LIVE UPDATES: Tennessee thumps Tennessee Tech, 56-0 – 247Sports

Tennessee hosts Tennessee Tech today, and GoVols247 is live at Neyland Stadium to provide updates of all the action before, during and after the game.

The Vols (1-1, 0-0 SEC) and Golden Eagles (0-2, 0-0 OVC) are scheduled to kick off at approximately noon Eastern in a game that will be available to stream on SEC Network+ via the ESPN app.

Follow the thread below to get all the latest information from GoVols247’s Wes Rucker, Patrick Brown, Ryan Callahan and Grant Ramey in our official game-day thread on The CheckerBoard.

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Follow our live updates in the thread below.

PREGAME

11:20 a.m. Eastern: Tennessee will be without several key contributors — including starting quarterback Joe Milton III, starting running back Jabari Small, starting center Cooper Mays and starting middle linebacker Juwan Mitchell — for today’s game. Tennessee also will be without defensive linemen LaTrell Bumphus, Da’Jon Terry and Bryson Eason.

FIRST QUARTER

10:50 — Tennessee touchdown: The Vols flipped the field after a nice punt return from senior wide receiver Velus Jones Jr., and they got the ball to start a drive at the Tech 33-yard line. Two plays later, the ball was in the end zone thanks to a really nice throw from senior quarterback Hendon Hooker and a really nice catch from senior wide receiver JaVonta Payton. Senior Chase McGrath converted the PAT. TENNESSEE 7, TENNESSEE TECH 0.

4:47 — Tennessee touchdown: Tennessee took the ball on a short field after forcing its first turnover of the season — an interception by junior safety Jalen McCollough. Moments later, freshman running back Jaylen Wright scored on a 1-yard plunge to increase the lead to two scores. McGrath converted the PAT. TENNESSEE 14, TENNESSEE TECH 0.

SECOND QUARTER

12:13 — Tennessee touchdown: Tennessee Tech flipped the field with a 48-yard punt that rolled down to the 4-yard line, but the Vols promptly drove 96 yards for a touchdown, anyway. The scoring play was 45-yard catch-and-run by Jones on a fourth-and-3 throw from Hooker. McGrath converted the PAT. Hooker at this point had completed 9 of 15 passes for 116 yards and two touchdowns and added 33 yards on four carries. TENNESSEE 21, TENNESSEE TECH 0.

0:49 — Tennessee touchdown. Another short field, another touchdown for the Vols. Hooker took the offense 47 yards in 10 plays late in the first half and completed the drive with a simple 1-yard pass to wide open junior tight end Jacob Warren in the end zone. McGrath converted the PAT. TENNESSEE 28, TENNESSEE TECH 0.

THIRD QUARTER

8:47 — Tennessee touchdown. Another turnover — this one an interception by senior cornerback Alontae Taylor — gave the Vols the ball near midfield, and seven plays later the Vols were back in the end zone with a 1-yard keeper from Hooker on second-and-goal. McGrath converted the PAT. TENNESSEE 35, TENNESSEE TECH 0.

8:37 — Tennessee touchdown. The third forced turnover of the day for Tennessee put points directly on the board. Senior linebacker Solon Page III stepped in front of a Davis Shanley pass and returned it 31 yards to the end zone. McGrath converted the PAT. TENNESSEE 42, TENNESSEE TECH 0.

3:38 — Tennessee touchdown. Another short field. Another touchdown. Lather, rinse, repeat. Hooker took the Vols down to the goal-line and then junior running back Tiyon Evans polished off a 7-play, 39-yard scoring drive with a 1-yard touchdown run on a third-and-goal play. McGrath converted the PAT. TENNESSEE 49, TENNESSEE TECH 0.

FOURTH QUARTER

7:35 — Tennessee touchdown. Sophomore Harrison Bailey‘s second drive at quarterback Saturday reached the end zone. Bailey extended the drive with a tough 7-yard scramble on a fourth-and-7 play, and a couple of minutes later he walked into the end zone on a 2-yard keeper. McGrath converted the PAT. TENNESSEE 56, TENNESSEE TECH 0.