In its first home game of the season, Tennessee outscored the Georgia State Panthers 51-13.
After several consecutive losing seasons in a row, the win means a 2-0 start heading into week three and the Volunteers could not be more thrilled. Junior wide receiver Justin Hunter connected with junior quarterback Tyler Bray enough for the 6-foot-4, 200-pound receiver to tie the school record for touchdown receptions in a game.
“It felt good,” Hunter said. “I came out there real calm today. Tyler was throwing the ball around so everybody was having fun.”
Even more exciting for Hunter was his family’s attendance at the game. Hunter said he looked for them every time he scored.
“I just wanted to play for them,” Hunter said. “(They) gave me a little bit (of) excitement out there.”
Bray threw four touchdowns, including one to tight end Mychal Rivera on his 22nd birthday. Bray said he feels like he understands the game a bit better.
“Yeah, freshman year I was just going out kind of throwing it, just playing on instincts, whereas now I’m understanding the game, knowing what’s going on with reads and just getting people the ball,” he said.
Though the game ended as a blowout, the first quarter left much to be desired for the Vols. After the team’s performance at the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game against N.C. State in Atlanta last Friday, the Vols’ lackluster performance was almost unrecognizable and head coach Derek Dooley was far from pleased.
“We came out and we didn’t have the spunk I was hoping to have,” Dooley said.
But in the second quarter, that all changed. The team posted three touchdowns and kept the Panthers to only two field goals.
As the Vols began to run away with the game, the team’s depth began to reveal itself. Kicker Derrick Brodus, backup quarterback Justin Worley and walk-on wide receiver Jacob Carter as well as numerous true freshman all made their 2012 season debut, much to Dooley’s delight and concern.
“We obviously have a lot deeper and more talented team, and that showed up over the course of four quarters,” Dooley said. “It was a good win, but as in any game there were a lot of concerns so we’ve got to work on that next week. That’s what we’ll do.”
Looking forward to week three, the Vols will face their first major challenge of the season against No. 24 Florida, who beat Texas A&M 20-17 on Saturday and are also 2-0 this year. Hunter said missing the game against the Gators last year was more than upsetting.
“I was real angry,” Hunter said. “I just wanted to get back next year, work hard and try to tear them up.”
Linebackers Herman Lathers (shoulder) and Curt Maggitt (toe) didn’t play on Saturday. Dooley said neither would have been able to go, regardless of the opponent.
The game is set to air at 6:00 p.m. ET on ESPN on Saturday.
