University of Tennessee Athletics
Hall's Kick Wins it for Tennessee in Season-Opening Thriller
September 05, 1998 | Football
Jeff Hall knocked home a 27-yard field goal as time expired to give Tennessee a 34-33 victory over 17th-ranked Syracuse in the season-opener for both teams.
The Vols led, 24-13, after three quarters, but saw the Orangemen, led by the mercurial and highly-touted Donavan McNabb lead, 33-31, with but 2:28 left.
Tee Martin led the Vols down the field to the winning score. Tailback Jamal Lewis rushed 20 times for 140 yards and one score, while Peerless Price caught six passes for 87 yards and two scores.
Senior co-captain Al Wilson had 13 tackles, a forced fumble, one sack and a tackle for loss, while Raynoch Thompson was in on 11 stops. Corey Terry added seven tackles, including two sacks. Jeff Coleman and Fred White each recovered fumbles, bobbles caused by Darwin Walker and Steve Johnson, respectively.
The win moved the Vols to 2-0 all-time against the Orangemen, with the third contest set for 2001 in Knoxville.
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Game Notes:
The Vols led, 24-13, after three quarters, but saw the Orangemen, led by the mercurial and highly-touted Donavan McNabb lead, 33-31, with but 2:28 left.
Tee Martin led the Vols down the field to the winning score. Tailback Jamal Lewis rushed 20 times for 140 yards and one score, while Peerless Price caught six passes for 87 yards and two scores.
Senior co-captain Al Wilson had 13 tackles, a forced fumble, one sack and a tackle for loss, while Raynoch Thompson was in on 11 stops. Corey Terry added seven tackles, including two sacks. Jeff Coleman and Fred White each recovered fumbles, bobbles caused by Darwin Walker and Steve Johnson, respectively.
The win moved the Vols to 2-0 all-time against the Orangemen, with the third contest set for 2001 in Knoxville.
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Game Notes:
- The game-winning kick by Hall was the second of his career, the first coming in the 1995 Georgia game.
- Hall moved to No. 3 on the all-time Tennessee scoring list with his 10 points on the day. He moved past Gene McEver (1928-31, 276) who scored 277.
- The game was one of two the Vols will play on artificial turf this season, the other being the regular-season finale at Vanderbilt.
- The Vols played two true freshmen in the game: defensive tackle Will Overstreet and linebacker Bernard Jackson. Transfers Judd Granzow (sophomore defensive end) and Roger Alexander (junior defensive end) also saw action.
- Tennessee is now 5-1 indoors all-time and 34-6-1 against non-SEC foes since 1989.
- Lewis' 140-yard performance was the eighth of his career in 10 starts.
- The Vols are 6-4-1 in their last 11 road openers.
- The Vols were 7-0 when scoring first in 1997 and are 55-7-2 in the 1990s.
- Rankings (AP/ESPN Coaches): Tennessee 10/10, Syracuse 17/14
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