KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Dylan Sampson ran for 101 yards and four touchdowns – all in the first half – to lead No. 7 Tennessee to a 71-0 victory over Kent State on Saturday night.
It was Sampson’s fourth consecutive game since last season’s Citrus Bowl game in which he rushed for over 100 yards.
DeSean Bishop had 120 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the first half for the Volunteers (3-0). They led 65-0 at halftime, the highest score in a half in school history. The 71 points are the most in modern school history.
The Golden Flashes (0-3) managed just 23 yards in the first half. They were offered the chance to have a running clock in the second half, but declined.
Tennessee scored 37 points in the first quarter, the most in a quarter in school history. Those first 15 minutes featured a safety, two snaps over the head of Kent State’s quarterback and an onside kick that the Vols recovered.
Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava completed 10 of 16 passes for 173 yards and a touchdown with 31 rushing yards.
Tennessee’s defense has gone 16 quarters – since the bowl game – without a single touchdown.
THE RESULT
Kent State: Coach Kenni Burns’ main task with his team this week will be to keep the Tennessee game and the upcoming matchup against Penn State in mind. The Golden Flashes are young. Being outnumbered by a top-10 team should be used as an opportunity for growth, not as something that hinders progress or causes frustration.
Tennessee: Last week’s lopsided win over North Carolina State was marked by a series of errors. The Vols used the game against Kent State to address those concerns before being tested in their first real road game in Norman, Oklahoma. Iamaleava threw the first two interceptions of his career last week. He made better decisions against Kent State.
Next
Kent State: The Golden Flashes are coming off one of the toughest two-week stretches in the country. After enduring a very loud and intimidating crowd in Tennessee, they will play in another hostile environment next Saturday at No. 8 Penn State.
Tennessee: After acing their three tune-ups, the Vols will visit coach Josh Heupel’s No. 15 alma mater, Oklahoma, in the Sooners’ first-ever game in the Southeastern Conference.
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