Louisville Is Easy Pickens for Tennessee, 28-11

Carl Pickens caught a 75-yard touchdown pass and scored on a 67-yard punt return as 11th-ranked Tennessee ended Louisville’s eight-game winning streak with a 28-11 victory Thursday night.

Freshmen Aaron Hayden and James Stewart added touchdown runs for the Volunteers before a record Cardinal Stadium crowd of 40,457.

Tennessee (1-0) dominated the game despite five turnovers. The defending Southeastern Conference champions gained nearly twice as many yards as Louisville, 421-211.

Louisville (1-1) pulled to 21-11 early in the fourth quarter on a 20-yard touchdown pass from Jeff Brohm to Randy Wyatt and a two-point conversion run by Brohm. But Tennessee clinched the victory with 10:49 left when Pickens fielded a punt on his 33, put a move on the Cardinals’ Terrance Roscoe and raced down the right sideline.

Tennessee’s Andy Kelly completed 10 of 20 passes for 150 yards with two interceptions. Pickens, who led the SEC in receiving last year, had four receptions for 98 yards.

Brohm, 14 of 25 for 133 yards, was sacked seven times for 60 yards before breaking his leg with 5:09 left to play.

Tennessee scored on its third play from scrimmage when Kelly and Pickens connected on a 75-yard scoring play. Pickens caught the ball in the open on the Louisville 32, eluded a diving Robert Knuutila and raced down the sideline to give the Volunteers a 7-0 lead.