Josh Heupel and Tennessee Football set a record for points at Neyland Stadium as the Vols obliterated the Kent State Golden Flashes 71-0 Saturday. UT went into halftime up 65-0, a program record for points in a half in the modern era (1937-present) and also set a program record for points in a quarter in the first, when they scored 37.
The Vols scored a touchdown on every drive of the first half and picked up a safety, finishing with 541 yards of total offense in that half alone. They also recovered an onside kick in the first quarter and allowed just three first downs, none of which came in the first.
Dylan Sampson got things going for Tennessee Football, capping off a seven-play, 73-yard drive the first time they had the ball with a 22-yard touchdown run. He finished the game with 13 carries for 120 yards and four touchdowns and a catch for four yards.
DeSean Bishop got in on the dominant rushing attack as well, as he had seven carries for 101 yards and two touchdowns. Nico Iamaleava was just 10-of-16 for 173 yards and a touchdown pass but also ran for 31 yards on five carries and was pulled before the first half even ended.
Gaston Moore then completed all four of his passes in the first half for 94 yards and two touchdowns. Dont’e Thornton led the team in receiving with two catches for 64 yards. Chris Brazzell II added two catches for 63 yards and a score. Mike Matthews and Miles Kitselman also had receiving touchdowns.
In the second half, Jake Merklinger took over and led two field goal drives, going 2-of-5 for 17 yards on the process. Then Navy Shuler and Ryan Damron got in there. Peyton Lewis had 10 carries for 99 yards as well at running back. However, the defense was as much the story, as they held Kent State to just 112 yards of total offense while also forcing that safety, although it was from a bad snap..
With the win, Tennessee Football improves to 3-0 and will visit the Oklahoma Sooners next week to begin SEC play. Kent State, meanwhile, falls to 0-3 and will visit the Penn State Nittany Lions before Kenni Burns’ team begins MAC play at home against the Eastern Michigan Eagles the next week.
