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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — For less than the second time prior to now 18 years, Tennessee was basking in a win over Florida on Saturday, this one a 38-33 thriller that went proper right down to the top.
However because the followers celebrated exterior the media room at Neyland Stadium, a composed Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker smiled and mentioned nothing had modified for the Vols.
“We nonetheless have the identical mission, and that is attending to Atlanta [for the SEC championship game],” mentioned Hooker, who handed for 349 yards and rushed for 112 yards. “We’re simply going to remain the course, are available in every single day and preserve getting higher.”
The Vols (4-0) final superior to the SEC championship sport in 2007, and a giant cause for that drought is that they merely have not been in a position to beat Florida.
Whereas Hooker did his greatest to downplay the win, a sold-out, checkerboarded Neyland Stadium was nonetheless buzzing some quarter-hour after Tennessee cornerback Kamal Hadden intercepted Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson’s ultimate heave towards the top zone within the waning seconds. Tennessee led 38-21 with 7:55 to play when Jaylen Wright burst throughout the aim line on a 5-yard landing run.
However the Vols needed to survive a few late touchdowns by the Gators (2-2), to not point out a recovered onside kick within the ultimate seconds to sweat out the win, one thing that had eluded them in nearly each approach doable for a lot of the final decade and a half.
“I am actually excited for our gamers, simply the expansion they’ve proven, the power to compete it doesn’t matter what the rating was, it doesn’t matter what was occurring within the soccer sport,” Tennessee coach Josh Heupel mentioned. “They’re simply resilient and fierce rivals, the place we have grown within the time that I have been right here. I am actually pleased with our gamers.”
Hooker, making his personal Heisman Trophy assertion, threw a landing go in his sixteenth straight sport. He additionally shook off a number of fierce hits to remain within the sport and lead the Vols to what was simply the most important win of the Heupel period. Since taking on the beginning quarterback job in Week 3 a 12 months in the past, Hooker has accounted for 45 touchdowns, accomplished 69 p.c of his passes and thrown simply two interceptions in that span.
“I informed him after he busted a long term, ‘You are particular,'” Tennessee operating again Jabari Small mentioned. “I used to be in awe. I am a fan proper now, however Hendon is similar individual every single day. He stays within the sport, at all times smiling and does every part proper off the sphere. So once you see it on the sphere, it simply interprets. … He is only a nice participant.”
And by no means was Hooker’s toughness extra on show than within the second quarter, when he took a shot to his shoulder space and bought up wincing. However he by no means flinched on the sphere.
“There are ups and downs and aches and pains all through a soccer sport. It is a bodily sport,” Hooker mentioned. “Persevering via that’s one thing I satisfaction myself on, simply being a warrior and competing for my brothers.”
Hooker mentioned being banged up did not change the way in which he performed the remainder of the way in which. In reality, he led the Vols on a 12-play, 99-yard landing drive proper earlier than the half that modified the complexion of the sport.
“It is a part of the sport,” Hooker mentioned. “You are going to get hit laborious. You are going to get banged up. Should you can go, you’ll be able to go. If you cannot, you’ll be able to’t.”
The Vols had been taking part in with out their greatest receiver, Cedric Tillman, who was out with an ankle damage. Having an open date subsequent week ought to assist the Vols heal a few of their accidents. They journey to LSU on Oct. 8 after which Alabama involves Knoxville on Oct. 15.
“There’s so much we are able to do higher, however the aim for us is to discover a technique to win every Saturday we’re on the sphere, to be the most effective soccer staff,” Heupel mentioned. “We had been in a position to try this tonight. Nice sport, man.”
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