Nico Iamaleava ready for first full season as UT starting QB

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – It’s Football Time in Tennessee as the 15th-ranked Volunteers kick off the 2024 season against in-state foe Chattanooga at 12:45 pm on Saturday inside a sold-out Neyland Stadium.

Tennessee begins its 128th football season on Saturday afternoon when it hosts the Mocs. The season opener will be broadcast on the SEC Network with a special SEC Now show airing field level at noon. The Vols entered the year ranked 15th in both preseason polls and were picked to finish seventh in the expanded 16-team SEC.

1ST QUARTER

UTC won the toss and deferred to the 2nd half. Tennessee said thank you kindly taking the ball at their 35 yard line and promptly driving down the field in 11 plays. It would be RB Dylan Sampson scoring the first TD of the season for Tennessee on a one yard rush. In fact, Sampson would carry the ball 7 times for 37 yards on the drive, including converting on 4th and 1 at the Mocs 7 yard line. Looking very much in control on that first series, QB Nico Iamaleava was a perfect 3-3 through the air for 19 yards.

Max Gilbert would connect on the PAT giving the Vols an early 7-0 lead on their visitors from Chattanooga.

Not much luck for the Mocs on their 1st possession as RB Reggie Davis has the ball stripped by Tire West. The fumble is recovered Joshua Josephs and the Vols are back in business in Mocs territory.

Dylan Sampson would continue his fine running carrying the ball 17 yards down to the UTC 4 yard line. From there Nico took to the air hitting his tight end Ethan Davis on a pretty slant over the middle. PAT good again making it 14-0 Tennessee with under 9 minutes to play in the 1st quarter.

Great to see Bru McCoy back in action! He’s been targeted three times so far for a total of 20 yards.

And welcome back Dont’e Thornton who catches a rope from Nico from 36 yards out extending the lead to 21-0 with 7:18 remaining in the 1st quarter. Nico, now 8-8 for 97 yd. and 2TD’s also connected with newcomer Chris Brazzell on another pretty slant pattern.

Tennessee’s 4th possession of the quarter would start at their own 10 yard line, but they wouldn’t stay down there for long thanks in large part to a 51 yard pass from Iamaleava to Dont’3 Thornton. If you get a chance to check out the highlights please do because the pass was absolutely on the money from Tennessee’s Red-Shirt Freshman quarterback. This time however, UT’s drive would stall and Red-Shirt Freshman Max Gilbert would connect on his 2nd FG of the day, this time from 36 yards out giving Tennessee a 24-0 lead.

That’s one quarter in the books with the Vols up 24-0. Tennessee so far with 263 total yards. Nico is 12-13 for 176 and 2TD’s. Vols D with 2 TFL and one forced fumble and recovery.

2ND QUARTER

It would be the Vols picking up right where they left off in the 2nd quarter. The big play of the drive, a 37 yard completion from Iamaleava to McCoy right down the middle of the field. Dylan Sampson would take it in on the next play from 3 yards out. 31-0 Vols at the 14:03 mark of the 2nd stanza.

The Vols streak of not scoring continues as UT uses another solid mix of rushing and passing to move down the field again on the Mocs. Bru McCoy would come up with another catch and nice run. Also getting into the game on this drive was former Karns standout DeSean Bishop, now wearing #18, would run 24 yards down to the UTC 10. On the next play it was Nico with another strike over the middle to Thornton for the touchdown. Thornton’s second of the game and Nico’s 3rd as the Vols extended their lead to 38-0.

Tennessee’s offensive explosion continues as on the next series the Vols march 61 yards in two plays. 56 of them coming on a big run down the Tennessee sideline to the UTC 5 yard line. Sampson would finish it off on the next play getting into the checkerboards for the third time in the game. The Vols are running away with this one leading Chattanooga 45-0 with under 5 minutes to play in the half.

That would be all the scoring in the 1st half as the Vols head to the locker room with 503 yards of total offense. UT a perfect 6-6 inside the red zone and 1-1 on 4th down conversions. Nico looks good in his first home start. He 22-28 for 314 yards and 3-TD’s. 45-zip Vols at the half.

3RD QUARTER

After deferring to start the game, the Mocs received the 2nd half kickoff and would drive down the field, 50 yards in 9 plays culminating in a 43 yard Jude Kelley FG. 45-3 Vols.

Gaston Moore would start the 2nd half as UT’s quarterback and would lead Tennessee to a scoring drive. Max Gilbert connects again for the Big Orange, this time from 42 yards out and the Vols extend their lead back to 45 points leading 48-3.

Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava’s 314 yards passing is a UT record for a half surpassing the 313 thrown by Tyler Bray back in 2012. The Vols have now had four quarterbacks pass for over 300 yards in a half.

On Tennessee’s next possession, Moore would once again lead his team down the field and this time the Vols get into the endzone courtesy of a 22 yard run right up the middle by RB DeSean Bishop, his first as a Vol! 55-3 Big Orange!

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