Tennessee finds win against Kentucky in second half surge

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) -- Tennessee found it's seventh win of the season Saturday, but it wasn't without a fight from Kentucky.

The defense was able to hold off Kentucky in the red zone on their first drive, but offensively, the Vols first quarter woes continued. This time though, they featured some special teams hiccups, beginning with a missed Max Gilbert 43-yd field goal on the Vols first drive of the game.

That would end up being one of three missed Gilbert field goals against the Wildcats.

On the next possession, several strong passes from Kentucky quarterback Brock Vandergriff helped the Wildcats find the first touchdown of the game with a 27-yard catch by Josh Kattus, That would be the only breakthrough of the first quarter, leaving the score at 7-0 and the Vols defense with allowing the first, first quarter touchdown of the season.

As the end of the first half neared, the Vols were still scoreless. That was until freshman Peyton Lewis broke the first-half curse that Tennessee has been plagued with their last three games.

Lewis punched in a 1-yard touchdown for the sole first half score that Tennessee has found in now their last four games. The first touchdown of his collegiate career tied the Vols at seven with the Wildcats.

Kentucky tagged on another field goal, riding a 10-7 lead into the half.

The second half was the same story that Tennessee has written the last three games, still highlighted by a Dylan Sampson surge.

Sampson gave the Vols their first lead of the night with less than nine minutes remaining in the third quarter. The junior took a 7-yd run into the end zone for not just a 14-10 advantage but his 18th touchdown of the year.

That touchdown tied the Tennessee program record for touchdowns scored in a single season.

With less than a minute left in the third, Tennessee picked up another touch down with a 6-yard pass from Vols quarterback Nico Iamaleava to Miles Kitselman. That score closed out the quarter with Tennessee up 21-10.

Right out of the gate in the final quarter, the Wildcats brought back the fight, although the roar of Neyland Stadium certainly started to get to them. Their first possession of the fourth quarter was rattled with penalties - one for a false start and another for a delay of game. However the Wildcats managed to end the drive with a 32-yard touchdown pass from Ja'Mori Maclin to Gavin Wimsatt, the Wildcats capping it off with a 2-point conversion, putting them within three points of a tie, trailing 21-18.

With just under 10 minutes left in the game, Tennessee fought to find another touchdown, with none other than the guy who has got it done for them all season. With 4:55 on the clock, Sampson found the end zone from 6-yards out, pulling the score to 28-18.

With the touchdown, Sampson now holds the record for most touchdowns scored in a single season by a Vol.

Sampson also is now tied for third for the most career touchdowns scored at Tennessee, as well as now tied for the most 100-yard rushing games in a single season after tallying 142-yards tonight.

While Kentucky did it's best to bring back another score, the ball was turned back over to the Vols with 2:12 left in the game. Tennessee hung onto the ball through the remainder of the game, ending the night with the score at 28-18.

Next Saturday, the Vols are set to face Mississippi State at Neyland Stadium before heading to Athens, Georgia on Saturday, November 16.