Tennessee running back DeSean Bishop ran with purpose during the Vols’ final offensive drive before the halftime break on Saturday against Syracuse. With the Orange coming off a 9-play, 49-yard touchdown drive in the second quarter, Bishop put the Vols’ offense on his back.
He first broke off a 47-yard scamper that led the Vols into the Orange’s territory. Bishop looked like he could’ve been brought down on multiple attempts by the Syracuse defense, but he kept pushing through and eventually broke into the secondary and beyond.
His massive run to put Tennessee in scoring position helped get the UT crowd in Mercedes-Benz Stadium fired up with the Vols looking poised to get points before the break.
After a Mike Matthews reception helped get Tennessee on the doorstep of the endzone, Bishop looked to have scored a touchdown on a five-yard rush up the middle. However, he was ruled down after the officials reviewed the play. That didn’t matter, though. One play later, Bishop took the one-yard score into the endzone for an official score.
All in all, Bishop accounted for 59 yards in Tennessee’s 75-yard scoring drive on just four runs.
His touchdown helped Tennessee extend its lead to 31-14 before the halftime break.
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Through two quarters, Tennessee has 157 yards through the ground game, which is exactly the game plan that head coach Josh Heupel was looking for entering the season-opening contest. Bishop leads with 67 yards, followed by Star Thomas was 31 yards, Peyton Lewis with 30 yards, and QB Joey Aguilar with 29 yards. Bishop and Lewis have Tennessee’s two rushing touchdowns through the first half.
Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider for live second-half updates from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA.
