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**Tennessee (2-0) 51, No. 14 TENN**
**NC State (1-1) 10, No. 24 NCSU**
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**Nico Iamaleava totals 276 yards and 3 TDs as No. 14 Tennessee routs No. 24 NC State 51-10**
**Tennessee Volunteers vs. NC State Wolfpack: Full Highlights**
By AP, Updated: Sep 8, 2024, 10:29 am
**CHARLOTTE, N.C. --** The Tennessee Volunteers made a statement on Saturday night.
Quarterback Nico Iamaleava racked up 276 yards and three touchdowns, while former walk-on safety Will Brooks’ 85-yard interception return capped off a dominant defensive display. The 14th-ranked Volunteers trounced No. 24 NC State 51-10 in the Duke's Mayo Classic.
Iamaleava completed 16 of 23 passes for 211 yards, connecting for touchdowns with Miles Kitselman and Holden Staes. He also ran for 65 yards, including a 31-yard touchdown, as Tennessee scored on eight of their 11 possessions with the redshirt freshman at quarterback.
“He played within himself and responded well to adversity,” Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said, referencing Iamaleava's ability to overcome two interceptions. “I am really proud of his demeanor.”
Despite the mistakes, Iamaleava passed his first big test as a starter, with the Vols scoring 120 points over their first two games, following a 69-3 blowout against Chattanooga in the opener.
“It was a little sloppy in the beginning, but I thought we finished strong in the second half,” Iamaleava said.
Dylan Sampson added 132 rushing yards and two touchdowns, as Tennessee (2-0) outgained NC State 460 yards to 143.
The Vols’ defense also stood out, holding NC State quarterback Grayson McCall to just 104 passing yards and forcing three turnovers. Tennessee limited the Wolfpack to 39 rushing yards on 28 carries, with NC State’s only touchdown coming from a pick-six.
Heupel praised his team’s “elite” defensive performance: “The standard at Tennessee is to be elite on defense. This is the home of Reggie White, Al Wilson, and Eric Berry."
Iamaleava wasted no time showcasing his talent, keeping a third-and-7 play alive with a 12-yard run. Tennessee broke through on its second drive when Sampson rushed for a nine-yard touchdown after a series of short completions by Iamaleava.
After exchanging field goals, NC State (1-1) drove deep into Tennessee territory, but McCall overthrew his tight end, and Brooks intercepted the pass, returning it 85 yards for a touchdown and a 17-3 lead.
“That was part of the straw that broke the camel's back,” Heupel said.
Max Gilbert added a 45-yard field goal before halftime, pushing Tennessee’s lead to 17 points.
Things only got worse for NC State in the second half. On the Vols' first drive of the third quarter, Iamaleava connected with Kitselman for a touchdown after converting a key fourth down.
Dominic Bailey forced and recovered a fumble from McCall, setting up Gilbert’s third field goal and effectively putting the game out of reach. Iamaleava sealed the win with a 31-yard touchdown run on a QB draw late in the third quarter.
NC State coach Dave Doeren admitted, “It got away from us. It snowballed as it went.” He confirmed that McCall will remain the starting quarterback despite the rough outing.
Vols coach Heupel noted that Tennessee utilized two-tight-end formations more frequently than usual, catching the Wolfpack off guard. “This is the deepest our tight end room has been,” Heupel said.
**Takeaways:**
- **Tennessee:** The Vols' high-tempo offense and stout defense both shone, positioning them as potential national championship contenders.
- **NC State:** The Wolfpack offense struggled, managing only 27 yards in the second half and committing three turnovers. Unlike last week’s rally against Western Carolina, NC State couldn’t recover.
**Poll Implications:**
Tennessee could break into the Top 10 after this strong win. NC State is likely to drop out of the Top 25 after back-to-back disappointing performances.
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