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Tennessee Football breaks modern day program record for points in 72-17 win over ETSU

IMG_3593by: Grant Ramey09/06/25GrantRamey
Tennessee Football | Tennessee Athletics
Tennessee Football | Tennessee Athletics

Tennessee Football on Saturday broke the modern day program record for points scored in its 72-17 win over East Tennessee State at Neyland Stadium. The Vols also set the single-game program record with 41 first downs in the win. 

The 72 points broke the previous record of 71 set in the 71-0 win over Kent State last September. Tennessee also opened last season with a 69-3 win over Chattanooga.  

The Vols (2-0) scored 24 points in both the first and second quarter, then added 14 in the third and 10 in the fourth. The record-breaking score came on a 10-yard touchdown run by freshman Daune Morris with 3:55 left in the fourth quarter.

Up Next: No. 22 Tennessee vs. No. 4 Georgia, Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC

Tennessee completed 38 of 52 passes for 458 yards and four touchdowns in the win over ETSU (1-1), with Joey Aguilar, Jake Merklinger and George MacIntyre all seeing action. Seven running backs combined for 259 yards and five rushing touchdowns on the day, while 13 receivers caught passes. 

Aguilar completed 23 of 31 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns in the first half, before giving way to Merklinger, who was 9-for-14 for 118 yards and two scores. MacIntyre completed 6 of 7 passes for 52 yards.

Star Thomas led the running backs with 69 yards and three touchdowns on 12 carries, all in the first half. DeSean Bishop had three carries for 68 yards, including a 50-yard run on the first play of the game. Morris ran 11 times for 37 yards and Peyton Lewis had eight carries for 19 yards and a touchdown. 

Vols have scored 60 or more points eight times under Josh Heupel

Chris Brazzell II led Tennessee receivers with nine catches for 125 yards and two touchdowns on 11 targets. Mike Matthews had six catches for 111 yards, including a 53-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Freshman tight end Jack Van Dorselaer caught a 7-yard touchdown in the second half. 

Tennessee finished the game with 717 total yards, went 10-for-10 in the red zone and was 10-for-14 on third down. The Vols ran 100 total plays, averaging 7.2 yards per play, 12.1 yards per completion and 5.4 yards per rush. 

Saturday was the eighth time under Josh Heupel that the Vols have scored 60 or more points: 71 vs. Kent State (2024), 69 vs. Chattanooga, 66 vs. Missouri (2022), 65 vs. UT Martin (2022), 63 vs. Akron (2022), 62 vs. Missouri (2021) and 60 vs. South Alabama (2001).

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