KNOXVILLE, TN – Tennessee Football returns to action Saturday afternoon in Knoxville as the No. 23-ranked Volunteers welcome in the New Mexico State Aggies for a late-season non-conference game. The Vols are looking to get momentum rolling for the final stretch of the season after a loss to Oklahoma and an open date over the last two weekends.
Tennessee is donning its new edition of the Smokey Grey “Volunteer Spirit” uniforms for Salute to Service.
Tennessee (6-3, 3-3 SEC) Season Results:
- Game 1: No. 24 Tennessee (45) vs Syracuse (26) – W [Atlanta]
- Game 2: East Tennessee State (17) at No. 22 Tennessee (72) – W
- Game 3: No. 6 Georgia (44) at No. 15 Tennessee (41) OT – L
- Game 4: UAB (24) at No. 15 Tennessee (56) – W
- Game 5: No. 15 Tennessee (41) at Mississippi State (34) OT – W
- Game 6: Arkansas (31) at No. 12 Tennessee (34) – W
- Game 7: No. 11 Tennessee (20) at No. 6 Alabama (34) – L
- Game 8: No. 17 Tennessee (56) at Kentucky (34) – W
- Game 9: No. 18 Oklahoma (33) at No. 14 Tennessee (27) – L
CURRENT SCORE: 4th Quarter – New Mexico State 9, Tennessee 42
*UPDATES PAUSED TO SET UP PRESS CONFERENCE*
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More from RTI: Who Isn’t Warming Up Ahead of Tennessee Football’s Game vs. New Mexico State
Pregame
New Mexico State wins the toss, will receive to start the game.
Tennessee captains: QB Joey Aguilar, DB Jalen McMurray, DB Jourdan Thomas, DB William Wright
FIRST QUARTER
NMSU Drive 1: Punt – UT 0, NMSU 0
- Aggies drive it into Tennessee territory, but the Vols’ defense comes up with a stop on third and long to force the punt.
- 7 plays, 33 yards – TOP: 3:15
Tennessee Drive 1: Interception – UT 0, NMSU 0
- Joey Aguilar throws one into tight coverage and the ball is picked off. Miles Kitselman was the intended target.
- 5 plays, 27 yards – TOP: 1:33
NMSU Drive 2: Turnover on Downs – UT 0, NMSU 0
- Aggies can’t get anything going after the turnover. Four and out from the offense.
- 4 plays, 9 yards – TOP: 1:13
Tennessee Drive 2: TOUCHDOWN TENNESSEE – UT 7, NMSU 0
- Aguilar’s deep pass to Brazzell sets up a one-yard touchdown run from DeSean Bishop for the first score of the game.
- 4 plays, 59 yards – TOP: 1:05
NMSU Drive 3: Tennessee INTERCEPTION – UT 7, NMSU 0
- Ty Redmond makes a remarkable one-handed interception.
- 4 plays, 29 yards – TOP: 1:31
Tennessee Drive 3: TOUCHDOWN TENNESSEE – UT 14, NMSU 0
- Tennessee QB Joey Aguilar takes it 27 yards on the ground to the endzone
- 3 plays, 36 yards – TOP: 0:33
NMSU Drive 4: Punt – UT 14, NMSU 0
- Aggies make it into Tennessee territory, but the Vols’ defense comes up with another third-and-long stop.
- 9 plays, 34 yards – TOP: 4:28
-END OF THE FIRST QUARTER: Tennessee 14, New Mexico State 0-
Tennessee Drive 4: TOUCHDOWN TENNESSEE – UT 21, NMSU 0
- WR Braylon Staley finds space over the middle of the field for a 15-yard touchdown reception. Vols go 99 yards en route to the score.
- 13 plays, 99 yards – TOP: 4:46
NMSU Drive 5: Punt – UT 21, NMSU 0
- Tennessee gets a monster sack on third down to force a punt.
- 4 plays, -12 yards – TOP: 2:12
Tennessee Drive 5: Interception – UT 21, NMSU 0
- Joey Aguilar throws it into no man’s land for the pick. Possibly a miscommunication with Radarious Jackson, but still a pick into open territory regardless.
- 2 plays, 12 yards – TOP: 0:29
NMSU Drive 6: Punt – UT 21, NMSU 0
- Aggies don’t get much going on the turnover.
- 5 plays, 11 yards – TOP: 1:32
Tennessee Drive 6 – Three & Out – UT 21, NMSU 0
- Super quick three and out for the Vols’ offense.
- 3 plays, 7 yards – TOP: 1:38
NMSU Drive 7: Field Goal GOOD – UT 21, NMSU 3
- Aggies use a game-best drive to get into scoring territory, caps off the drive with a 32-yard field goal.
- 11 plays, 51 yards – TOP: 3:45
Tennessee Drive 7: Three-and-out – UT 21, NMSU 3
- An uninspired 3-and-out during a two-minute drill.
- 3 plays, 8 yards – TOP: 0:42
NMSU Drive 8: Punt – UT 21, NMSU 3
- Three-and-out for the Aggies
- 3 plays, 9 yards – TOP: 0:35
Tennessee Drive 8: End of Half – UT 21, NMSU 3
- 1 play, 0 yards
-HALFTIME in KNOXVILLE: Tennessee 21, New Mexico State 3-
Tennessee Drive 9: TOUCHDOWN TENNESSEE – UT 28, NMSU 3
- Star Thomas takes it 21 yards to the house against his former team. Caps off an opening drive for the Vols.
- 11 plays, 75 yards – TOP: 4:14
NMSU Drive 9: Turnover on Downs – UT 28, NMSU 3
- Aggies turn the ball over on downs after getting it five yards into Tennessee territory.
- 7 plays, 34 yards – TOP: 3:33
Tennessee Drive 10: TOUCHDOWN TENNESSEE – UT 35, NMSU 3
- A long drive from Tennessee ends with a 1-yard touchdown run from Peyton Lewis after the turnover.
- 11 plays, 60 yards – TOP: 4:31
NMSU Drive 10: TOUCHDOWN TENNESSEE – UT 42, NMSU 3
- Tyre West tips a pass, William Wright catches the deflection and takes it to the house. Pick six for the Vols.
- 3 plays, 11 yards – TOP: 1:12
-END OF THIRD QUARTER: Tennessee 42, New Mexico State 3-
NMSU Drive 11: Turnover on Downs – UT 42, NMSU 3
- Aggies push it all the way to the UT 5-yard line, but a turnover on downs occurs with an incompletion in the back of the endzone.
- 10 plays, 71 yards – TOP: 4:21
Tennessee Drive 11: Punt – UT 42, NMSU 3
- Joey Aguilar goes in for one play to push his 200-yard passing streak to 34 games. Jake Merklinger then comes in and nothing much happens after that.
- 3 plays, 5 yards – TOP: 1:06
NMSU Drive 12: Touchdown Aggies – UT 42, NMSU 9
- Aggies punch it in for a one-yard score. NMSU doinks the PAT off the right upright.
- 6 plays, 43 yards – TOP: 2:59
*UPDATES PAUSED FOR THE FINAL 8 MINUTES OF THE GAME DUE TO PRESS CONFERENCE SET UP. FOLLOW @RSCHUMP00 OR @ROCKYTOPINSIDER FOR LIVE UPDATES*
