NORMAN, Okla. — No. 6 Tennessee football showcased its defensive prowess in a commanding 25-15 SEC-opening victory over No. 15 Oklahoma on Saturday night at Memorial Stadium.
The win marked the Vols’ 10th over a ranked opponent under head coach Josh Heupel, who made the return to his alma mater a memorable one.
Tennessee (4-0, 1-0 SEC) established defensive dominance from the outset, limiting the Sooners to just 222 total yards. The impressive performance continues a trend, as the Vols have now held their last five opponents under 250 yards of total offense, dating to their Citrus Bowl triumph over Iowa on Jan. 1, 2024.
The Vols had an impressive defensive streak end on Saturday as they went 19 quarters without allowing an offensive touchdown until Oklahoma scored with 8:25 left in the fourth quarter. This streak went down as the second-longest in program history and the longest since Tennessee shut out 15 straight opponents from Nov. 5, 1938, to Dec. 9, 1939.
After an open week, Tennessee travels to Fayetteville to face Arkansas on Oct. 5. A game time will be announced next week. Learn more at utsports.com.
Barton continues to shine for Lady Senators
HANCEVILLE, Ala.– No. 13 Walters State ended its weekend at the Wallace State Fall Bash on Saturday with a split. The Lady Senators swept Lawson State 3-0 (25-10, 25-17, 25-13) before losing 3-0 (25-20, 27-25, 28-26) to Wallace State. With the split, the Lady Senators moved to 11-3 on the season.
Church Hill’s Veda Barton recorded 12 kills and seven blocks in the two matches.
Walters State hosts Roan State on Tuesday, Sept. 24, and Cleveland State on Thursday, Sept. 26. Both matches begin at 6:30 p.m.
LMU women fourth at Converse Kick Off
SPARTANBURG, S.C. — The Lincoln Memorial men’s and women’s cross country teams continued their strong start to the season with solid races at the Converse Kick Off on Saturday, Sept. 21. The women finished fourth in a 21-team field, while the men finished fifth in a 22-team field.
Grace Rose recorded another top 10 finish with a time of 22:24.163. Other Top 25 performers for LMU included Reaghan Curde (23:06.723) and Katie Smock (23:12.793). Nadine McIntyre was 28th and Bethelle Rush 33rd.
Former Volunteer standout Jacie Begley finished 43rd for LMU with a time of 23:39.2. Emory & Henry’s Elise McKinney, also a former Lady Falcon, finished 92nd with a time of 25:36.8 in the 6K (3.73 mile) race.
LMU will continue its season Friday, Sept. 27, at the Maryville Scots Invitational with the women starting at 5 p.m. and the men to follow at 6 p.m.
Bucs knock off Elon
ELON, N.C. — The ETSU football team scored 17 points in the first 10 minutes and ran for 256 yards and added 233 more through the air (489 total) to upend the Elon Phoenix, 34-14, on Saturday. Quarterback Jaylen King went 17-for-28 for a career-high 233 yards through the air. He also ran for 93 yards on 11 carries (8.5 avg.) and two touchdowns. The pair of rushing scores matched a career-high for King.
ETSU (2-2) will be back in action next Saturday when it opens SoCon play at The Citadel. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. from Charleston, South Carolina. Learn more at ETSUBucs.com.
Devine gets win No. 300
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — East Tennessee State University head coach Lindsey Devine earned her 300th win as a Buccaneer in ETSU’s 3-0 win over Queens on Saturday.
“Thank you to ETSU for giving me the opportunity to be the head volleyball coach,” Devine said after the match. “These wins are the sum of the hard work and commitment that many players, assistant coaches and support staff have put into this program. I hope that when those people read this article or see the social media post, they will recall a special memory and know that they were a big part of this milestone.”
Devine’s daughter, Megan, is the all-time program leader in kills and was on the team during Devine’s 150th win over Alabama State. On Devine’s most recent accomplishment, Megan said “Many years of hard work wearing the Blue and Gold. Couldn’t ask for a better coach to lead the Bucs! We are so proud of you Mom!”
ETSU has its home and conference opener at 6 p.m. on Sept. 26 at Brooks Gymnasium vs. UNC Greensboro. Learn more at ETSUBucs.com.
Caldwell named Vols’ player development coordinator
KNOXVILLE — University of Tennessee head men’s basketball coach Rick Barnes announced Friday afternoon the hiring of Justin Caldwell as player development coordinator.
A veteran coach, Caldwell possesses over a decade of experience across the Division I, Division II, high school and youth levels, including five years as a collegiate head coach. Caldwell most recently spent the 2023-24 campaign as an assistant at Marshall University.
Caldwell spent 2018-23 as the head coach at his alma mater, Glenville State University, a DII school in Glenville, West Virginia. Inheriting a program that went 8-21 the year before his arrival, Caldwell turned the Pioneers into a 9-4 team in the COVID-condensed 2020-21 season and up to a 17-13 team during his final campaign in 2022-23.
Caldwell, who hails from Mullens, West Virginia, earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Glenville State in 2013 and added a master’s degree in exercise science from California (PA) in 2017. He is married to Kim Caldwell, the head coach of the University of Tennessee women’s basketball team.
Former Lady Vol named to all-rookie team
The Associated Press announced Sunday that it has named Lady Vol for Life and Los Angeles Sparks forward Rickea Jackson to its 2024 WNBA All-Rookie Team.
Jackson, who starred at Tennessee from 2022-24 and was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Sparks, was one of five players chosen to the squad. She joined AP WNBA Rookie of the Year honoree Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever along with Angel Reese (Chicago Sky), Leonie Fiebich (New York) and Kamilla Cardoso (Chicago) on the squad. The WNBA will soon announce its awards as well.
A three-time Coaches All-SEC First Team recipient and four-time WBCA All-America Honorable Mention choice, Jackson is the eighth Lady Vol to be named to a WNBA All-Rookie Team. She follows previous honorees Jordan Horston (2023), Diamond DeShields (2018), Glory Johnson (2012), Candace Parker (2008), Nicky Anosike (2008), Tamika Catchings (2002) and Chamique Holdsclaw (1999).
Jackson, who was in the starting lineup for 35 of 40 games this season, played 28.8 minutes per contest and averaged 13.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists for the Sparks. The 6-foot-2 Tennessee product shot 45.6% percent from the field, 34.7% beyond the three-point arc and 80.7% from the free throw line.
Quick start propels Newberry in win over Tusculum
GREENEVILLE — Dwayne Wright rushed for 142 yards and a touchdown, while Reed Charpia passed for 207 yards and a score to pace Newberry to a 50-20 South Atlantic Conference victory over host Tusculum Saturday afternoon at Pioneer Field.
The Wolves (1-2, 1-0 SAC) scored the first 19 points of the contest, all coming in the first quarter, to record their fourth consecutive victory over the Pioneers (0-2, 0-1 SAC).
Newberry amassed 451 yards offensively, including 244 on the ground as Wright averaged 20.3 yards on his seven carries including explosive runs 29, 46 and 62 yards. Quez Spells and Keith Desaussure accounted for two touchdowns apiece.
Tusculum finished the game with 251 yards offensively, including 180 rushing yards as 12 different Pioneers recorded a rushing attempt. Joseph Goho was TU’s top rusher with 69 yards on four attempts, including a 58-yard touchdown to put the Pioneers on the scoreboard in the second quarter. Charpia went 13-of-17 passing, connecting with seven different receivers.
The 50 points scored by Newberry are the most against Tusculum in the series since the Scarlet & Gray won a 63-56 shootout in Greeneville in 2010.
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