As expected, Tennessee football rebounded easily from its 44-41 heartbreaking overtime loss to the Georgia Bulldogs last week and beat the UAB Blazers 56-24 Saturday afternoon at Neyland Stadium. The game wasn’t really that close, as UT, ranked No. 15 in both polls and now 3-1, led 42-7 at halftime. UAB falls to 2-2. Here are five things we learned from the Vols’ win.
Fast starts continue
Joey Aguilar, who threw for 218 yards and three scores, completed his first seven passes and has this offense looking like it did Josh Heupel’s first year with Hendon Hooker. The Vols scored touchdowns on their first two possessions. An interception followed, but then they reached the end zone on their next four possessions. Heupel is setting the tone early once again.
Difference was on the ground
Balance was much more the key to this game for Tennessee football. The Vols did have 275 yards through the air, but they had 235 on the ground. Peyton Lewis led the way with 81 yards, but Star Thomas and DeSean Bishop both went over 50, and they collectively had four scores on the ground. Meanwhile, UAB had just eight rushing yards entering the fourth quarter and finished with only 23.
Defense was opportunistic
Although they didn’t leave a good lasting impressions, the Vols’ defense was fine early on. They had a key fourth down stop in the first half, and in the second half, Andre Turrentine killed a drive with an interception, and Boo Carter forced a fumble that Kaleb Beasley returned for a touchdown. That put UT up 56-10 at one point, and three of UAB’s points were off a turnover, so the defense made big plays when needed.
Too many third and longs surrendered
Big plays went UAB’s way too, and Tim Banks looked like what Tennessee football fans perceived John Chavis to be on third down at times. The Vols allowed the Blazers to convert just five third downs on the day, which wouldn’t seem like a lot, but most were third and long plays. When they return to SEC ball next week, they can’t give up those.
Butterfingers everywhere
Another issue for UT in this game was not handling the pigskin. Peyton Lewis dropped a pass in the flats that would’ve been a clear as day touchdown. Then Chris Brazzell II dropped a pass over the middle that was intercepted. In the second half, Boo Carter muffed a punt to set up a UAB field goal. If Tennessee football makes these mistakes in SEC games, they will lose.
