Redshirt freshman Nico Iamaleava threw for three first-half touchdowns and running back Dylan Sampson reached the end zone three times before halftime as No. 15 Tennessee trounced visiting Chattanooga 69-3 in the season opener Saturday afternoon at Knoxville, Tenn.
Dont’e Thornton Jr. made two of the early touchdown catches, with Tennessee scoring on its first seven possessions.
A 45-0 halftime score gave the Volunteers plenty of time to back off in advance of next Saturday’s Top 25 showdown against North Carolina State in Charlotte, N.C. The score was 24-0 less than 12 minutes into the game.
Iamaleava finished 22-for-28 for 314 passing yards — all in the first half. For the game, 14 different Volunteers made at least one reception.
Iamaleava, making his second career start, threw four yards to Ethan Davis for his first scoring toss, just four plays after Chattanooga’s first possession ended with a fumble. He had three touchdown throws in the game’s first 20 minutes.
Sampson’s scoring runs of 1, 3 and 5 yards were part of 124 rushing yards on 12 carries in the first half. Sampson, a junior, eclipsed the 100-yard mark for the fourth time in his career.
DeSean Bishop also ran for a Tennessee touchdown from 22 yards out and Khalifa Keith had a 1-yard TD run. Max Gilbert kicked field goals 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 touchdown drive, but other scoring possessions came much quicker.
Chattanooga’s first possession of the second half resulted in Jude Kelley’s 43-yard field goal. Quarterback Chase Artopoeus finished 12-for-23 for 141 passing yards.
The Volunteers rolled up 502 yards of total offense in the first half compared to Chattanooga’s 83 yards.
The Mocs are a nationally ranked Football Championship Subdivision team, but they never found their footing in this first game of the year.
Tennessee has won 11 straight games in the series since a Chattanooga victory in 1958.
–Field Level Media
