Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Volunteers fill up on Hilltopper turnovers
TENNESSEE 52, W. KENTUCKY 20
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee made the most of Western Kentucky’s generosity.
Justin Coleman and Cameron Sutton returned interceptions for touchdowns Saturday as Tennessee scored after each of Western Kentucky’s five first-quarter turnovers in a 52-20 victory over the Hilltoppers.
The five turnovers came in a span of six snaps by Western Kentucky.
“I’ve never ever been associated with anything like that,” Tennessee Coach Butch Jones said.
Western Kentucky ( 1-1) finished the game with seven turnovers, including five interceptions by quarterback Brandon Doughty, who was 17 of 34 for 222 yards with 1 touchdown pass. Brian Randolph intercepted two Doughty passes in the end zone.
Tennessee’s seven total takeaways represented its highest total since Nov. 10, 1984, when it also forced seven turnovers in a 41-9 rout of Memphis. The Vols hadn’t intercepted as many as five passes in a game since a 56-21 victory over Kentucky on Nov. 20, 1999.
Doughty was the first Western Kentucky quarterback to throw five interceptions in a game since 1977. The junior had entered the day with one career interception in 59 attempts.
“He’s a good learner,” Western Kentucky Coach Bobby Petrino said, “so he’ll learn a lot from this game.”
Western Kentucky’s flurry of five turnovers in six plays from scrimmage turned an early 3-0 lead into a 31-3 deficit.
The Football Bowl Subdivision record for consecutive turnovers forced by a defense is seven straight series. Florida State had four fumbles and three interceptions in its first seven possessions of a 42-13 loss to Florida on Oct. 7, 1972.
Marlin Lane rushed for 97 yards and one touchdown for Tennessee (2-0). Antonio Andrews ran for 111 yards to lead Western Kentucky.
Western Kentucky’s inability to take care of the ball cost the Hilltoppers an opportunity to beat an SEC team for the second consecutive week. Western Kentucky had beaten Kentucky 35-26 in its season opener.
The Hilltoppers outgained Tennessee 236-84 in the first half and controlled the ball for over 20 minutes, but they still trailed 31-17 at halftime because they already had six turnovers.
Doughty threw interceptions to Randolph, Coleman, Sutton and linebacker Brent Brewer. None of them had picked off a pass in a college game before Saturday. Brewer also forced a fumble.
On the Hilltoppers’ second series, a pass by Doughty bounced off the shoulder pad of receiver Taywan Taylor and landed in the arms of Coleman, whose 23-yard return put Tennessee ahead 7-3.
Doughty’s next pass went directly to Sutton, whose 36yard return made it 14-3. Tennessee hadn’t scored on two interception returns in the same game since Eric Gordon and Prentiss Waggner reached the end zone in a 52-14 rout of Mississippi on Nov. 13, 2010.