Joey Aguilar threw for over 200 yards in his 28th straight start and completed his first seven passes while Tennessee football rushed for 235 yards as the Vols beat the UAB Blazers 56-24 Saturday at Neyland Stadium. UT, ranked No. 15 in both polls, improved to 3-1 on the season after playing its third non-conference game so far.
The Vols opened the game with a seven-play 75-yard drive capped off by a 19-yard touchdown pass from Aguilar to Chris Brazzell II. They then forced a punt and had a two-play 50-yard drive, highlighted by a 39-yard touchdown pass from Aguilar to Mike Matthews.
UT scored a touchdown on six of seven possessions in the first half. The only time Tennessee footbal didn’t score was on the third possession, when a pass that Aguilar threw as intercepted after it bounced off Brazzell. However, the Vols got a stop, and a Boo Carter 34-yard punt return set up a touchdown on the next drive.
After leading 42-7 at halftime, Carter muffed a punt that set up a UAB field goal in the second half. However, Aguilar then led another touchdown drive, set up by a long Duane Morris kickoff return, to give the Vols a 49-10 lead. He was pulled after that.
For the game, Aguilar completed 15 of 22 passes for 218 yards and three touchdowns with that one pick while rushing for another 11 yards. Brazzell had five catches for 62 yards and a score, Matthews had three catches for 53 yards and a score, and Braylon Staley had three catches for 50 yards. Miles Kitselman added two catches for 27 yards.
On the ground, Peyton Lewis led the team with 11 carries for 81 yards and a touchdown. DeSean Bishop added nine carries for 59 yards and two scores, and Star Thomas had nine catches for 51 yards and a score. Thomas also had a 17-yard touchdown reception.
Defensively, Carter had three tackles for a loss, a sack and two forced fumbles, both on the same drive and one that Kaleb Beasley returned for a score. Andre Turrentine added an interception. UAB had 394 yards of total offense but was held to just 23 yards on the ground.
Up next for Tennessee football is a return to SEC play in the form of a trip to the Mississippi State Bulldogs for their first true road game of the year. The Vols have a bye after that. Trent Dilfer’s Blazers fall to 2-2 on the season and will have a bye next week before returning to American Athletic Conference Play Oct. 4 to face the Army Black Knights.
