In an otherwise ugly first half for Tennessee’s offense, the edge rusher came up with a potential game-changing play against the Gators.
Knoxville, Tenn. – Tennessee’s quickly mounted momentum in its opening drive against Florida was halted just as quickly.
Seven plays into the game and the Volunteers turned the ball over at Florida’s 25-yard line.
The drive started with great tempo and Nico Iamaleava working the pocket.
Squirrel White hauled in a pair of passes for 38 yards because Iamaleava lost control of the ball on a run-design play and the Gators’ Grayson Howard immediately pounced.
Two plays and two first downs later, the Vols defense were primed for a defensive stop.
Florida’s Graham Mertz threw a dart into a narrow window to Arlis Boardingham but was immediately corraled by Keenan Pili and Joshua Josephs to stop the Gators four yards behind the line to gain.
Pili got injured on this play and walked off the field, assisted. Later, the ESPN broadcast said he was ruled out of the game with a lower-body injury.
Iamaleava and the offense would take over for the second time.
After a penalty-free first drive, offensive lineman John Campbell Jr. would commit the team’s first penalty.
The holding penalty put the Vols in a 2nd and 13 situation from their own 7-yard line.
Tennessee couldn’t dig themselves out and they’d punt for the first time Saturday night.
It set Florida up in great field position and then you add on an offsides penalty against Omar-Norman Lott moved the Gators to Tennessee’s 46-yard line.
Later that drive, the Gators would rush it four straight times ending with a one-yard run from Mertz to convert a 3rd and 1. Three of those rushes went up the middle.
The Gators would try to penetrate the middle once more on a crucial third-down try, and he was stuffed.
Jadan Baugh rushed middle but Omari Thomas and Bryson Eason tackled the RB for a loss of 4 yards.
Florida settled for a field goal and took a 3-0 lead with 3:15 remaining in the first quarter.
On Tennessee’s third drive, Iamaleava scrambled for a 22-yard run but it was called back for a holding penalty by Lance Heard.
This time, Tenenssee was able to find a first down capped off by a bullet from Iamaleava to Chris Brazzell over the middle for a 20-yard gain.
The sticks moved again after Iamaleava connected with White on the right sideline for a 15-yard gain.
However, despite back-to-back explosive plays, Iamaleava would take back-to-back sacks for a combined loss of 16 yards.
Instead of throwing the ball away or recognizing the pressure sooner, Iamaleava tried to extend the play by trying to run away from the defender. Both times, he was brought down.
The second sack was the final play of the first quarter.
SECOND QUARTER
The first play of the second quarter, a third consecutive sack.
The pocket quickly collapsed, Iamaleava tried to climb the pocket to evade the pressure but was taken down on the run.
A loss of three of the play brought up a 4th and 29 for the Vols. Florida entered the game with 13 sacks for a loss of 82 yards on the season.
Punter Jackson Ross was able to pin the Gators at the 10-yard line.
Florida installed DJ Lagway in at quarterback this drive, two plays went for explosive yardage of 17 and 20 yards propelling the Gators to Tennessee’s
With decibles reaching volumes of 121.5, the Vols defense would come up with a massive stop.
Florida rushed left on a 4th and 1, but Rickey Gibson hawked him down for no gain on the run forcing a turnover on downs at their own 18-yard line.
However, Tennessee couldn’t capitalize on offense.
Twice Iamaleava went deep downfield.
One in the middle of the field that fell incomplete, just out of reach of a diving Squirrel While.
Four plays later, Iamaleava went deep again. This time to the left side and it appeared there was miscommunication with Chas Nimrod, as he was looking over his right shoulder and Iamaleava was throwing to his left shoulder.
And for the third straight drive, it ended in a punt for the offense.
Omari Thomas had the chance to get a tackle at the line of scrimmage instead Montrell Johnson Jr. rushed for six yards.
Johnson would take the hand-off on the next play and rush for 13 yards all the way to Tennessee’s one-yard line.
Florida would try the tush push, but as Mertz extended his body to reach for the goal line, James Pearce Jr. would strip the ball from his hands and recover the fumble!
Again, the offense was unable to complement the defense.
Iamaleava threw a pick right into the hands of Sharif Denson. The defensive back returned it for 20 yards before being tackled.
However, the defense answered the bell one final time before halftime.
Norman-Lott and Boo Carter combined for a sack on Mertz for a loss of 10 on the play.
Florida would settle for a field goal attempt with 00:19 left in the half, but an illegal substitution by the Gators nullified their 43-yard made field goal.
The Vols enter halftime down 3-0, the defense hasn’t given up a first-half touchdown in seven straight games including Saturday’s match against Florida.
However, in back-to-back games, Iamaleava and the offense failed to put up points.
Three punts and a turnover in the first half against Arkansas, and three punts and two turnovers in the first half against Florida.
THIRD QUARTER
The start of the second half looked a lot like the first half.
In consecutive plays the Gators were stopped for a loss and forced to punt from their 6-yard line. Iamaleava and the offense took over at their 43-yard line but it was a quick three and out and a fourth punt on the night followed.
Florida found success in their next drive, however.
The Gators covered 92 yards in just 9 plays in 04:14 capped by a touchdown pass from Mertz to Arlis Boardingham.
That was his second touchdown on the season.
At this point, the Vols defense has been on the field for 23:59 compared to the Vols time of possession at 13:43.
Eventually, the defense will start to wear despite rotating players throughout the drive.
The offense found its first explosive play since the end of the first quarter on a 16-yard pass to Nimrod. Three plays later they’d connect for another. This time 23 yards to Brazzell to bring the Vols to Florida’s 26.
Sampson would touch the ball on the final six plays of Tennessee’s drive. His final touch, a rushing touchdown.
It would come on a 4th and 1 play from the 6-yard line.
His sixth straight game with a rushing touchdown and his 13th of the season. Tennessee trails 10-7 with 02:57 left in the third quarter.
Tennessee’s defense would come up with another game-changing caliber play.
This time it came courtesy of Arion Carter.
The linebacker intercepted Lagway’s pass and returned it 15 yards before being brought down.
Despite being set up in the redzone, the offense was unable to fully capitalize. After two short runs and an incomplete pass, the Vols took the field goal to tie the game up at 10 a piece with 01:37 left in the frame.
FOURTH QUARTER
Dylan Sampson would find the endzone once again.
His second touchdown on the night marked the fifth time this season that he’s scored at least two touchdowns.
He rushed for 23 yards for the score, and Tennessee went in front 17-10 as he continues to be the spark plug for this offense.
That score gave Tennessee its first lead of the game with 09:42 remaining.
