Jaylen Wright broke off an 82-yard touchdown run on the second play of the game on Saturday. The play set the tone for a 59-3 Tennessee thumping of UConn. 

No. 17 Tennessee (7-2, 3-2 SEC) used three defensive scores on three consecutive possessions and an all-around offensive onslaught to take care of the Huskies (1-8). The three defensive scores are the first time in record program history, dating back to 1949.

Wright led the way on the ground with 113 yards and eight carries while Joe Milton III finished with 254 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 11-of-14 passing. 

Freshman Nico Iamaleava got just two drives at quarterback before Gaston Moore took over. He went 5-of-9 for 86 yards and a touchdown. 

Vols win on Homecoming — How it happened 

Wright’s touchdown run gave the Vols an early lead. Both teams traded punts before UConn got a good offensive drive going. 

The Huskies settled for a field goal, and the Vols responded with a 60-yard pass from Milton to a wide-open Ramel Keyton. 

Keyton’s touchdown made it 14-3 at the end of the first quarter. 

UConn got hit with an intentional grounding and then turned it over on downs. The Vols went eight plays and 62 yards to get a score on a Milton 6-yard run. 

After another UConn punt, Milton hit Squirrel White for an 82-yard touchdown pass to take a 28-3 lead with 4:34 left in the first half. 

Gabe Jeudy-Lally forced a fumble, and Tyler Baron recovered it for a touchdown on the next UConn drive. 

The second half picked up with two more defensive touchdowns. Both Jaylen McCollough and Aaron Beasley got pick-sixes to begin the second half. 

After UConn was forced to punt, freshman quarterback Iamaleava enter the game.

Iamaleava hit McCallan Castles for a 19-yard touchdown — the first of his career. Iamaleava’s day was done after just two drives. 

Josh Turbyville converted a field goal on the Vols’ first drive with Gaston Moore at quarterback. Navy Shuler finished the game at quarterback for the Vols.