Vols score from everywhere in crushing of Connecticut

Tennessee Athletics photo / Tennessee running back Jaylen Wright breaks free for an 82-yard touchdown run on the second play from scrimmage to set the tone for Saturday afternoon’s demolishing of Connecticut.

by David Paschall

KNOXVILLE — There was no spot on the field immune from a Tennessee touchdown Saturday afternoon.

The No. 19 Volunteers scored from 82, 60, 83 and 24 yards out as part of a first-half onslaught that resulted in a 35-3 lead at intermission during an eventual 59-3 crushing of Connecticut that made for a happy homecoming inside Neyland Stadium. Tennessee added second-half scores from “only” 30, 39 and 19 yards out.

Jaylen Wright’s 82-yard touchdown run on the game’s second play from scrimmage set the tone as Tennessee improved to 7-2 this season and to 76-20-3 in 99 career homecoming performances.

“There were a lot of good things out there,” Tennessee third-year coach Josh Heupel said after the most lopsided victory of the year. “You have three defensive touchdowns and a great performance up front on the back end and the middle part of that football game, but I wouldn’t say it’s our best performance that we’re capable of.

“We