Vols' Hardesty scores winning TD in overtime win vs. Wildcats

Updated: Nov 29, 2009, 01:13 am

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Montario Hardesty ran for three touchdowns, including a 20-yard game winner in overtime, as Tennessee outlasted Kentucky 30-24 on Saturday night, the Volunteers' 25th straight victory against their border rivals.

Hardesty, who also ran for a career-high 179 yards, scampered up the middle for the final score after Kentucky's Lones Seiber missed a 49-yard field goal in the Wildcats' overtime chance.

Tennessee (7-5, 4-4 Southeastern Conference) made sure its streak of dominance over Kentucky (7-5, 3-5) didn't end in coach Lane Kiffin's first year on the job. The win also likely locked up a New Year's Day bowl for the Volunteers and clinched second place behind Florida in the SEC East.

Kentucky forced overtime on a 33-yard field goal by Seiber, set up when Ashton Cobb knocked the ball out of the hands of Luke Stocker following a completion and the Wildcats recovered.