Vols Figure Out Against Austin Peay, Put Together 30-13 Win

The Vols secure a 30-13 win in their first 2023 appearance at Neyland Stadium, with a sellout crowd of 101,915.

The Vols made their first appearance in Neyland Stadium in 2023, and while it wasn't a flawless performance, they managed to come away with a 30-13 victory. Austin Peay started strong with a 45-yard field goal from Maddox Trujillo, taking an early 3-0 lead. The Vols struggled to break through on offense until the final seconds of the first half.

Tennessee's offense had a slow start, but they got a lucky break when the Governors fumbled a punt, allowing Warren Burrell to recover the ball and put the Vols in the red zone. However, they had to settle for a field goal, with Charles Campbell making a 28-yard kick to tie the game.

The first half turned into a battle of field goals, with Trujillo making another one from 34 yards to give the Govs the lead again. Tennessee's passing game started to improve as the half went on, and Bru McCoy made a mark on the stat sheet with a reception in the second quarter.

Jabari Small found success on the ground in the second quarter, but penalties prevented the Vols from reaching the end zone. Campbell made another field goal, this time from 37 yards, to tie the game at 6-6.

Late in the second quarter, Joe Milton took over and ran the ball straight up the middle for a 6-yard touchdown, giving the Vols their first lead of the day at 13-6. The momentum carried into the second half, with Milton finding Ramel Keyton in the end zone for a quick touchdown and a 20-6 lead.

The Vols' defense matched the intensity of the offense, shutting down the Governors on their first drive of the second half. Campbell added another field goal, this time from 22 yards, to extend Tennessee's lead to 23-6.

Austin Peay managed to close the gap with a 52-yard pass from Mike Diliello to Trey Goodman, making it a 10-point game with just over nine minutes remaining. But the Vols responded quickly, with Milton connecting with McCallen Castles for a 34-yard touchdown to push their lead back to 17.

Aaron Beasley stood out on the defensive side for Tennessee, recording two sacks and five tackles for loss. The Vols ultimately came out on top with a final score of 30-13.

The game drew a crowd of 101,915, marking the seventh consecutive sellout at Neyland Stadium, the longest streak since 2006.