Tennessee 63, Akron 6
(AP Photo/Wade Payne)
By AL LESAR
Associated Press
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Jalin Hyatt caught five passes for 166 yards and two touchdowns to lead No. 15 Tennessee to a 63-6 victory over Akron.
Hyatt had scoring passes of 57 and 48 yards in the first half as the Volunteers (3-0) jumped to a 35-0 lead over the Zips (1-2).
Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker threw for 251 yards and two scores in the first 30 minutes and finished with 298 yards. Hooker extended his streak of games with a TD pass to 15, three behind school leader Heath Shuler.
In an effort to focus on the run game, the Vols had 165 first-half rushing yards before substituting freely in the second half. Jaylin Wright led the way with 96 yards and two TDs.
Akron's best chance for a TD in the first half came with second-and-goal on the 5 when Daniel George fumbled on an end around.
EARLY EXITS
Two key Tennessee offensive players - running back Jabari Small (right arm) and receiver Cedric Tillman (left knee) - left the game in the first half with injuries. Freshman Dylan Sampson filled in for Small and scored twice. Tennessee coach Josh Heupel didn't think they would be significant injuries. ... Vols receiver Jimmy Calloway was ejected in the third quarter when he threw at least five punches at an Akron defender.
FANS BUY IN
For the first time since Oklahoma in 2015, Tennessee sold out a nonconference game. The Vols will have two sellouts in a row when 101,915 will cram Neyland Stadium next Saturday for the Florida game.
TAKEAWAY
Akron: Zips coach Joe Moorhead is convinced that the team can find positives in the lopsided losses the last two weeks (Michigan State and Tennessee), but they have to be ready to pick on someone their own size for a change.
Tennessee: The efficient victory gave the Vols an opportunity to work through some of the concerns from the win over Pitt before they tangle with Florida next week.
| Scoring Summary |
| First Quarter |
Akron | Tenn |
| Tenn |
TD |
8:39 |
Jaylen Wright 2 yard TD run (Chase McGrath Extra Point) |
0 |
7 |
| Tenn |
TD |
5:52 |
Dylan Sampson 9 yard TD run (Chase McGrath Extra Point) |
0 |
14 |
| Second Quarter |
Akron | Tenn |
| Tenn |
TD |
14:40 |
Jalin Hyatt 57 yard TD pass from Hendon Hooker (Chase McGrath Extra Point) |
0 |
21 |
| Tenn |
TD |
6:47 |
Dylan Sampson 11 yard TD run (Chase McGrath Extra Point) |
0 |
28 |
| Tenn |
TD |
0:56 |
Jalin Hyatt 48 yard TD pass from Hendon Hooker (Chase McGrath Extra Point) |
0 |
35 |
| Third Quarter |
Akron | Tenn |
| Tenn |
TD |
10:15 |
Jaylen Wright 1 yard TD run (Chase McGrath Extra Point) |
0 |
42 |
| Akron |
FG |
7:35 |
Noah Perez 35 yard field goal |
3 |
42 |
| Tenn |
TD |
0:00 |
Ramel Keyton 57 yard TD pass from Joe Milton III (Chase McGrath Extra Point) |
3 |
49 |
| Fourth Quarter |
Akron | Tenn |
| Tenn |
TD |
12:16 |
Walker Merrill 38 yard TD pass from Joe Milton III (Toby Wilson Extra Point) |
3 |
56 |
| Akron |
FG |
6:22 |
Noah Perez 41 yard field goal |
6 |
56 |
| Tenn |
TD |
0:59 |
Tayven Jackson 1 yard TD run (Toby Wilson Extra Point) |
6 |
63 |
| Team Stats |
| |
Akron |
Tennessee |
| First downs |
23 |
29 |
| Rushing |
3 |
14 |
| Passing |
15 |
11 |
| Penalty |
5 |
4 |
| 3rd Down Efficiency |
1-13, 8% |
7-13, 54% |
| 4th down efficiency |
0-0, -% |
3-3, 100% |
| Rushes-Yards |
24-34 |
45-238 |
| Passing Yards |
241 |
438 |
| Return Yards |
124 |
73 |
| Completions-Attempts-Int |
32-48-0 |
20-25-0 |
| Sacks-Yards Lost |
4-25 |
1-3 |
| Punts |
8 |
2 |
| Fumbles Lost |
1-1 |
0-0 |
| Penalties - Yards |
9-77 |
11-117 |
| Akron Interceptions |
| Player |
Int |
Yards |
| Tennessee Interceptions |
| Player |
Int |
Yards |
| Akron Punting |
| Player |
Punts |
Yards |
Avg |
| N. Gettman |
8 |
304 |
38.0 |
| Tennessee Punting |
| Player |
Punts |
Yards |
Avg |
| P. Brooks |
2 |
85 |
42.5 |
| Akron Punt Returns |
| Player |
Ret |
Yards |
Average |
| Tennessee Kick Returns |
| Player |
Ret |
Yards |
Average |
| J. Holiday |
2 |
46 |
23.0 |
