Redshirt freshman Nico Iamaleava threw for 3 first-half touchdowns and operating again Dylan Sampson reached the top zone 3 times earlier than halftime as No. 15 Tennessee trounced visiting Chattanooga 69-3 within the season opener Saturday afternoon at Knoxville, Tenn.
Dont’e Thornton Jr. made two of the early landing catches, with Tennessee scoring on its first seven possessions.
A forty five-0 halftime rating gave the Volunteers loads of time to again off prematurely of subsequent Saturday’s Prime 25 showdown in opposition to North Carolina State in Charlotte, N.C. The rating was 24-0 lower than 12 minutes into the sport.
Iamaleava completed 22-for-28 for 314 passing yards — all within the first half. For the sport, 14 totally different Volunteers made no less than one reception.
Iamaleava, making his second profession begin, threw 4 yards to Ethan Davis for his first scoring toss, simply 4 performs after Chattanooga’s first possession ended with a fumble. He had three landing throws within the recreation’s first 20 minutes.
Sampson’s scoring runs of 1, 3 and 5 yards have been a part of 124 speeding yards on 12 carries within the first half. Sampson, a junior, eclipsed the 100-yard mark for the fourth time in his profession.
DeSean Bishop additionally ran for a Tennessee landing from 22 yards out and Khalifa Keith had a 1-yard TD run. Max Gilbert kicked area objectives of 36 and 42 yards for the Volunteers, who added a late-game TD off a blocked punt by Jordan Ross.
Tennessee used 11 snaps to go 65 yards on its first landing drive, however different scoring possessions got here a lot faster.
Chattanooga’s first possession of the second half resulted in Jude Kelley’s 43-yard area objective. Quarterback Chase Artopoeus completed 12-for-23 for 141 passing yards.
The Volunteers rolled up 502 yards of whole offense within the first half in comparison with Chattanooga’s 83 yards.
The Mocs are a nationally ranked Soccer Championship Subdivision staff, however they by no means discovered their footing on this first recreation of the 12 months.
Tennessee has received 11 straight video games within the sequence since a Chattanooga victory in 1958.
–Discipline Stage Media
