Josh Heupel happy Tennessee leads Missouri but hopes to 'clean it up' some in second half

No. 5 Tennessee leads Missouri 28-17 at the half, with its passing game back in sync as quarterback Hendon Hooker and the offense rolled to the tune of 365 yards in the first half.

Still, there were a handful of self-inflicted mistakes that plagued the Volunteers in the first half.

“A couple of them for sure,” Tennessee coach Josh Heupel told CBS sideline reporter Sherree Burress. “A lot of really good things, too. We’ve got to clean it up here and go compete second half.”

Hooker finished the first half 17-of-24 passing for 229 yards and a touchdown. He also led Tennessee in rushing with six carries for 57 yards and a touchdown.

The Volunteers, playing without star receiver Cedric Tillman on Saturday, started off a touch slow but have kicked into gear as the game has progressed. Heupel wants to see his Tennessee teams continue to show good effort in the second half.

“Thirty more minutes of football, we get an opportunity to go play and compete and enjoy it,” Heupel said. “Let’s go fight.”

Tennessee leads Missouri, Tigers getting banged-up

The Missouri defense has taken some blows in the first half against Tennessee, losing a couple important players.

Defensive back Ennis Rakestraw left the game in the first quarter after colliding with a fellow defender. He is out, according to a CBS sideline report.

“Down here on the Missouri sideline I’m just spotting Ennis Rakestraw,” Burress reported on the broadcast. “He did go back to the locker room, but you may remember he went into the medical tent. I saw him look a little wobbly. I am told he is out for now, Missouri’s just going to be extra careful for him.”

Meanwhile, defensive lineman Tyrone Hopper left the game and went to the locker room during the second quarter.

Hopper made a tackle on Hooker that resulted in a controversial call in the first half. He was flagged for a horse-collar tackle, and the Volunteers scored just two plays after the penalty helped them move past midfield.

The veteran defensive lineman came down hard on the tackle against Hooker and left the game one play later.