How It Happened: No. 25 Tennessee 48, Vanderbilt 24

Joe Milton III accounted for six total touchdowns and threw for a career-high 383 yards on Senior Day leading No. 25 Tennessee to a 48-24 rout of Vanderbilt Saturday at Neyland Stadium. 

Milton completed 22 of 32 passes for the 383 yards and had four touchdown passes, another career high. Ramel Keyton caught four passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns, tight ends Jacob Warren and McCallan Castles caught one touchdown each and Milton twice ran for 2-yard touchdowns.

Here’s how it happened, as it happened:

First Quarter

Tennessee 7, Vanderbilt 0 (14:00, 1Q): After a couple quick completions to Squirrel White and Chas Nimrod, Joe Milton found Ramel Keyton wide open on a post route in the middle of the field. Milton hit Keyton in stride and did the rest, going 56 yards for the touchdown.

Tennessee 7, Vanderbilt 7 (11:34, 1Q): It didn’t take long for Vanderbilt to answer. The Commodores marched 75 yards down the field and scored on wide receiver Junior Sherrill’s 19-yard jet sweep.

Tennessee 14, Vanderbilt 7 (3:13, 1Q): Tennessee took the lead back on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Milton to tight end McCallan Castles. The drive started at the 39-yard line and was sparked by a 26-yard Jabari Small run on first down. 

Second Quarter

Tennessee 21, Vanderbilt 7 (14:09, 2Q): Another Tennessee touchdown, another tight end on the receiving end. The Vols extended their lead to two touchdowns on a 34-yard touchdown pass from Milton to Jacob Warren. It gave Milton three touchdowns on the day, tying a career record for Milton.

Tennessee 21, Vanderbilt 10 (8:29, 2Q): Vanderbilt got back on the scoreboard with a 40-yard field goal from Matt Hayball. The drive covered 54 yards over 11 plays, taking 5:40 off the clock.

Tennessee 24, Vanderbilt 10 (6:04, 2Q): Tennessee’s fourth scoring drive went 59 yards over seven plays but stalled at the Vanderbilt 6-yard line after Dee Williams was stopped for a 1-yard loss on third-and-4. Charles Campbell connected on a 24-yard field goal to build the lead to 17.

Tennessee 31, Vanderbilt 10 (0:05, 2Q): Milton ran for a 2-yard touchdown on Tennessee’s final play of the first half, accounting for his fourth touchdown of the day and putting the Vols up 21. Milton finished the half 15-for-20 passing for 252 yards and three touchdowns and rushed four times for nine yards and the score.

Third Quarter

Tennessee 38, Vanderbilt 10 (9:33, 3Q): The second half started with Milton connecting with Keyton again on a touchdown pass, this time covering 46 yards. The pass put Milton over 300 yards for the first time in his Tennessee career and gave him five total touchdowns on the day. It gave Keyton four catches for 122 yards and two scores.

Tennessee 45, Vanderbilt 10 (0:13, 3Q): Joe Milton in the end zone. Again. Milton rushed for his second 2-yard touchdown of the day and his sixth total touchdown accounted for to make it a 35-point lead late in the third quarter. Milton because the first Tennessee player to account for six touchdowns since Jonathan Crompton against Memphis in 2009.

Fourth Quarter

Tennessee 45, Vanderbilt 17 (12:47, 4Q): Dee Williams muffed a punt, giving Vanderbilt the ball at the Tennessee 8-yard line and the Commodores were in the end zone three plays later on a 1-yard run by quarterback Ken Seals.

Tennessee 45, Vanderbilt 24 (5:38, 4Q): Vanderbilt scored its third touchdown of the day when Quincey Skinner Jr. caught a 5-yard pass from Ken Seals with just over five minutes left. The drive went 77 yards in nine plays.

Tennessee 48, Vanderbilt 24 (0:28, 4Q): Tennessee’s final scoring drive went 66 yards in 17 plays, with Nico Iamaleava starting the drive at quarterback and Gaston Moore finishing it. The end result was a 27-yard Charles Campbell field goal after the drive stalled at the Vanderbilt 9.