Joey Aguilar snagged yet another win for the Tennessee Volunteers in style. Aguilar led the Vols to a commanding 56-24 victory over UAB. He proved once again that Tennessee’s offense is electric when he’s at the helm. Aguilar threw for 218 yards and three touchdowns, igniting the team’s explosive start with two touchdown passes in the first four minutes alone. And, his accuracy was off the charts. He completed 15 of 22 passes and spread the ball effectively among his weapons. That includes standout receivers like Mike Matthews and Chris Brazzell. But amid all the excitement on the field, there was a bittersweet note off it.

Joey’s biggest fan, his mom, Lydia Aguilar, couldn’t make it to Neyland Stadium for the first time in his entire football journey due to some family reasons back home in California. She shared about her plight with the Vols community on social media, asking fans to send her pictures and videos so she wouldn’t miss a moment. But as the Vols snagged their week-4 victory against UAB, Lydia broke out the real reason for her absence.

During the game, she tweeted the joyful news that Joey’s sister had just given birth to a baby boy, Leo, welcoming a new addition to the Aguilar family. That’s the sole reason she couldn’t attend the game in person. The news added a beautiful layer of family pride and emotion to an already memorable Tennessee win. The new uncle, Joey, didn’t miss a beat, congratulating his sister during the post-game interview. “It’s awesome,” Joey said. “You know, I mean, congratulations to my sister, you know, having the baby, but Tennessee just got a new fan.” Can you imagine? The first ever game, little Leo Aguilar saw was of his uncle, making a name for himself as the Vols’ starter. 

And here’s the sweeter part—baby Leo was laid down so adorably, peacefully sleeping in an orange Tennessee t-shirt, nestled on a football field bedsheet. It was like he had already inherited those winning genes from his uncle Joey. Even from his crib, Leo looked like he was already part of the orange and white legacy, soaking in the energy of Neyland Stadium from afar.

But the Aguilars don’t just stop at dressing newborns in Vols colors. Their support for Joey runs deep. How? It’s when his 82-year-old grandmother made the trip to Neyland for his first home win against Syracuse. He embraced the moment with a hug as he rushed to the stands, hugging his grandma, mother, and partner, Rylan Moffitt. Thus, the emotional weight of family backing is clear.

And now, with baby Leo joining the clan, there’s another little Vols fan in the making. It’s only a matter of time before a tiny cheerleader in orange starts filling those stands.

Uncle Aguilar is breaking records

Joey Aguilar had one of those games that made Tennessee fans breathe a little easier. Facing UAB, Aguilar stepped up big time, throwing for 218 yards and three touchdowns, showing why he’s the go-to guy for the Volunteers this season. Right from the first quarter, it was clear Aguilar wanted to put the bad week behind him. He connected on big throws, including touchdown passes to Mike Matthews for a 39-yard reception and Chris Brazzell II from 19 yards out.

Aguilar was spreading the ball around, finding his rhythm with multiple receivers and making sure defenses couldn’t key in on just one guy. What was especially impressive about Aguilar’s performance was how he managed the game pace. Tennessee took control early, jumping to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter and dominating 42-7 at halftime. Aguilar barely needed to play in the second half. Beyond the passing, Tennessee leaned heavily on its run game.

The Volunteers piled up 235 rushing yards with four touchdowns, balancing their attack and keeping UAB guessing. But Joey Aguilar’s impact went beyond just this game’s ground game. He continued a remarkable personal streak that stretches back to his time at Appalachian State. With his performance against UAB, Aguilar extended his career streak to 28 consecutive games with at least 200 passing yards. It’s the longest active streak among all FBS quarterbacks in college football right now.