Nico Iamaleava sets Tennessee record as Vols dominate Mocs

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) – Tennessee starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava set a new Tennessee program record with 314 yards passing in a single half as the Vols dominated UT Chattanooga 69-3. Junior running back Dylan Sampson led the way on the ground, finding the endzone three times in the first half.

Tennessee scored on its opening drive. Iamaleava started with an 11-yard pass to Tulane transfer Chris Brazzell. Then it was the Dylan Sampson show. The junior running back had seven carries for 37 yards, capped off with a one-yard run into the endzone for the 7-0 lead.

The Vols got the ball right back on a Tyre West forced fumble. Tennessee’s offense got right back to work, as Iamaleava found Bru McCoy on back-to-back plays to put the Vols in the red zone. Iamaleava connected with tight end Ethan Davis on a four-yard pass to pull Tennessee ahead by two scores. It marked the the redshirt freshman’s first touchdown of his career.

After the Vols defense forced a three-and-out, Tennessee quickly got the ball back and once again found the endzone. Iamaleava kicked off the drive with a 23-yard pass to Brazzell and then he found Dont’e Thornton for a 36-yard touchdown grab to give Tennessee a 21-0 lead with 7:21 left in the opening quarter.

It marked Thornton’s second touchdown of his Vol career. The Oregon transfer’s first came against Missouri last year, but Thornton was injured on the play and was sidelined for the rest of the season.

A Max Gilbert 36-yard field goal gave Tennessee a 24-0 lead after the first quarter of play.

The Vols started the second quarter with another touchdown drive. Iamaleava threw a great pass to Bru McCoy for a 37-yard gain and then Sampson punched it in from three yards out for his second score of the game.

Tennessee’s defense forced another three-and-out and the Vols took advantage on the other end. DeSean Bishop, the Karns alum, made his first appearance as a Vol on that drive and had a 24-yard run to set up another touchdown. Iamaleava found Thornton wide open in the endzone on a 10-yard pass to give him his second score of the day, eclipsing his entire touchdown total from last season.

Sampson’s strong first quarter continued in the second, as the running back started off the drive with a 56-yard rush and then followed it with a five-yard run into the endzone to give Tennessee a 45-0 advantage at the break.

The Mocs got on the board to start the second half with a 43-yard field goal from Jude Kelley.

Gaston Moore replaced Nico Iamaleava on the Vols’ first drive of the third quarter. Iamaleava finished with 22-of-28 with 314 yards passing and three touchdowns. Nico’s 314 yards in the air set a new Tennessee program record for passing yards in a single half. Tyler Bray had 314 passing yards in 2012 against Troy.

Max Gilbert hit his second field goal of the day, this time from 42 yards to extend Tennessee’s lead to 48-3.

DeSean Bishop added to that advantage with a 22-yard run up the middle for the redshirt freshman’s first career touchdown. The Karns alum played in first game with Tennessee after suffering an injury in last year’s fall camp.

UT-Chattanooga’s Kobe Joseph intercepted Gaston Moore and returned it 71 yards to the Tennessee 10-yard line, but the Vol defense forced a field-goal attempt. Jude Kelley missed from 25 yards out to keep the score at 55-3.

Sophomore running back Khalifa Keith put a bow on the game and ran it in from one yard out to give the Vols a 62-3 lead. But then special teams wanted in on the action. Five-star freshman edge Jordan Ross blocked a punt, scooped it up and scores to make it 69-3 Vols.

The Vols are back at it next Saturday as they take on North Carolina State at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. and you can catch it on WATE.

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