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BOX SCORE
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Vanderbilt can change the scenery. The
Commodores still can't stop Tennessee's Travis Henry.
|  | | Tennessee tailback Travis Henry surpassed the 3,000-yard mark to become the most prolific runner in Vols' history. |
The senior running back scored two touchdowns and rushed for 184
yards, including 31 on the final drive, as Tennessee (No. 24 ESPN/USA Today, No. 25 AP) held
off Vanderbilt 28-26 on Saturday for the Volunteers' 18th straight
victory in the series.
"We didn't expect this one to be this tight," Vols running
back Travis Stephens said. "But most of our road games this year
have been tight. If it was tight, we just had to get in a dog
fight, and luckily, we came out with a victory."
But it was the closest game in the series since 1992 thanks to
help from the Vols (8-3, 5-3 Southeastern Conference). The SEC's
least penalized team kept Vanderbilt (3-8, 1-7) in the game with a
season-high 14 penalties for 135 yards and three turnovers.
Tennessee led 21-6 when Greg Zolman almost singlehandedly
brought Vanderbilt back with 20 fourth-quarter points. He hit M.J.
Garrett on TD passes of 11 and 17 yards. Tennessee finally answered
when Casey Clausen tossed a 15-yard TD pass to Cedrick Wilson, but
Jared McGrath scored on a 1-yard run to pull Vandy to 28-26.
That would be as close as the Commodores would get.
Tennessee turned to Henry, the only back to top 3,000 yards
rushing in a career for the Vols and 20th in the SEC. He helped run
out the clock with five carries on the final drive, including a
15-yarder on second-and-12. He hurt his ankle while standing in the
backfield as Clausen kneeled down with 38 seconds left.
"I take my hat off to Vanderbilt," Tennessee coach Phillip
Fulmer said. "Their kids played outstanding. They wouldn't quit.
Our kids responding accordingly with the drive to go up and then
the drive at the end to keep the ball. I darn sure didn't want to
give it back."
Henry finished with 33 carries and TD runs of 3 and 2 yards. He
went over the 3,000-yard mark with his third carry of the third
quarter, a 60-yarder that was his longest this season. Travis
Stephens capped that drive with a 1-yard run for a 21-3 lead.
Fulmer called Henry's mark a fabulous honor. Henry, who has
rushed for 473 yards in three games against Vandy, was more subdued
and said he tries not to think about it after an emotional game.
"Our guys fought hard," he said.
Tennessee finished with 354 yards total offense compared to 315
by Vanderbilt. Greg Zolman was 21-of-46 for 258 yards against the
nation's 13th-best defense even though the Vols got four sacks,
setting a school record with 50 after getting 47 in 1997.
The game ended with some pushing, shoving and offsetting
personal fouls after Henry's injury.
It was an emotional locker room for the Commodores, who had
started the season thinking about a bowl game only to finish with
their 18th straight losing season.
"It's a game that we should have won, and it will probably be
killing me for the rest of my life," linebacker Matt Stewart said.
Vandy coach Woody Widenhofer said he wishes his Commodores could
start their season now.
"I think we're playing a lot better football at this point than
we have all year long," he said.
Vanderbilt officials moved the game from their on-campus stadium
a few miles east to Adelphia Coliseum to sell about 24,000 more
seats. The move worked with a soldout stadium, but the Commodores
didn't pick up any new fans.
Orange filled most of the seats, giving the Vols a cozy
atmosphere as they picked up their sixth straight victory. When
several Commodores tried to rally the fans with the offense facing
fourth-and-2, the Tennessee fans stood up and drowned out the
cheering Vandy supporters.
Tennessee almost looked tired after outscoring its last two
opponents 122-40. The Vols started off quickly with a 14-0 lead by
scoring on their first two possessions, drives capped by Henry's
TDs.
Vanderbilt had its chances and settled for field goals of 31 and
21 yards by John Markham after missing on passes into the end zone.
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ALSO SEE
College Football Scoreboard
Tennessee Clubhouse
Vanderbilt Clubhouse
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