How UT Vols beat ETSU 59-3 in home opener

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Recap

Tennessee defeated ETSU 59-3 Saturday at Neyland Stadium to give Jeremy Pruitt his first victory as a head coach.

The home opener featured a lightning delay in the second quarter.

The Vols (1-1) were simply too much for the Football Championship Series team from Johnson City, Tenn.

Fourth quarter

Madre London scores on a 4-yard run with 3:20 left to make it 59-3. 19 yards, 6 plays in 3:40. Second TD for the transfer from Michigan State.

Running back Jeremy Banks just did a spin move as he ran over a defender and then ran through another tackle. This freshman has made an impression today.  

Tennessee quarterback Keller Chryst throws a 50-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Murphy. Nice throw down the left side.

Third quarter

After three quarters, UT is up to 304 yards of offense. Vols are 4-for-8 on third down conversions.

Today's announced attendance: 96,464.  

JJ Jerman, who just kicked a 39-yard field goal for ETSU's first score, is from Seymour.

Madre London scores his first touchdown for Tennessee.

Jeremy Banks' fumble was reviewed after a play was run and the call was overturn. Tennessee still doesn't have a turnover this season. 

Madre London runs a tight rope down the sideline on that 34-yard run. Nice  

Jarrett Guarantano back in at QB to start second half for Tennessee.

Second quarter

At halftime, Tennessee's up to 220 yards of offense (74 yards rushing). Both of ETSU quarterback Logan Marchi's two interceptions were converted into Tennessee touchdowns. Tennessee 38, ETSU 0.

ETSU quarterback Logan Marchi completes pass to himself after the deflection. His scramble across the field nets minus-2 yards. But it was entertaining.

With Josh Palmer's 20-yard end around run for a touchdown, the Vols have scored 28 points coming out of the break. Their response has been the opposite of last week. 

Keller Chryst's first pass is 12-yard completion to Dominick Wood-Anderson.

Keller Chryst comes in at QB with 6 minutes left in first half.

Kyle Phillips got the tip on that pass and Darrin Kirkland returns 33-yards for the touchdown. Tennessee 31, ETSU 0. 

Jeremy Banks with second consecutive TD run. The 6-foot-1, 211-pound freshman has provided some electricity coming out the lightning delay, even clapping his hands and encouraging the crowd. 

Bryce Thompson ruled out at 3-yard line after 21-yard return of interception. Pass went off the hands of ETSU receiver Jeremy Lewis. 

Another 51-yard pass play - Jarrett Guarantano to Marquez Callaway - leads to a touchdown this time on freshman Jeremy Banks' 1-yard run. Tennessee leads 17-0.

Play resuming on schedule as well at 5:40 p.m. ET. The weather delay was 48 minutes.

Teams coming back on field right on cue at 5:30 p.m. ET.

Players are expected back on the field at 5:30 p.m. ET with play scheduled to resume at 5:40. 

On second look, the upper deck crowd is thinning out. Wonder how many will return?

While teams have left the field, the fans — the kind who occupy seats and throw fans — are pretty much staying put in the stands.

Game is suspended a 4:52 p.m. because of lightning in the area. Same thing happened last week in Charlotte, N.C. Fans (the kind you hold) are raining down on the field in response.   

Fans have been coming down on the field — the kind you hold in your hand and use as a cooling device.

On that last series, Chance Hall was at right guard and Drew Richmond back in at right tackle.

First Quarter

At quarter's end, Vols have 68 yards of offense, ETSU 38. Rushing yards: ETSU 0, Vols -1.

Cornerback Marquill Osborne blocked that ETSU punt at the 15-yard line, gathered in the football at the 8 and ran it in for the touchdown. Vols first punt block for a TD since 2013.

Marcus Tatum has replaced Drew Richmond at right tackle for UT's second offensive series.

Quarterback Jarrett Guarantano underthrowing the 51-yard pass to Josh Palmer ends up costing the Vols, who can't punch it in from the 4-yard line and settle for a field goal.

Quan Harrison, who caught that pass for ETSU, is a redshirt junior from Greeneville.

Pregame

Tennessee wins coin toss, defers to the second half. The Vols won the toss last week and took the football against West Virginia.

Tennessee's team captains are Alexis Johnson, Tim Jordan, Shy Tuttle and Trey Smith.

Tennessee running back Ty Chandler is on the field in uniform for pregame warmups.

Tennessee and ETSU already have played twice in other sports this week. East Tennessee State's volleyball scored a win in five games over the Lady Vols on Tuesday. Lady Vols soccer scored a 4-0 win on Thursday.  

Tennessee is 47-4-2 against current members of the SoCon. The Vols' last such win was 55-10 over Western Carolina on Sept. 19, 2015.

In last season's home opener, Tennessee drew 99,195 against Indiana State. In six home games last season, ETSU drew 48,050.  

Neyland Stadium is the second-largest venue in which East Tennessee State has played since the program restarted in 2015.

The Bucs played inside Bristol Motor Speedway on Sept. 17, 2016, beating Western Carolina, 34-31.