UT vs. UF Halftime Notes

Oct. 4, 2014

HALFTIME NOTES

TENNESSEE TIDBITS

TENNESSEE CAPTAINS

#14 Justin Worley, #45 A.J. Johnson and #56 Curt Maggitt represented the Vols for the pregame coin toss.

VFL LEGEND OF THE GAME

VFL Casey Clausen (2000-03) was honored in a pregame ceremony before the Florida-Tennessee game as Vols Legend of the Game.
In four seasons, Clausen helped Tennessee to a 14-1 record on the road.
Most-fondly remembered are Clausen's two road wins against the Florida Gators in Gainesville, Fla. A 34-32 upset in 2001 sent the Vols to the SEC Championship Game. Two seasons later, Clausen's Hail Mary touchdown pass to James Banks gave UT a lead that was never relinquished.
Clausen holds the record for longest pass play at Tennessee, a 90-yard touchdown to Mark Jones against Georgia in 2003, and consecutive attempts without an interception with 143 in 2003.

TENNESSEE SHUTOUTS

With a score of 3-0 over Florida at the half, UT shutout the Gators in the first half for the first time since Nov. 12, 1955 when the Vols led 13-0 en route to a 20-0 win in Gainesville, Fla.
For the first time since 2012 (14-10), Tennessee leads Florida at the half.

FRESH STARTS CONTINUE

#1 Jalen Hurd made his first-career start at tailback for UT against Florida.
UT started five true freshman on offense against the Gators, the most for Tennessee since the 2010 Music City Bowl.
The Vols have now started nine true freshman in 2014, including: #1 Jalen Hurd, #3 Josh Malone, #9 Derek Barnett (DE), #80 Daniel Helm (TE), #6 Todd Kelly Jr. (S), #25 Aaron Medley (PK), #73 Jashon Robertson (RG), #55 Coleman Thomas (RT) and #82 Ethan Wolf.
Tennessee has played 22 true freshmen overall, the most for any FBS program in the nation in 2014.

OFFENSE

#14 Justin Worley used seven different receivers in the first half and was 16-of-19 on pass attempts against the Gators.
Worley connected with #9 Von Pearson in the second quarter for a six-yard gain, marking Pearson's first reception since his return from injury.
Through the first half, UT (142) led Florida (122) in total offensive yards.
#80 Daniel Helms recorded two catches for 16 yards in the first half, establishing new career-highs for receptions and receiving yards in a single game.
#2 Pig Howard tied his season-high for receiving yards in a single game with 46 yards on two catches in the first half. Howard also had 46 yards receiving against Georgia last week.

HOW THEY SCORED

#25 Aaron Medley made his 36-yard field goal attempt in the second quarter, putting the Vols on the board with a 3-0 lead over Florida.

DEFENSIVELY SPEAKING

#45 A.J. Johnson recorded five tackles in the first half. The senior linebacker needs just two tackles to tie Greg Jones for fourth place on the all-time tackle list for Tennessee with 377.
Johnson's two assisted tackles in the first half now give him 186 on his career, second-most all-time for a Tennessee Volunteer behind Andy Spiva with 193.
With a score of 0-0 at the end of the first quarter, the Vols held the Gators scoreless through the first quarter for the first time since 2010 in Knoxville.
In the first half, the Vols held the Gators to 4-of-10 on third down conversions. Entering the contest against Florida, the Vols led the nation in defensive third down percentage, limiting opponents to only 11-for-53 on third downs this year (20.8%).
#23 Cameron Sutton intercepted a pass from Florida quarterback #6 Jeff Driskel in the first quarter to put UT on their own 47 yard line, marking Sutton's third of the season and the fifth interception of his career.
Sutton's three interceptions are now tied with Senquez Golson of Ole Miss for the SEC lead in interceptions on the season.

SPECIAL TEAMS

With his 36-yard field goal in the second quarter, #25 Aaron Medley is now 6-of-8 in field goal attempts in 2014 and has hit at least one field goal in all five of his career games with Tennessee.
#43 Matt Darr punted five times in the first half for an average of 41.8 yards, including a 47-yarder on the Vols last possession before the half.
#19 Devrin Young had 27 kickoff return yards in the first half. Young ranks third all-time for the Vols with 1,512 career return yards. He chases Leonard Scott for second place (1,788).

ODDS AND ENDS

On the season, each of #6 Jeff Driskel's four interceptions have come on third down attempts for Florida.
For the first time since 2002, the Gators and Vols held each other scoreless through the first quarter. Ultimately, Florida won the matchup in 2002 by a score of 30-13.

UPON FURTHER REVIEW

#33 LaDarrell McNeil's tackle on #6 Jeff Driskel was originally ruled targeting. Following review, the call was overturned and ruled fourth down for Florida.

VOLS TRENDING

The Vols were trending nationally through the first half on Twitter with the topics: "Neyland Stadium", "Cam Sutton", "#UFvsTENN" and "Pig Howard".

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