Vols start season off with clutch touchdown vs. Virginia
The Tennessee Volunteers wasted no time in getting their 2023 season started on the right foot. Joe Milton found RB Dylan Sampson for a 9-yard touchdown on 4th and 5, capping an 8 play, 62-yard scoring drive on the game's first possession. Dee Williams returned the opening kickoff 34 yards, setting the offense up with […]
The Tennessee Volunteers wasted no time in getting their 2023 season started on the right foot.
Joe Milton found RB Dylan Sampson for a 9-yard touchdown on 4th and 5, capping an 8 play, 62-yard scoring drive on the game's first possession.
Dee Williams returned the opening kickoff 34 yards, setting the offense up with good field position. From there, RB Jaylen Wright took over. Wright carried for 7 yards, then took a short pass for 6 more. He followed that up with runs of 21 and 14 yards on the next two plays to put the Vols in the red zone.
The drive bogged down after short gains on each of the next three plays put the Vols in a 4th and 5 situation at the Virginia 9-yard line, but Josh Heupel didn't hesitate, electing to go for it. After going through his reads, Milton swung the ball out to Sampson, who broke through a tackle attempt from Virginia CB Tayvonn Kyle and barreled into the corner of the end zone.
An aggressive decision, and an early lead for Heupel and the Volunteers in Nashville.
Tennessee football: The biggest question on the Vols’ depth chart
One of the Vols’ most unsettled positional groups will get a chance to find some answers against the Cavaliers
Featured image via Vol Football Twitter account
