Quarterly Report

Here's a quarter-by-quarter analysis of Tennessee's 63-7 blowout of Western Kentucky Saturday at Neyland Stadium:

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UT 0	Quarter 1 15:00	0 WKU
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As fate would have it, Tennessee's first quarter of 2009 was eerily reminiscent of 2008. On the Vols' third scrimmage play Jonathan Crompton hit Brandon Warren, who fumbled. UT fullback Kevin Cooper recovered but on the very next play a Crompton pass was intercepted by Jamal Forrest. Forrest fumbled on the return but teammate Mike Gothard recovered. Tennessee's next possession reached the WKU 29-yard line, then Crompton tossed a short pass to Montario Hardesty, whose fumble was recovered by WKU.
KEY PLAY
Hardesty's lost fumble. The Vols appeared to be headed for the end zone on their second possession.
KEY PLAYER
WKU linebacker Mike Gothard. He recovered Forrest's fumble and caused Hardesty's fumble, single-handedly killing both of UT's first-quarter possessions.
KEY STAT
Tennessee outgained Western Kentucky 137 yards to 11 but had to settle for a 0-0 tie because of two turnovers.

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UT 0	Quarter 1 00:00	0 WKU
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Freshman Bryce Brown scored Tennessee's first touchdown of the season on a two-yard run that capped a 10-play, 81-yard drive begun late in the first quarter. Linebacker LaMarcus Thompson forced and recovered a Bobby Rainey fumble on the first play of WKU's ensuing possession. Crompton hit tight end Luke Stocker for a 17-yard touchdown - giving Tennessee two TDs in a 19-second span and a 14-0 lead. The Vols were at it again moments later, Crompton hitting Quintin Hancock on a nine-yard post route to cap a five-play, 63-yard TD march. Tennessee scored its fourth TD of the quarter when Crompton capped an 11-play, 62-yard drive with a perfectly thrown four-yard fade to Warren.
KEY PLAY
LaMarcus Thompson's strip/fumble recovery. Tennessee's TD on the very next play put the Vols on top 14-0 and put the Hilltoppers on the ropes, where they would remain for the rest of the afternoon.
KEY PLAYER
Crompton. The Vol quarterback completed 7 of 8 passes for 80 yards and three touchdowns in the quarter.
KEY STAT
Tennessee piled up 160 yards and limited Western Kentucky to minus-2 in a totally dominating second-quarter performance.

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UT 28	Quarter 2 00:00	0 WKU
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Tennessee failed on a fourth-and-four gamble at its own 46-yard line but WKU couldn't exploit the field position. UT's next possession ended when a Crompton pass was tipped and then intercepted by Thomas Majors at the WKU 15-yard line. Hardesty exploded up the middle for a 43-yard touchdown run on Tennessee's next possession but WKU answered with a nine-play, 66-yard TD drive, narrowing the gap to 35-7.
KEY PLAY
Crompton found Marsalis Teague with a 23-yard pass to the WKU 6-yard line on the final play of the quarter. That enabled the Vols to answer WKU's score and reclaim the momentum.
KEY PLAYER
Hardesty. He had four carries for 51 yards in the quarter, including the 43-yard touchdown burst.
KEY STAT
After its first two possessions of the second half produced just one net yard against Vol first-teamers, WKU ground out 66 yards against UT reserves on its third possession.

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UT 35	Quarter 3 00:00	7 WKU
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Crompton hit Stocker with a six-yard TD pass on the first play of the quarter, extending Tennessee's lead to 42-7. Vol linebacker Savion Frazier recovered a fumble on the first play of WKU's ensuing possession and Crompton found Teague on a five-yard fade route four plays later for a 49-7 lead. Brent Vinson intercepted WKU quarterback Brandon Smith at the Hilltopper 46-yard line. Backup QB Nick Stephens hit freshman Nu'keese Richardson for a gain of 27 yards and later handed to freshman tailback David Oku, who scored from two yards out as the lead swelled to 56-7. Oku scored from one yard out on UT's next possession to cap a 7-play, 58-yard drive and conclude the game's scoring.
KEY PLAY
Not applicable. The game was over by the time the fourth quarter began.
KEY PLAYER
Vol tailback Tauren Poole. Even in mop-up duty, he looked good, gaining 63 yard on five carries.
KEY STAT
Showing a killer instinct, Tennessee hung four fourth-quarter touchdowns on the visitors.

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UT 63	Quarter 4 00:00	7 WKU
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More in-depth info...

Game #: 1156
Site: Knoxville
Date: Sep. 5
Conference: Sunbelt
Coach Match-up:
For the Vols - Kiffin and for the Hilltoppers - Elson