By: John Dunn
Founder, Managing Director, Host
The All Vol Call in Show
The Tennessee Volunteers are off to a good start following a season opening drubbing of the Virginia Cavaliers, 49-13.
The Vols got off to a slow start offensively with a few miscues, but quickly found their footing and began to pour on the points from the second quarter on. The Tennessee defense put on an absolute clinic with nine tackles for loss in the first half alone, including four sacks.
Tennessee scored first on a nine yard passing touchdown from Milton to Sampson to get things started. It wouldn't be the last time Sampson's named was called during the game.
The Vols' second touchdown came, again, from Sampson, who this time scampered into the end zone from three yards out to extend Tennessee's lead to 14-0 following a successful PAT from Charles Campbell.
Virginia was able to finally get on the board with a 30-yard field goal with just under three minutes remaining in the half, which was plenty of time for the quick-strike offense of Tennessee to get back to work, and that's exactly what they did.
Milton capped off the drive with a one yard rushing touchdown to extend Tennessee's lead to 21-3 just before the halftime horn.
The Vols came out swinging on both sides of the ball in the third quarter, limiting the Cavaliers to nothing on their first two drives of the quarter, while finding success on offense.
Milton scored his second rushing touchdown from one yard out to extend Tennessee's lead to 28-3 before Sampson added his third touchdown of the day on the next drive to increase the lead to 35-3.
Virginia got its first touchdown of the day late in the third quarter to cut the lead to 35-10.
Early in the fourth quarter, Tennessee yet again found the end zone. Milton connected with Jacob Warren for an 11-yard passing touchdown to increase the lead to 42-10 in the final frame.
Freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava was interjected into the game in the fourth quarter to chants of "Nico! Nico! Nico!" and led the Vols down the field for a touchdown, handing off to Sampson for his fourth touchdown of the game, extending Tennessee's lead to 49-10 midway through the fourth quarter.
Virginia added one more field goal to bring the game to its final score of 49-13. The Volunteers showed a lot of great things defensively and offensively. There are still a few things to clean up, but Tennessee takes a substantial win to open the year, showing a lot of promise for the upcoming season.