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Tennessee takes early lead at LSU after Tigers fumble opening kickoff
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Tennessee is off to a lightning-quick start at LSU. And it started on another special teams blunder by the Tigers.
LSU won the opening kickoff and elected to receive. That’s where the trouble started: Jack Bech couldn’t handle the ball, giving the Volunteers excellent field position and putting them within immediate striking distance.
— #FrankWasRight (@frankwasrightt) October 8, 2022
Six plays later, the Vols were in the end zone, aided in part by an unnecessary roughness call that put them at the 1-yard line. Jabari Small punched it in as Tennessee opened up a 7-0 lead just 1 minute, 14 seconds into the game. The Vols running back added a shushing gesture to the Tiger Stadium crowd to top it off:
Jabari Small with the first touchdown of #CollegeFootball Week 6 Saturday!
Small by name, big play threat by nature ?
pic.twitter.com/nbQfDgmUJX— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) October 8, 2022
LSU handled the ensuing kickoff cleanly, but were forced into a 3-and-out.
Things couldn’t have gotten off to a better start for the Vols. As for the Tigers, in front of a home crowd, it’s hard to think of a worse start.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
