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How It Happened: No. 21 Tennessee beats No. 17 Iowa 35-0 in Cheez-It Citrus Bowl

IMG_3593by:Grant Ramey•01/01/24•

GrantRamey

Nico Iamaleava
(Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK) Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava (8) celebrates in the end zone with Tennessee wide receiver Kaleb Webb (84) during the Citrus Bowl NCAA College football game between Tennessee and Iowa in Orlando, Fla., Monday, Jan. 1, 2024.

Five-star freshman Nico Iamaleava had 178 total yards and four total touchdowns in his first start, leading No. 21 Tennessee to a 35-0 win over No. 17 Iowa on Monday afternoon in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.

Iamaleava completed 12 of 19 passes for 151 yards and a touchdown, an 18-yarder to tight end McCallan Castles in the fourth quarter, and ran 15 times for 27 yards, scoring rushing touchdowns on runs of 2, 3 and 19 yards in the win.

Tennessee’s James Pearce Jr. also returned an interception 52 yards for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter to help the Vols finish off the shutout of the Hawkeyes, who finished with just 173 total yards.

Here how it happened, as it happened:

First Quarter

Tennessee 0, Iowa 0 (10:11, 1Q): After forcing an Iowa three-and-out to open the game, Nico Iamaleava threw for 9 yards on first down and rushed for a first down before the run was called back due to holding. A false start followed and the drive stalled, ending with a Jackson Ross punt that went just 26 yards.

Tennessee 0, Iowa 0 (4:55, 1Q): Iowa drove 43 yards to the Tennessee 4-yard line, but on third down quarterback Deacon Hill was intercepted in the end zone by Tennessee’s Andre Turrentine to eliminate the Hawkeye scoring threat.

Second Quarter

Tennessee 7, Iowa 0 (14:54, 2Q): Touchdown, Nico. Touchdown, Tennessee. Iamaleava started the second quarter with a 19-yard touchdown run up the middle to open the scoring. It capped a seven-play, 73-yard touchdown drive that covered 2:13. Iamaleava before the touchdown had completed 4 of 8 passes for 42 yards and rushed three times for seven yards.

Tennessee 14, Iowa 0 (8:12, 2Q): Another Nico touchdown. Another touchdown on the ground. This time Iamaleava ran three yards to double Tennessee’s lead and give him two rushing touchdowns in the second quarter. The drive went 68 yards on 11 plays and included one fourth-and-1 conversion by freshman running back Cameron Seldon.

Third Quarter

Tennessee 21, Iowa 0 (1:43, 3Q): After both teams traded a pair of punts, Tennessee sacked Iowa’s Deacon Hill at the 3-yard line, forcing a fumble and recovering it. Nico Iamaleava cashed in the turnover two plays later, running two yards for his third rushing touchdown of the day.

Fourth Quarter

Tennessee 28, Iowa 0 (14:15, 4Q): James Pearce is more than just a pass rusher. Tennessee’s leader in sacks and tackles for loss this season picked off Iowa quarterback Deacon Hill early in the fourth quarter and returned the interception 52 yards for a touchdown.

Tennessee 35, Iowa 0 (4:48, 4Q): Nico Iamaleava threw his second career touchdown pass for Tennessee and for the second time it was tight end McCallan Castles on the receiving end. Castles caught an 18-yard touchdown pass from Iamaleava in the fourth quarter to give Tennessee a 35-0 lead, capping a seven-play, 78-yard touchdown drive. It gave Iamaleava 178 total yards and four total touchdowns, with 151 passing and 27 rushing, including three rushing touchdowns. 

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