What Nico Iamaleava said after Tennessee's OT win over Florida

Nico Iamaleava completed 16 of 26 passes for 169 yards with one interception and No. 8 Tennessee ran 43 times for 171 yards en route to a 23-17 overtime win over Florida on Saturday night at Neyland Stadium.

Tennessee's defense allowed fewer than 20 points for the sixth straight game to start the season, the first time the Vols had done so since 1969. James Pearce forced a Florida fumble at the Tennessee 1-yard line and the Vols made two fourth-down stops and forced two turnovers.

Here's what Iamaleava, Pearce and the Defender Jermod McCoy said during her post-victory press conference:

Tennessee goes to the jumbo package with two defensive linemen on the field on offense

“Oh yeah, it was great, man. We had a good short yardage package with a couple of D-linemen that came in and helped us get first downs on third-and-short, fourth-and-short situations.”

Knowing that Tennessee's defense will back up the offense

“Feels great, man. They're doing a great job. We need to complement them better. If they get a stop or a three-pointer, we have to do a better job of coming out and executing for them.”

What Tennessee's offense needs to do to stay in rhythm

“We keep shooting ourselves in the foot, man. There were a lot of penalties when we had a big play. And we would be right back, starting in the first and second rows. We simply didn't help ourselves with the punishments we inflicted on ourselves. On the first drive we come out, we're on a good drive and then we fumble the ball. On me. I have to get better with the handoff. And then our defense gets a streak on the goal line and I come out and throw a pick into double coverage. So stuff like that, man, I gotta get better. We have to perform better and at a higher level. We just can’t keep shooting ourselves in the foot.”

When it's hard not to get frustrated

“Very. I think Coach Heup and them do a great job of keeping us calm on the sidelines. And you go out there and let our hands go for 12 rounds. So that was really our mentality, man. Coach Heup preached , that it would be a boxing match, and that was true.

The hype his clothing created during the Vol Walk

“I had a little shirt and some lavalava for our culture, our Samoan culture. We carry them. And then I had the little cowboy hat from my QBs that gave me a little cowboy hat. So I had to carry it for her.”

How was this week, how he handled the loss at Arkansas

“It was just a great week of preparation, as was our entire offensive. I thought we prepared well. And yes, where I am right now, I feel like I'm still at the same point. I’m still trying to achieve the same goal as everyone else on the team.”

How big Tennessee's second-half touchdown drive was in a 10-0 loss

“Very tall man. We knew we had to react as soon as they got to 10. I thought our entire offense did a great job of responding. The O-line blocked their tails and the receivers made the right reads. And I thought we just performed at a high level on those scoring drives.”

If he was surprised, Tennessee tried it on fourth down from its own 10-yard line

“So we got it? My mistake, I have a bad memory from the first half. The first half was not a good half of football. But no, I wasn't surprised. Fourth and one. We should be able to get that every time.”

What he saw from Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson

“Yeah man, I see the same thing from Samp every night, every practice. He comes with it. His preparation is second to none. And yeah, man, it’s really no surprise to see him out there playing.”

What Dylan Sampson told the team before the game

“Yes, there are a lot of things that don't need to be said here. But he said a lot of good things. We got our guys right and ready for the game.”

Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce

He forced the Florida fumble at the 1-yard line

“I saw him trying to reach him. The game plan said this sneak would come. So I just tried to chop it up as much as possible. He tried to blow it and the ball came out. Great birthday present for me.”

The confidence with which Tennessee's defense plays

“I feel like everyone is playing great. We play as a unit. We have some things we can clean up, but we play as a unit. I feel like that's what builds our confidence. No matter what we play in the statistics, we play as a unit. Eleven games managed to get the ball and we’re getting the ball back to Nico like we’re supposed to.”

Pay more attention to the opponent's attacks and find ways to succeed

“Well, it’s just my job to play in the defensive system. The coach will bring together everything we need to win. And we’ll just get it done as a team on the (defensive) side.”

The first month of the season for him as he has been the last two weeks

“(I) just know that, like the games (where we were) before them, games we play as a team. Whether I play fewer snaps or a lot of snaps, I know the team will need me in the second half and I will have time to shine. And as long as I keep playing the defensive scheme until it’s my time, I’ll be fine.”

How hard it will be to leave Florida and face Alabama next week

“I just feel like Alabama is a great team. Tonight was a big win and it means a lot to the culture for Tennessee to come here and play great every time we play in the rivalry school. And I feel like it’s our job to come out as a unit, prepare the same thing and be ready to go next Saturday.”

I don't worry about the stats and care more about Tennessee's defense as a whole

“It's numbers, but you'll like winning more and more than if you bet on numbers. I said that before the season started. And it’s hard not to be tender towards the things you love, but tenderness is not the way.”

Tennessee defensive lineman Jermod McCoy

Tennessee's defense is confident in its ability to get stops on third and fourth downs, which is where that confidence comes from

“Just from our film studies. Somehow we know what’s coming, we know we’ll take advantage of it.”