It wasn’t a quick start for Tennessee, but the Volunteers took care of business in a big way.
The Vols rolled to a 56-0 win over UTEP on Senior Day inside Neyland Stadium. With the win, Tennessee improved to 9-2 overall and sets up a crucial regular-season finale at Vanderbilt on Saturday.
After a scoreless first quarter, Tennessee reeled off 28 points in the second quarter to take full control.
“Offensively, just looked a little off in some ordinary, simple things,” Tennessee Head Coach Josh Heupel said. “That’s the quarterback, the offensive line and some of our targets. A couple of those drives were starting inside of the 10-yard line too, so it’s a little different than being in the normal field. Once they settled in and did ordinary things, which I say all the time, but once we started doing the everyday things consistently, all 11, then we had a really good day. Created explosive plays, were efficient in the run game, and efficient in the red zone. I’m proud of settling into the ball game after not our best start.”
Dylan Sampson had 11 carries for 77 yards and one touchdown in the game. Sampson’s second quarter touchdown set a new school record for most touchdowns and points in a season by a Vol – besting Gene McEver’s record from the 1929 season.
Sampson’s score a mintue and a half into the second quarter came on a 14-yard run for the first points of the game.
Nico Iamaleava and the passing game started cranking in the second as well as Iamaleava found Squirrel White (nine yards), Ethan Davis (one yard), and Bru McCoy (18 yards) for three touchdowns as the Vols took a 28-0 lead into the half.
Iamaleava went 17-of-23 for 209 yards and four touchdowns in the game.
McCoy found the checkerboard again on the first drive of the second half as he caught a seven-yard pass from Iamaleava.
“He’s just been a little bit off on some opportunities, quarterback and him,” Heupel said. “That was great to see him get those opportunities and take advantage of it. Special to see him finish it out that way today on Senior Day. He meant so much to us, and to this program and to me.”
McCoy finished with four catches for 37 yards.
Peyton Lewis added two scores on the ground, and Cam Seldon added a fourth-quarter touchdown to cap the scoring for Tennessee.
“I thought both played extremely hard and ran physical for the most part,” Heupel said of Lewis and Seldon. “Did a great job of hitting holes. There were a couple of them when they had the opportunity to defeat the press or defend back. They ran physical man, pad level, but I thought both of them played extremely well.”
For Tennessee, attention turns to a trip to Nashville to take on Vanderbilt in the regular season finale as the Vols jockey for a spot in the College Football Playoffs.
“There is a lot of football left to be played,” Heupel said. “We’ve seen it, and we’ve lived it on both sides of it. It’s about controlling yourself and preparing to play good on Saturdays. I’m proud of the way we handled this week.”
“Heal up this afternoon and tomorrow, invest and prepare in a great way, practice in a great way and then we need to go play great football next Saturday, as we take the field in Nashville.”
