Multiple choice, pick one …
Tennessee has a very good football team. That Nico kid might make a real difference.
Or, Chattanooga belongs in a different weight class and really should avoid Neyland Stadium.
Or, we’ll get more dependable information next time out.
The Mocs got mashed, 69-3, in a glamorized practice game. The real deal for the Volunteers begins Saturday, the start of the scramble for a place in the postseason playoff.
Translation: North Carolina State is a “must win” for Tennessee. That’s one way of saying Duke’s Mayo Classic in Charlotte really matters, even if you prefer Kraft or JFG.
The Wolfpack is a much smarter team than it was a few days ago. It appeared discombobulated against Western Carolina. State trailed heading into the fourth quarter. It finally got organized and avoided a cataclysmic upset. Three late TDs solved most of the problem.
Summation: Anything can happen in college football.
A lot of things happened at the Tennessee romp. Survival was one key. There were no major injuries and no reported heat strokes. It was 87 at kickoff, not the greatest afternoon for alternate black uniforms.
Authoritative Vols jumped all over the football visitors– three touchdowns in less than eight minutes. Chattanooga couldn’t stop ’em. The clock did, 45-0 at intermission.
Tennessee’s first-half defense allowed 83 yards. Chattanooga didn’t make it across midfield. Surprisingly, the Vols had but one sack for the day, by Tyre West. There were only five quarterback hurries. That raised some eyebrows.
Nico Iamaleava played a half, completed his first 10 passes and 22 of 28 for 314 and three scores – two by Dont’e Thornton, one by Ethan Davis. Nico didn’t have to do much scrambling. There were no called QB runs.
Nico-to-Dont’e was the official restoration of the deep threat, mostly missing last season. Thornton’s TD catch gained 36 yards. The bigger play was 59.
Nico was not very good in his closing minute and three-fourths – three incompletions and a sack. He said he’d have to work on his finishing touch.
Dylan Sampson was a first-half co-star, 12 runs, 124 yards, three touchdowns, three receptions, 29 bonus yards. Fifteen Vols caught passes. Bru McCoy caught six. Fans welcomed him back from injury with the dramatic “Bruuuuu.” An end-around earned an encore.
Most starters were second-half spectators. Other Vols were about half as effective. QB2 Gaston Moore almost had a good quarter and change. He completed seven of 12 for 69 but lost an interception.
No. 3 runner DeSean Bishop was very effective. He broke a 24-yard touchdown run and totaled 60 yards on five carries. Khalifa Keith ran with fierce determination and punched in a late TD. Max Gilbert kicked two field goals and seven extra points.
In a late dramatic flash, five-star freshman defensive end Jordan Ross blocked a punt, chased it toward the goal, scooped it up and ran it in with 1:07 remaining. It was strange that Chattanooga attempted a punt so late in a game while trailing by 59 points.
There were a few other strange things. Famous edge rusher James Pearce had no sacks and didn’t make even an ordinary tackle. He played only 10 snaps. Famous Australian punter Jackson Ross punted once for 23 yards.
The reconstructed secondary exceeded expectations. More serious challenges are coming. Walk-on Will Brooks started at a safety and led the winners in tackles. Freshman Boo Carter arrived a half-second late on a blitz. Squirrel White produced 42 yards on two pass receptions and one punt return.
UT racked up 717 so-what yards of total offense. The school record of 724 against Missouri in 2022 has more credibility. Those Tigers were some stronger on defense than this Chattanooga team.
Josh Heupel said the Vol Walk was exciting. He praised Tennessee fans. He was glad to see Vol depth in action.
“We had 35 guys that this was their first time playing inside Neyland Stadium, so there are a lot of positives. There are going to be a lot of little things that we’ve got to clean up, but it was a good start.”
Of course Heupel is well aware of how big is the upcoming game in Charlotte. Tennessee is favored by about a touchdown. North Carolina State is almost certainly better than it appeared last week.
Coach Dave Doeren has been competitive in the transfer market. Former Coastal Carolina transfer Grayson McCall is his new QB. Playmakers such as running back Jordan Waters (Duke), receiver Wesley Grimes (Wake Forest) and receiver Noah Rogers (Ohio State) are upgrades. Former Notre Dame center Zeke Correll filled the only vacancy up front.
KC Concepcion, all-Atlantic Coast Conference receiver, might be State’s best player. He had nine receptions for 121 yards and three touchdowns in the opener. That gives Tennessee coaches and defensive backs something special to think about.
Marvin West welcomes comments or questions from readers. His address is marvinwest75@gmail.com
