker battled injury but led the Volunteers to a big second-half lead, one Tennessee was able to hold onto despite a furious Florida surge down the stretch. Hooker discussed what the win — just the second in the last 18 meetings in the Florida-Tennessee rivalry — meant for Tennessee with the CBS broadcast crew after the game.
“It means a lot for the school and the program and every win is special,” Hooker said. “It’s hard to win in this league and to go out and put on a show like we did tonight is a blessing.”
The Volunteers rode Hooker’s hot hand, despite the quarterback being banged-up in the contest, to a 38-21 lead with just 4:49 to play.
Fans were amped up after a 5-yard rushing touchdown by Jaylen Wright extended the lead out to 17 points inside the final minutes, vigorously Gator chomping in the stands and launching an expletive-laced chant down toward the field.
Florida surged late, but Tennessee held on
The game appeared all but over with the Volunteers leading by 17 with less than five minutes to play, but the Gators simply didn’t quit.
Battling his own injuries, Anthony Richardson guided the Gators to a quick 10-play, 75-yard scoring drive that was capped by a 5-yard Montrell Johnson touchdown run. A two-point conversion attempt failed, but the Florida defense came up with a stop and got the ball back to the offense with 1:11 to play.
Richardson once again led a quick scoring drive, this time finished off by a 3-yard touchdown pass to receiver Ricky Pearsall. Another two-point conversion failed, making the score 38-33 Volunteers with 17 seconds to play. Improbably, the Gators recovered the ensuing onside kick and marched in Vols territory.
But Tennessee sealed the win on the final play when defensive back Kamal Hadden intercepted Richardson’s heave toward the end zone as time expired.
“This is what we do every day,” Hooker said. “We come in at practice and we plan on executing plays at the best of our ability, and we did that tonight.”
Hooker, who played through injury in the contest, also spoke on his health following the game.
“I’m feeling pretty good,” he said. “It’s a physical game. It comes with ups and downs and pains and aches, and I love every bit of it.”