Dylan Sampson and Nico Iamaleava combined for five total touchdowns, and Will Brooks had a pick-six as Tennessee Football suffocated the No. 24 N.C. State Wolfpack 51-10 in Charlotte Saturday night. With all eyes on Iamaleava, the Vols won this game with defense, particularly in the trenches, and running.
The teams traded punts to open the game before the Vols went on a nine-play 62-yard touchdown drive capped off by an eight-yard Dylan Sampson touchdown run. N.C. State kept it a game in the first half, though, after Iamaleava threw his first ever college interception in the second quarter and the teams then traded field goals.
As the Wolfpack were driving late in the first half though, Brooks came away with his pick-six. Tennessee Football then got another stop and made a field goal going into halftime before scoring a touchdown to open the second half and break it open 27-3. Dominic Bailey then had a strip-sack to set up another field goal for a UT 30-3 lead.
Iamaleava was still impactful, completing 16 of 23 passes for 211 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He also ran for 65 yards and a score. Squirrel White led the way in receiving with two catches for 67 yards, and Miles Kitselman had two catches for 31 yards and a touchdown. Holden Staes had an 18-yard grab.
Sampson was the offensive weapon, as he carried the ball 20 times for 132 yards and two touchdowns and caught three passes for 37 yards, continuing to prove he may just be the best weapon on the team. Iamaleava and Sampson are looking like the best backfield in the nation right now.
The defense, though, was the story. In addition to forcing three turnovers, Tennessee Football held Dave Doeren’s team to 143 yards of total offense. It really stood out on the ground, where they held N.C. State to just 39 yards rushing on 28 carries, had a 4th and 1 stop and came away with three sacks and 13 tackles for a loss.
With the win, Josh Heupel’s team improves to 2-0 and will host the Kent State Golden Flashes next week before beginning SEC play at the Oklahoma Sooners Saturday, Sept. 21. N.C. State falls to 1-1 and will host the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs next week before beginning ACC play with a trip to the Clemson Tigers.
