Nov 17, 2001
Final Stats?|?Quotes?|?Notes?|?Photo Gallery
No. 6 Tennessee 38, Kentucky 35
By STEVE BAILEY
AP Sports Writer
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) – Tennessee quarterback Casey Clausen was disheartenedin victory.
“We, as a team, just can’t come out and play like we did today,” saidClausen, who rallied the sixth-ranked Vols from 21 points down to beat Kentucky38-35 Saturday. “I guess a win is a win, but we really need to get back, studythe film and work hard to get better.”
Clausen threw for 285 yards and four touchdowns as Tennessee (8-1, 5-1Southeastern Conference) narrowly avoided being beaten by the Wildcats (2-8,1-7) for the first time since 1984.
Alex Walls kicked a 44-yard field goal to give Tennessee a 38-35 lead with2:49 to play. But it took a Kentucky fumble deep in Vols territory with timerunning down to preserve the victory.
“They emotionally and physically outplayed us,” Tennessee coach PhillipFulmer said. “We were not as emotionally prepared to play as we should havebeen, and I take responsibility for that.
“We said coming in that it would take a team effort to win the game, andthat’s what it was. I just don’t know if the kids really believed that Kentuckywould play them that tough.”
The Wildcats led 21-0 in the second quarter and were ahead 28-21 in thefourth quarter before Clausen hooked up with Donte Stallworth for 23- and38-yard touchdowns.
Kentucky tied it at 35 on a 62-yard TD pass from Jared Lorenzen to AnthonyKelly with 3:53 to play, setting up Walls’ kick.
“I trust Alex completely,” Fulmer said. “He’ll kick 15 balls in practiceand make 14, so you’ve got to like that ratio.”
Following the kick, the Wildcats had a chance to win, but tight end ChaseHarp fumbled after picking up a first down deep in Tennessee territory with2:08 to play.
“I don’t think there was any doubt on our sideline that we were going to godown, score and pull this win out,” Kentucky coach Guy Morriss said. “Italked to (Chase) in the tunnel and told him his fumble did not cost us thegame. We had chances to score and pick up points and we just didn’t.”
Lorenzen completed 34 of 53 passes for 406 yards and four touchdowns as theWildcats outgained the Vols 543 yards to 367.
“We really thought we had the game won,” said Lorenzen, who has thrown for857 yards and 10 touchdowns with only one interception in Kentucky’s last twogames. “But Tennessee fought back and adjusted well to come out with thevictory.
“It didn’t help that we shot ourselves in the foot again and again withpenalties and mental mistakes.”
Clausen completed 20 of 30 passes, including three TDs of 35 yards orlonger. Stallworth caught eight passes for 169 yards and three touchdowns,while Travis Stephens, the SEC’s leading rusher, was held to just 79 yards on18 carries.
Kentucky moved 76 yards on its first possession and took a 7-0 lead onLorenzen’s 6-yard pass to Tommy Cook.
The Wildcats, last in the SEC in total defense at 495 yards per game, forcedTennessee to go three and out on each of its first three possessions, holdingthe Vols to 14 total yards in the first quarter.
Following Tennessee’s third punt, the Wildcats drove 63 yards and scored onLorenzen’s 2-yard sneak to go up 14-0 with 11:01 to play in the half.
On the Vols’ ensuing possession, Kentucky stuffed Stephens for a 1-yard losson fourth-and-1 from the Wildcats 40. Six plays later, Lorenzen found Harp inthe back left corner of the end zone for a 2-yard score and a 21-0 lead with5:33 remaining.
Tennessee found the end zone less than a minute later when Clausen hitStallworth down the left sideline for a 59-yard score that made it 21-7 athalftime.
“We didn’t execute well in the first half,” Clausen said. “We knewKentucky’s defense would be tough, but I don’t think anyone expected them toshut us down the way they did.”
For the half, Kentucky allowed only two first downs and outgained the Vols279 yards to 91. The Wildcats also had two touchdowns negated by penalties.
