Tennessee's No. 24 team, led by Aguilar, scores 3 touchdowns in their season debut, resulting in a victory against Syracuse with a final score of 45-26
In a closely contested matchup, Tennessee emerged victorious against Syracuse in the season opener, winning 27-20 in overtime.
Syracuse's Yasin Willis showcased his prowess on the ground, rushing for 91 yards and three touchdowns. However, it wasn't enough to secure the win for the Orange. Syracuse quarterback Steve Angeli, making his first start with the team, was 23 for 40 for 247 yards and a touchdown.
On the other side of the field, Tennessee's Joey Aguilar, in his first game with the team, directed the offense with success under Josh Heupel. Aguilar passed for 247 yards and three touchdowns, remaining composed and even-keeled throughout the game. His standout plays included a 73-yard touchdown pass to Braylon Staley in the second quarter and a 7-yard TD find to Star Thomas in the third.
Star Thomas also impressed for Tennessee, rushing for 92 yards on 12 carries. DeSean Bishop and Peyton Lewis each added a rushing touchdown for the Volunteers.
Tennessee had a successful day on offense, rolling to 493 yards compared to 377 for Syracuse. However, they played without true freshman offensive lineman David Sanders Jr., who was inactive due to an undisclosed injury.
Syracuse now faces a challenging schedule, including games against No. 4 Clemson, No. 6 Notre Dame, and No. 10 Miami. They will look to bounce back when they host UConn on September 6. Tennessee, meanwhile, hosts East Tennessee State on the same day.
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