Well, it was a good day for the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville Tennessee on Saturday Aug 31st. They were off to the races in a grand style as the Volunteers got a first down on their first play from scrimmage then scored on a ten play 65 yards drive. The extra point by McGrath was good. TN 7 UTC- 0
Tennessee’s defense caused the turnover and with 9:37 to go in the first quarter. Tyriq West caused the fumble, Tennessee then scored on four plays with a 39 yard drive and that only took a minute and three seconds off the Clock, with 8:34 to go in the first quarter. The kick by McGrath was good.
Tennessee was off to the races with a TN 14 – UTC 0 lead.
TN Dante Thorton scored on the pass from Nico Iamaleava with 1:16 to go in the first Quarter, Tennessee then scored on a 36 yard field goal. They actually scored on the first seven possessions of the game and six of those being touchdowns. The field goal with 3:32 to go in the first quarter was good, as Tennessee was up 24-0 after the first quarter.
Tennessee scored early in the second quarter, extra point was good by McGrath. TN leads by a score of 31-0 over UT Chattanooga with 14:03 to go in the second quarter. Nico Iamaleava engineered a 6 play 78 yard drive for Tennessee. The Vols scored with 10:14 to go in the first half leading the Moccasin’s by a score of 38-0. TN scores again with 6:43 to go on 2 plays for a 61 yard Drive in only 16 seconds. McGrath’s kick was good. Vols lead the Moccasins by a score 45-0.
Tennessee scored on all seven straight possessions in the first half, six of those were touchdowns and 1 was a field goal, 3 of the touchdowns were 70 or more yards in the drive. Nico Iamaleava was 22 of 28 in passing in the first half, for 314 yards as he set an all-time mark as he beat Tyler Bray old record in 2012. Nico Iamaleava only played in the first half.
Gaston Moore started the second half as TN quarterback. RB Deshawn Bishop scored a touchdown a 6 play 63 yard drive, McGrath kick was good. TN 55-3.
TN scores again 4:06 in the 4Q. McGrath kick was good! TN with a demanding lead TN 62-3. Volunteer Harrison blocked a kick with 1:07 left in the game. Kick by Turbyville Good.
Final Score- TN 69 UTC 3
TN played 3 quarterbacks in the game. Gaston Moore came in as QB and played well. Moore was 7-12 for 69 yards and one interception. QB Merklinger 4-4 for 31 yards. RB Dylan Sampson had 12 rushes for 124 yards. RB Deshawn Bishop out of Karns Highschool in Knoxville TN, had 5 rushes for 60 yards. TN had 718 yards total offense, the 3rd highest total offense in TN history. The largest margin of victory since the year 2000 and the second most points in history, third largest win since 1936.
WR- Donte Thorton had 3 receptions for 105 yards and 2 touchdowns.
WR- Bru McCoy had 6 receptions for 88 yards
WR – C Brazzell had 5 receptions for 59 yards
WR- Dylan Sampson had 3 receptions 29 yards and 2 touchdowns. 12 rushes for 124 yards.
WR- Squirrel White had 2 receptions for 22 yards.
The TN Vols certainly did not take UT Chattanooga lightly, because UT Chattanooga was in the FCS playoffs last year. Tennessee now leads the all-time series 38 wins 2 losses and 2 ties. The Coach for UT Chattanooga Rusty White has the fastest 30 wins in the FCS. Coach Josh Heupel for TN got his fourth straight opening Game win out of the 4 years of being head football coach at TN. Tennessee will travel to Charlotte on Sept 7th to take on North Carolina State who is Ranked as high as 22nd, that’ll be a 7:45 start.