KNOXVILLE, TENN. - Austin Peay began football 77 years ago. It’s a wonder the bullies in the SEC waited this long to pick on the Governors.
Tennessee launched the Butch Jones Era to a rollicking start Saturday night, flattening their Ohio Valley Conference guests from Clarksville 45-0 before a Neyland Stadium crowd of 97,169.
Jones’ first win was Tennessee’s 800th.
“Not very many programs can say that,’’ said Jones, who was hired in December after three consecutive losing seasons under Derek Dooley.
If the Vols (1-0) are diminished or in rebuilding mode, you couldn’t tell it in this mismatch against a lower-rung Football Championship Division foe getting its first taste of SEC muscle.
By the time the Pride of the Southland band strutted on the field at halftime, UT had the game totally in hand. Jones played reserves almost exclusively in the second half.
He had that luxury thanks to a near-perfect first half. With Justin Worley at the controls, UT scored touchdowns on all six possessions.
The Vols never did commit a penalty. Alden Hill’s late fumble was the only turnover.
“The big thing was I wanted a clean game,’’ Jones said.
Five different Vols scored touchdowns, with tailback Marlin Lane accounting for a pair.
Worley was 11-of-13 passing for 104 yards and three touchdowns, all in the first half. He watched Nathan Peterman work the second half.
Rajion Neal rushed for 141 yards, including a 47-yard touchdown to open the floodgates.
“It starts up front with the o-line,’’ Neal said. “They jump-started me the whole game. They gave me something to work with every time.’’
The rout was quick in developing.
After forcing an Austin Peay punt on the opening series, Neal raced down the sideline to the checkerboard on UT’s fourth offensive snap. Two plays later, defensive tackle Daniel Hood’s first career interception set up a short field. Lane found a gash up the middle for a 14-yard TD run and it was 14-0 with 10:50 still left in the first quarter.
Devrin Young’s first TD reception made it 21-0. Worley found Pig Howard from 11 yards for a 28-0 lead as the second quarter began.
The Vols were totally confident by the time Lane’s 4-yard bolt pushed the score to 35-0.
When the subsequent drive bogged down, the Governors pitched it with two major penalties. Worley showed his gratitude, flipping a 3-yard scoring pass to tight end Brendan Downs
And the show was over.
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