Tennessee sets program record with 724 yards total offense against Missouri
No. 5 Tennessee set a new single-game football program record with 724 yards of total offense in its 66-24 dismantling of Missouri Saturday on Senior Day at Neyland Stadium.
Mizzou entered the game fourth in the SEC in scoring defense, giving up 21.4 points per game under first-year defensive coordinator Blake Baker. The Vols scored 21 points in the second quarter, 21 more in the third quarter and added 17 in the fourth.
Tennessee (9-1, 5-1 SEC), reaching nine wins and going 7-0 at home for the first time since 2007, completed 28 of 38 passes for 460 yards and four touchdowns. The Vols rushed 37 times as a team for 264 yards and five more touchdowns on the ground.
Vols scored 38 unanswered points over final 23 minutes
Hendon Hooker completed 25 of 35 passes for 355 yards and three touchdowns. Joe Milton III replaced the Hooker late in the fourth quarter, but still had time to complete all three of his pass attempts for 105 yards and one touchdown.
Freshman running back Dylan Sampson led Tennessee on the ground, carrying eight times for 98 yards and a touchdown. Jabari Small ran nine times for 54 yards and a touchdown, Jaylen Wright had 11 carries for 51 yards and two scores and Hooker ran eight times for 50 yards and a touchdown. Milton ran once, gaining 11 yards on his play from scrimmage.
Bru McCoy led Tennessee in receptions, catching nine passes for 111 yards. Jalin Hyatt led the Vols in receiving yards with 146, including a 68-yard touchdown, while going over 1,000 yards for the season.
Freshman Squirrel White caught a 67-yard pass from Milton in the final minute, setting up the last touchdown, a two-yard run from Samson. Ramel Keyton caught two passes for 60 yards, including a 33-yard touchdown from Milton.
Jacob Warren caught two passes for 34 yards and Princeton Fant had two catches for 21 yards and two touchdowns.
Missouri scored 10 straight points — kicking a field goal late in the second quarter, then adding a touchdown in the third — to pull within 28-24 just after halftime. Tennessee answered with 38 unanswered points from there, over the final 23 minutes of the game.
It was lighting strikes, too, after Mizzou closed the gap to four.
Tennessee’s 66 points the most scored under Josh Heupel
Tennessee scored on a two-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that took just 25 seconds, with Hyatt going 68 yards up the home sideline after Hooker found him wide open. Fant caught a two-yard touchdown pass to cap a three-play, 69-yard touchdown drive that took just 41 seconds.
The next drive took 2:20, going 67 yards over eight plays.
On the day, Tennessee scored nine touchdowns on 14 possessions. The Vols kicked one field goal, punted twice and was stopped on downs twice.
Saturday’s 66 points is the most scored during the Josh Heupel era. It’s the third time this season the Vols have scored 60 or more points and the fifth time over the last two years. They scored 63 against Akron in September and 65 against UT Martin last month. Last season Tennessee scored 62 at Missouri and 60 against South Alabama.
