After a sluggish offensive first quarter, the Vols scored two touchdowns in the second frame and have a 24-7 lead over Vanderbilt at halftime.
Despite struggling through some offensive woes out of the gate, the Vols took a 7-0 lead on a defensive score as Theo Jackson intercepted a pass from Commodores’ quarterback Mike Wright and returned it 55 yards for a touchdown. Chase McGrath added the extra point to extend UT’s advantage to 7-0 with 12 minutes, 20 seconds remaining in the opening stanza.
The Vols also scored on a 6-yard run by Jabari Small early in the second quarter to take a 14-0 lead.
UT quarterback Hendon Hooker threw a touchdown pass to Cedric Tillman with 4:22 remaining in the stanza to make it 21-0.
McGrath added a 31-yard field goal just before Vanderbilt scored on the final play of the half. Wright connected with Will Sheppard on a 56-yard scoring strike for the final play of the half.
The Volunteers get the ball to start the second half.