Dylan Sampson ran for 141 yards and scored two touchdowns, leading No. 7 Tennessee to a 28-18 win over Kentucky on Saturday night.
Tight end Miles Kitselman made six catches for 97 yards and one touchdown for the Volunteers (7-1, 4-1 Southeastern Conference). This victory marked their third straight win and kept their hopes for the College Football playoff alive.
“We don’t take any win for granted,” Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said. “Every week is its own season. You’ve gotta play smart football and tie it all together.”
The Wildcats (3-5, 1-6) lost their fourth consecutive game, missing five starters due to injuries. During the game, receiver Barion Brown and quarterback Brock Vandagriff also got hurt.
“We finished the game down 10 starters,” Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said. “We’re pretty beat up right now.” After being behind 10-7 at halftime, Kitselman and Sampson scored in the third quarter, putting Tennessee ahead 21-10.
Gavin Wimsatt took over for Vandagriff, who left after a tough hit by James Pearce, and he threw an interception on his first series. On his second attempt, Wimsatt connected with Ja’Mori Maclin for a 32-yard touchdown, narrowing Kentucky’s deficit to 21-18.
Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava completed 28 of 38 passes for 292 yards and the touchdown to Kitselman.
“Iamaleava played with great confidence and great poise,” Heupel said. “The pass to Kitselman was just a player making plays. He understood the traffic going by.” “I think my performance was OK,” Iamaleava said. “The sky’s the limit for this offense.”
Sampson extended the lead to 28-18 when he was pushed into the end zone for a 6-yard touchdown. This was Sampson’s 19th touchdown of the season, setting a school record.
“I was surprised (the officials) didn’t blow the whistle (before he scored),” Sampson said. “My teammates wanted (the school record) more than me.”
Jamarion Wilcox ran for 102 yards, including a 50-yard run on the very first play of the game.
“It’s hard, it’s challenging,” Stoops said about going 4 for 14 on third down against Tennessee’s defense. “Against a good team like this, it’s frustrating.”
Tennessee scored in the first half for the first time in four games when Peyton Lewis ran for a three-yard touchdown. The Vols missed two field goals, dropped a pass in the end zone, and fumbled on the Wildcat 22 but still managed to get the job done.
