Hendon Hooker: Vols doing 'what we're supposed to do,' stay unbeaten with LSU win

No. 8 Tennessee stayed unbeaten on Saturday, jumping all over No. 25 LSU early on in Baton Rouge, La., and turning Death Valley into Neyland Stadium South with an impressive 40-13 win.

The Volunteers recovered a fumble by the Tigers on the game’s opening kickoff, scored five plays later and never looked back.

“Just continuing to do what we do on a daily basis, and that’s just prepare the proper way and come out here and execute how we want to,” quarterback Hendon Hooker said on the field in a postgame interview by ESPN after the big road win.

Hooker was excellent in the win, going 17-of-27 passing for 239 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. He hooked up with receiver Jalin Hyatt for a 45-yard touchdown pass in the first half, then later found Hyatt for a 14-yard touchdown reception in the second half.

The Volunteers stopped the Tigers on fourth down three different times, managing to score points off each turnover on downs.

Hooker and company kept it rolling and unbeaten Tennessee will head now head into a major showdown next weekend against No. 1 Alabama.

“Like I said before, we’re just doing what we’re supposed to do,” Hooker said. “Throughout the week we always was preaching we’re going to be in a hostile environment so we’ve got to lock in a little bit more. Per usual, just encouraging my guys to give it their all every down.”

Tennessee unbeaten after another impressive win

The Volunteers wasted little time setting the tone on Saturday against the Tigers.

LSU coach Brian Kelly opted to be aggressive on fourth down early on, going for a fourth-and-4 from the Tennessee 14-yard line in the first quarter. The Volunteers came up with a stop, holding receiver Kayshon Boutte one yard short of the sticks to force a turnover on downs.

Tennessee would turn the ensuing possession into three points with a Chase McGrath field goal.

But Kelly wasn’t done going for it on fourth down. He went for another early in the second quarter and that attempt also failed. The Volunteers wasted even less time turning that one into points, with Hooker’s 45-yard strike to Hyatt for a touchdown following one play later.

Kelly then opted to go for a fourth-and-10 from the Tennessee 45-yard line with less than a minute to play before halftime. Quarterback Jayden Daniels took an 8-yard sack to give Tennessee the ball in LSU territory.

McGrath added a field goal from 32 yards out to make the halftime lead 23-7, and Kelly spoke at halftime about being outcoached.