Aguilar, Thomas Power No. 22 Tennessee to 72-17 Rout Over ETSU Ahead of Georgia Showdown

Dwayne
Sep 10
2 min read

Joey Aguilar made sure No. 22 Tennessee left no doubt on Saturday night, throwing for 288 yards and two touchdowns — all in the first half — as the Volunteers steamrolled East Tennessee State, 72-17, at Neyland Stadium. Tennessee (2-0) exploded for 427 yards of total offense in the first half, building a commanding 48-7 lead by halftime. The lopsided win served as a final tune-up before the Vols welcome No. 4 Georgia to Knoxville next weekend in a pivotal early-season SEC clash. Star Thomas added a spark on the ground, rushing for 69 yards and three touchdowns, showcasing the depth and explosiveness of Tennessee’s backfield. In all, the Vols piled up points on eight of their first nine possessions, overwhelming the Buccaneers (1-1) on both sides of the ball. “Games like this are about execution,” said head coach Josh Heupel. “We wanted to clean up some things from last week, and I think we did that on both sides.” Indeed, the Vols entered the matchup with a specific focus on defense after surrendering 274 passing yards in their season-opening win over Syracuse. That performance also saw the loss of starting cornerback Rickey Gibson III to injury — a blow Tennessee is still working to overcome. On Saturday, Tennessee’s secondary responded well, limiting ETSU’s passing game while the front seven consistently pressured the quarterback, forcing multiple three-and-outs and setting the tone early. Freshman right guard David Sanders was again held out with an injury, missing his second straight game. He is expected to make his collegiate debut next week against Georgia, bolstering an offensive line that has held its own despite injuries.

While the scoreboard made for easy viewing for Tennessee fans, the result is unlikely to move the needle in the national rankings. Still, the dominant performance sends a clear message: the Vols are gaining momentum at just the right time.

Up Next:

East Tennessee State travels to West Georgia on Saturday.
Tennessee hosts No. 4 Georgia in a marquee SEC matchup that could have early playoff implications.