UT vs. USU Halftime Notes

August 31, 2014 | Football

Aug. 31, 2014

HALFTIME NOTES

Butch Jones Said:

On the play of his young players:
"Well again, some critical downs offensively where we need to score touchdowns. You can't do that against a good team in Utah State. Now the next learning phase is `How do we handle 17 up?' Coming out, the first possession in this second half will be absolutely critical."

On the performance of his defensive unit:
"We've been able to apply pressure to the quarterback and we've been able to take away the run and make them a little one-dimensional."

Tennessee Tidbits

Today's attendance was 102,445, marking the largest home opener crowd since 2007 vs. Southern Miss (106,311).

VFL Legend of the Game

VFL John Henderson (1999-2001) was honored in a pregame ceremony before the Utah State-Tennessee game as Vols Legend of the Game.
Henderson racked up 165 tackles and 20.5 sacks during his UT career.
He was a semifinalist for the Lombardi Award as a senior, despite missing two games with injuries.
He was a ninth overall selection of the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2002 NFL Draft.
Henderson recorded 489 tackles and 29 sacks in a 10-season NFL career with the Jaguars and Oakland Raiders. He was named to the Pro Bowl in 2004 and 2006.

Tennessee Captains

#14 Justin Worley, #54 Jordan Williams, #57 Mack Crowder represented the Vols for the pregame coin toss.

How They Scored

#2 Pig Howard ran for an 8 yard TD in the first quarter, marking his first career rushing TD.
#85 Brendan Downs caught a 12-yard TD pass from Worley, marking his 4th-career TD catch. Last season, Downs' first TD catch was also in the season opener, a 3-yard reception vs. Austin Peay.

Special Teams

#43 Matt Darr made a 53-yard punt on the Vols first possession. The 53-yard punt ties his career high (2x, 11/12/11 vs. ARK; 9/29/12 vs. UGA). Darr made 5 punts in the first half, including 4 inside the 20 yard line and one of 50-plus yards.
#25 Aaron Medley made his first-career PAT on the Vols first score in the first quarter. At the half, Medley was 2-2 on PATs and 1-2 on field goal attempts including a 36 yarder made in the second half.
#45 AJ Johnson caused a fumble on a first-quarter kickoff return by the Aggies, tackling returner Kennedy Williams.
#6 Todd Kelly Jr. recovered Johnson's forced fumble on the 12 yard line, the first play made of his career.

23 Vols Debut

16 true freshmen made their Tennessee debuts on Sunday night including: Jalen Hurd, Josh Malone, Todd Kelly Jr., Rashaan Gaulden, Derek Barnett, Emmanuel Moseley, Dillon Bates, Cortez McDowell, Aaron Medley, Evan Berry, Elliott Berry, Colton Jumper, Coleman Thomas, Jashon Robertson, Daniel Helm and Ethan Wolf.
Seven other newcomers made their Vol debuts in the first half including: #9 Von Pearson, #13 Patrick Ashford, #24 Michael Williams, #31 Justus Pickett, #42 Chris Weatherd, #58 Owen Williams, #59 Matt Giampapa.
The previous school record for freshman debuts in the season opener was 12 freshmen in 2010 and 2011.
Seven other newcomers made their Vol debuts in the first half including: #9 Von Pearson, #13 Patrick Ashford, #24 Michael Williams, #31 Justus Pickett, #42 Chris Weatherd, #58 Owen Williams, #59 Matt Giampapa.
#82 Ethan Wolf started today's game at TE. Wolf is now the first true freshman to start at TE since freshmen became eligible in 1972.
#73 Jashon Robertson became the fourth true freshman to start on the O-Line in a season opener in UT history.
#9 Derek Barnett became the first true freshman to start a season opener on the D-Line in UT history.
#6 Todd Kelly Jr. recovered a fumble in the first quarter, making his first-career play.

Fast Start

The Vols jumped out to a quick start, outgaining USU in total yards 124-39 in the first quarter en route to a 14-0 lead.
The Vols extended the lead to 17-0 at the half, thanks to a 191-97 advantage in total yards.
Worley was 8-9 in passing attempts and 93 yards with 1 TD pass in the first quarter and finished the half 14-23 for 147 yards with 1 TD.
Vols defense held Heisman Trophy candidate Chuckie Keeton to 11 yards rushing on two carries and 24 yards on 4-7 pass attempts.
The Vols defense also held USU to 0-3 on third down conversions in the first quarter.

Defensively Speaking

#54 Jordan Williams stuffed USU's fourth down attempt in the second quarter, tackling Joe Hill for a 1-yard loss and giving his team possession at the Aggies' 42-yard line.
Opponents were 9-12 on fourth down conversions against the Vols in 2013.
#23 Cameron Sutton intercepted Keeton's pass in the second quarter, the third of his career at UT. The interception put his team on the Utah State 45 yard line.
#34 Jalen Reeves-Maybin led the team in tackles with nine at the half and #45 A.J. Johnson chipped in 7 stops.

Offense

Through the first half against the Aggies, the Vols completed passes to nine different players. UT also completed passes to nine players on two occasions last year, vs. South Alabama and vs. Austin Peay.
In 2013, UT completed passes to 15 different players all year.
#25 Josh Smith had two catches for 40 yards to lead the team in yardage at the half.
#1 Jalen Hurd led the Vols in rushing with 10 carries for 26 yards at the half.

Vols Trending

The Vols were trending on Twitter during the first half of tonight's game. Among the topics were: A.J. Johnson, Go Big Orange, Todd Kelly, #USUvsTENN, Pig Howard, #TouchdownTennessee, #VolsNation, #GoVols, Touchdown Tennessee, Welcome to the New Tennessee, Medley, Cam Sutton & Josh Malone.