The record-setting night for the Volunteers began in the first quarter of play against Kent State.
Knoxville, Tenn. – The Tennessee Volunteers defense set the tone early against Kent State Saturday night. Dylan Sampson added to his incredible start to the 2024 season.
On the opening drive of the game for the Golden Flashes, their backup quarterback came in for a snap. Unfortunately for KSU it was a bad snap and before he could regain control, Keenan Pili had already painted himself on the QB for a loss of five on the play.
It would force a quick three and out by Kent State.
On KSU’s next offensive possession, the same intensity continued.
Jermod McCoy had a solid pass breakup to bring up a third down.
The next play was another bad snap. This time it went over the head of quarterback Devin Kargman and rolled all the way into the endzone.
Ky Thomas of Kent State was able to recover the ball, resulting in a Tennessee safety, 9-0 Tennessee.
Nico Iamaleava and the offense went to work just as quickly.
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For the third consecutive game, running back Dylan Sampson scored Tennessee’s first touchdown of the game.
His first score of the game came on the opening drive for Tennessee.
Sampson rushed for 22 yards to cross the goal line and gave UT its first points of the game.
The next Tennessee drive, it was the same result; a Sampson rushing touchdown.
Chris Brazzell’s first target of the game ended in six points. Iamaleava launched the ball deep downfield over the shoulder to Brazzell to carry him into the endzone off a 53-yard touchdown pass.
Tennessee took three plays to cover 51 yards in 00:33 to go up 23-0 mid-first quarter.
There was a loss of two on a previous play on a DeSean Bishop rush.
That catch by Brazzell was Tennessee’s fourth explosive passing play of the game, and it went the furthest.
For Kent State, it was more of the same.
A third straight bad snap kills their drive. A loss of 21 yards on the play brought up a 4th and 23.
On the first play, Bishop took it 53 yards to the house for his second touchdown of his Tennessee career.
Then on the kickoff, Tennessee called an audible, from how it appeared on the field, and Josh Turbyville elected to take an onside kick after seeing an open hole in Kent State’s defense.
Tennessee would end up recovering as well!
The offense would complete yet another drive with a touchdown.
For the third straight time, the score came courtesy of Sampson who rushed it up the middle for one yard and a touchdown.
His score set a new program record for the most points Tennessee has scored in a quarter with 37.
The Vols broke their previous record of 35 against Arkansas in 2000.
For Sampson, it’s his third consecutive game with at least two touchdowns.
He had three against Chattanooga, two against NC State, and three in the first quarter alone against the Golden Flashes.
After just 15 minutes of play, the Vols have outgained KSU 283 to -31 yards.
Shortly after scoring his second career TD, Bishop reached the checkered endzone once more.
After back-to-back incomplete passes and a nine-yard rush by Iamaleava, Bishop carried it for 47 yards for his second score of the game.
His rush came on a fourth-down conversion.
Bishop has just three carries for 98 yards and two touchdowns.
With under 8:00 remaining in the half, Sampson continued his dominant performance.
A seven-yard rush to the checkered enzone by Sampson gave him his fourth score of the game.
It set a new career high for the running back and in less than two and a half games, he has more touchdowns than he did a season ago.
He had eight total in 2023 and currently has nine in 2024.
That score has now tied John Kelly III for most touchdowns in a game in school history. Kelly set the record against Georgia Tech in 2017.
With less than 6:00 left in the half, Jeremiah Telander got his hand on the ball for a solid pass deflection. It was the fifth broken-up pass by the Tennessee defense.
Kent State’s drive would once again end in a punt, and as the Vols offense took the field Gaston Moore took over at quarterback.
Iamaleava finished 10-16 for 173 yards and a score.
Moore’s first drive ended in a touchdown for Tennessee.
His first pass attempt went deep down the field on the left sideline to Dont’e Thornton for 53 yards.
Moore connected with Miles Kittlesman for a 15-yard touchdown pass.
Tennessee took six plays and covered 80 yards in 01:56, 58-0.
Moore continued to carve up the Kent State defense, another drive ended in a touchdown pass.
Moore laced it to Mike Matthews, who had to leap up to make the snag and on his way down somehow managed to keep control despite taking a hit.
He immediately bounced up full of enthusiasm as he recorded his first career touchdown.
Tennessee covered 48 yards in six plays in 1:20, 65-0.
Moore closed the half a perfect 4-4 on pass attempts for 94 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Tennessee has outgained Kent State 541 yards to 23 yards.
The Golden Flashes had -52 rushing yards on four attempts, three of them came from bad snaps in the first quarter.
Freshman quarterback Jake Merklinger opened the second half with a 24-yard rush.
Even with different personnel the explosive plays continued.
Peyton Lewis matched Merklinger’s run and carried it 24 yards to the KSU 15-yard line.
A couple of plays later from KSU’s six-yard line, Merklinger was waiting in the pocket looking for a receiver in the endzone, but as the pocket collapsed he couldn’t escape and was sacked for a loss of six on the play.
Tennessee would settle for a field goal to go up 68-0.
The Vols would take another field goal to start the fourth quarter to go ahead 71-0. That score set another school record for most points scored in the modern era at UT.
It beats the previous record of 70 when UT defeated Louisiana-Monroe 70-3 on Sept. 23, 2000.
With about nine minutes left in the game, Tennessee quarterback checked into the game.
