A homecoming crowd saw Tennessee Football set a school record with three defensive touchdowns in a game as the Vols beat the UConn Huskies 59-3 Saturday afternoon. It was Rocky Top’s 14th straight home victory as they honored legendary Lady Vols head coach Pat Summitt with baby blue arm bands.
Jaylen Wright got things started with an 82-yard touchdown run on the second play of the game. He finished with eight carries for 113 yards. The two teams then exchanged punts, and UConn followed that up with a field goal drive. After that, though, it was time for Joe Milton III to step up, and he did just that.
Milton hit Ramel Keyton for a 60-yard touchdown pass. He then completed a 62-yard drive with a six-yard touchdown run. One drive later, he led a three-play, 95-yard drive thanks to an 83-yard touchdown pass to Squirrel White. On the day, Milton was 11-of-14 for 254 yards and three total TDs with no turnovers.
Then it was time for the Tennessee Football defense to step up. Gabe Jeudy-Lally forced a fumble that Tyler Baron returned for a touchdown. On UConn’s first and second drives of the second half, Jaylen McCollough and Aaron Beasley each had a pick-six respectively.
By that point, Josh Heupel put Nico Iamaleava in at quarterback, and Iamaleava led two touchdown drives. He finished 5-of-9 for 86 yards and a TD plus a 25-yard run. White led the team in receiving with two catches for 94 yards, and Keyton added two catches for 81 yards.
On UConn’s side Ta’Quan Roberson finished 24-of-40 for 218 yards and two picks. The Huskies, led by Jim Mora Jr., averaged under one and a half yards a carry on the ground. Rocky Top outgained them in total offense 650-256 when the game was finished. It was the Vols’ most yards in a game this year.
With the win, Tennessee Football improves to 7-2 and remains 3-2 in the SEC. They will visit the Missouri Tigers next week before hosting the Georgia Bulldogs the week after. UConn falls to 1-8 on the year and will visit the James Madison Dukes next week.
