KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) - After a heartbreaking overtime loss to Georgia, the Vols got back on track with a convincing 56-24 win over UAB.

Tennessee wasted no time getting on the board. The Vols turned to the run-game early with DeSean Bishop who picked up 15 yards on the first two plays. Joey Aguilar then threw back-to-back passes, highlighted by a Braylon Staley 31-yard reception to set up the Vols in the redzone.

After a three-touchdown performance against Georgia, Chris Brazzell picked up right where he left off with a 19-yard catch from Aguilar to put Tennessee ahead, 7-0, just 2:04 into the game. Aguilar was a perfect 4-of-4 on that opening drive.

Tennessee's defense then forced a quick three-and-out as the Blazers picked up just two yards on their first drive of the game.

The Vols moved the ball quickly downfield on their second drive and found the endzone after just two plays.

Joey Aguilar connected with Brazzell on an 11-yard reception, before throwing a 39-yard pass to Mike Matthews for Tennessee's second score of the day. Aguilar improved to a perfect 6-of-6 and racked up 114 yards after the first two offensive drives of the game.

UAB picked up a first down on its second drive, but didn't get much more than that. A four-yard tackle for loss from Jalen McMurray and a Nathan Robinson sack gave the ball back to the Vols.

However, the Blazers quickly got it back after an Aguilar pass was tipped off the hands of Brazzell right into the hands of Pierre Royster. It marked Aguilar's third interception of the season. Tennessee's defense got the job done and forced a three-and-out to put the offense back on the field.

The Vols extended their lead to 21-0 thanks to a great drive from DeSean Bishop. Bishop started things off with a 19-yard run, Miles Kitselman then caught a 16-yard pass before Bishop found the endzone on a three-yard touchdown run.

After one quarter of play, Tennessee had racked up over 200 yards of offense. On the other side, the Blazers picked up just 44 yards with zero rushing yards.

Tennessee picked up right where it left off in the second quarter. Star Thomas ran for 36 yards on the Vols first drive, and capped things off with a one-yard touchdown run to extend UT's lead to 28-0.

The Blazers got on the board midway through the second quarter on a 10-play, 75-yard drive. UAB quarterback Jalen Kitna found Brandon Hawkins Jr. on a 30-yard touchdown pass to cut into Tennessee's lead, 28-7.

Tennessee responded with its own 12-play, 75-yard drive to extend the Vols lead to 35-7. Braylon Staley caught a few passes to march down the field, and then Peyton Lewis finished off the drive with a 32-yard touchdown run. Aguilar pitched it over to Lewis before he took care of the rest as five different players found the endzone on Tennessee's first five scores.

A UAB turnover on downs gave the Vols the ball back on the Blazers 33-yard line with 1:22 left in the opening half. DeSean Bishop ran it in from two yards out for his second score of the day as the Vols took a 42-7 lead into the locker room at halftime.

The Vols defense looked solid to start off the second half, forcing a quick three-and-out. However, Boo Carter fumbled on the punt return and the Blazers took over at the Vols 31-yard line. UAB was able to put three points on the board on a 45-yard field goal to make it a 42-10 game.

After the fumble, Daune Morris took over for Carter on punt return and had a nice 44-yard run to set up the Vols offense. Star Thomas followed up with an 11-yard rush, and Aguilar hit Brazzell on a 22-yard pass to put Tennessee in the redzone.

Aguilar finished the drive with a shovel pass to Thomas who ran it in from 17 yards out for his first touchdown of the game. Tennessee extended its lead to 49-10 as Aguilar picked up his third score of the day.

Andre Turrentine picked off UAB quarterback Jalen Kitna to put Tennessee's offense back on the field, this time led by Jake Merklinger. Aguilar finished with 218 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.

While Merklinger and Tennessee weren't able to find the endzone on his first drive of the game, the defense stepped up to add to the Vols lead.

Boo Carter forced a fumble and Kaleb Beasley recovered the ball and ran it the other way for the first touchdown of his career. Beasley's scoop and score, which came against his old high school and current Blazers head coach Trent Dilfer, extended Tennessee's lead to 56-10.

UAB was able to respond as Jalen Kitna threw a 61-yard touchdown pass to Kaleb Brown to make it a 56-17 ballgame with 1:24 left in the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, some of Tennessee's younger players found field time, including freshman wide receiver Joakim Dodson, freshman running back Justin Baker, redshirt freshman quarterback Jake Merklinger and freshman running back Duane Morris. The move may not have helped Tennessee increase it's lead against UAB, the team still managed to keep the Blazers from picking up too many points.

After more than a dozen plays bringing the ball back from UAB's 18 yard line, the Blazers picked up another touchdown with 48 seconds left on the clock. The Vols tried to bring the ball back, but even with a successful 41-yard pass by Merklinger, there just wasn't enough time on the clock. The Vols won 56-24, extending their win streak against UAB to 6.

UP NEXT: The Vols head to Starkville, Mississippi for their first true road test of the season. Kickoff against the Bulldogs is set for 4:15 on Saturday on SEC Network.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/sports/tennessee-volunteers/vols-dominate-uab-continue-win-streak-against-blazers/