Tennessee takes early lead at LSU after Tigers fumble opening kickoff
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.