How It Happened: No. 19 Tennessee 59, UConn 3
Joe Milton III threw for 254 yards and two touchdowns, freshman Nico Iamaleava threw his first career touchdown pass and No. 19 Tennessee’s defense scored three touchdowns of its own as the Vols blitzed UConn 59-3 on Saturday afternoon at Neyland Stadium.
Here’s how it happened, as it happened:
First Quarter
Tennessee 7, UConn 0 (14:27, 1Q): That didn’t take long. On the second snap of the game, Tennessee running back Jaylen Wright went 83 yards for a touchdown to open the scoring. The run put Wright over 2,000 yards rushing for his career.
Tennessee 7, UConn 3 (2:47, 1Q): After a Tennessee three-and-out, UConn went 79 yards over 10 plays, settling for a 22-yard field goal after the Vols stopped the Huskies at the 4-yard line. The biggest play of the drive covered 34 yards on a double pass.
Tennessee 14, UConn 3 (1:38, 1Q): The Vols got back in the end zone and used another big play to get there. This time it was Joe Milton III throwing to a wide open Ramel Keyton for a 60-yard touchdown pass.
Second Quarter
Tennessee 21, UConn 3 (7:25, 2Q): Joe Milton III accounted for Tennessee’s second rushing touchdown of the game and third of the first half. Milton ran six yards for the score, capping an eight-play, 62-yard touchdown drive that took 2:47 off the clock. The drive started after Tennessee’s defense stopped UConn on fourth-and-5 at the Vols’ 39-yard line.
Tennessee 28, UConn 3 (4:34, 2Q): Another touchdown, another big play. This time Milton threw an 83-yard touchdown to Squirrel White, who caught the ball on a post pattern around the Vols’ 40-yard line and did the rest on his own, outrunning the UConn defense for another explosive play.
Tennessee 35, UConn 3 (3:30, 2Q): The defense got a turn in the end zone this time, with Tyler Baron scooping up a fumble and returning it 24 yards for a touchdown. It happened just three plays after the 83-yard touchdown from Milton to White.
Third Quarter
Tennessee 42, UConn 3 (14:52, 3Q): The Vols got right back into the end zone to start the second half, with safety Jaylen McCollough intercepting UConn on first down and taking it back 30 yards for a touchdown.
Tennessee 49, UConn 3 (11:51, 3Q): Another UConn drive, another defensive touchdown for the Vols. This time it was linebacker Aaron Beasley returning an interception for a touchdown, the third defensive touchdown of the game for the Vols.
Tennessee 56, UConn 3 (7:30, 3Q): Five-star freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava got on the board with his first career touchdown in orange and white, throwing a 19-yard pass to tight end McCallan Castles for the score. Iamaleava completed 3 of 5 passes for 44 yards and ran once for 25 yards, leading the Vols on the eight-play, 78-yard touchdown drive.
Fourth Quarter
Tennessee 59, UConn 3 (8:02, 4Q): Josh Turbyville connected on a 33-yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter. The drive featured third-string quarterback Gaston Moore taking over for Iamaleava, leading an eight-play, 45-yard drive for the field goal.
