KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee defense came up with three interceptions and shut out the Kentucky offense in the final three quarters, as the third-ranked Volunteers blew out the Wildcats 44-6 on Saturday night at Neyland Stadium.
Teams have had trouble stopping Tennessee's record setting offense all season, and this game was no different than any other, as the Volunteers racked up 422 total yards and held Kentucky's offense to just 205 for the game.
Tennessee (8-0, 4-0 SEC) quickly got on the scoreboard, finding the end zone in just under 90 seconds, as Hendon Hooker hit a wide-open Jalin Hyatt for a 55-yard touchdwn strike on the fifth play of the game. Chase McGrath added the extra point and it was 7-0.
Kentucky (5-3, 2-3 SEC) would answer later in the quarter, putting together 9-play, 71-yard drive that saw Chris Rodriguez Jr. carry the ball five times on the drive for 40 yards. His final carry, a three-yard touchdown score, would cut the deficit to one. Mark Ruffolo's extra point was blocked and the score stayed at 7-6 with 4:44 left in the opening quarter.
The Volunteers responded with a back-breaking 15-play drive that saw Jabari Small and Hooker combine to run the ball 12 times on the drive and each convert a fourth-and-short en route to an answering score.
The score would come from Princeton Fant, who would negotiate the final two-yards to extend Tennessee's lead to 13-6 just four seconds into the second quarter.
After forcing a three-and-out from Kentucky, the Volunteers would balloon their lead even further as Jaylen Wright would vault over the top on a one-yard score to give Tennessee a 20-6 advantage.
Kentucky would put together another long, time-consuming drive, moving down to the Volunteers 12 and facing a third-and-seven situation.
On the third down play, Tayvion Robinson would get leveled attempting to catch a slant pass from Will Levis, and the ball would bounce into the waiting arms of defensive back Juwan Mitchell, who would return the ball 48 yards to set up Tennessee's next drive.
Levis, a projected first-round draft pick, was hounded all night by a Tennessee defense that forced three interceptions, sacked him four times, and held the Wildcat quarterback to just 98 passing yards.
Tennessee would capitalize on the turnover as Hooker and Hyatt would hook up for the second time on a 31-yard touchdown toss to put the Volunteers up 27-6 right before halftime.
Things would get worse for Kentucky in the second half, as Levis would throw two more interceptions and the offense would be held to 51 yards of offense as the Volunteers would pour it on in the second half.
Hooker made another strong case to be in the Heisman Trophy conversation, going 19 of 25 passing for 245 yards to go along with his three touchdown tosses. He also added a rushing score.
Hyatt's two touchdown passes on Saturday set the single-season school record with 14. He finished the game with five receptions for 138 yards.
Kentucky will be off next week, but return to action on the road against Missouri on Nov. 5.
Kentucky 6 0 0 0 — 6
Tennessee 7 20 10 7 — 44
First Quarter
TENN—Jalin Hyatt 55 Yd pass from Hendon Hooker (Chase McGrath kick), 13:33. UK—Chris Rodriguez Jr. 3 run (PAT blocked), 4:44.
Second Quarter
TENN—Princeton Fant 2 run (PAT failed), 14:56. TENN—Jaylen Wright 1 run (Chase McGrath kick), 11:12. TENN—Jalin Hyatt 31 pass from Hendon Hooker (Chase McGrath kick), :22.
Third Quarter
TENN—Chase McGrath 29 field goal, 8:57.
TENN—Hendon Hooker 8 run (Chase McGrath kick), 3:58. Fourth Quarter
TENN—Jabari Small 13 pass from Hendon Hooker (Chase McGrath kick), 7:47.
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