November 20, 2004
Vols defeat Vandy, win rematch with Auburn
The Tennessee Volunteers staked an early lead and then hung on for dear life against a late-game Vanderbilt Commodore rally Saturday afternoon for a 38-33 win in Nashville. Tennessee's eighth game of the season assured them of at least a piece of the SEC Eastern Division title and a rematch with Auburn in the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta on December 4.
Rick Clausen got his first start of the season for the Vols, filling in for injured quarterbacks Eric Ainge and Brent Shaeffer. Clausen managed the Vol offense well, throwing for two touchdowns. He also threw for two interceptions, both of which Vandy cashed in for points and momentum.
The Vols running game looked dominant at times with Cedric Houston and Gerald Riggs combining for over 200 yards rushing in the contest. Houston had three touchdown runs in the contest.
The Vols defense also looked brilliant at times but looked also very average at times in the face of Vanderbilt's Jake Culter at quarterback. The Vols forced Cutler into two fumbles inside his own 20 that they converted into points, but late in the game it looked like the uniforms had been reversed. After only putting up seven points in the fourth quarter all year, Vandy put up thirteen unanswered pionts to pull within five points in the game's waning moments.
Vandy attemped an on-side kick but the Vols recovered. The Vols then went three-and-out on the next series and were forced to kick the ball back to Vandy with just over two minutes remaining. Cutler took the field and threw his second interception of the afternoon and sealed the win for Tennessee.
Vandy's kicking woes continued in the game with poor punting and two missed extra points in the contest.
With the loss, Vanderbilt finished the season 2-9.
With the win, the Vols extend their winning streak over the Commodores to 22 straight games.
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Comments & Trackbacks
Jim Cummings says:
posted on November 21, 2004 05:18 PM — linkWhat a prize...Beat Vandy to get another chance to get whipped by Auburn...With the fun Auburn had against Ainge, what do you think they will do to Clausen at a neutral site.
Michael Hickerson says:
posted on November 22, 2004 10:23 AM — linkYeah, cause boy Auburn sure did look good against Bama...
That was sarcasm by the way...
And the Vols will be ready to ruin your national title hopes...not that y'all didnt' do that with a pitiful peformance over Bama Saturday.
Aaron says:
posted on November 22, 2004 10:40 AM — linkWow, that's the pot calling the kettle black. Talking smack about an undefeated team, who won a game by a good margin (considering it was their arch rival and an away game), when your team lost to up and down Notre Dame, were almost beaten by a pathetic Vanderbilt team that unlike Alabama isn't going to a bowl game, AND got blown out by that same undefeated team at home is just really dumb.
Michael Hickerson says:
posted on November 22, 2004 10:58 AM — linkAuburn did play pitifully over Bama....If Bama could have cashed in in the first half, they'd've beat Auburn and this whole debate would be over...
But hey, the Vols will end the debate in two weeks, so that's all that matters.
Aaron says:
posted on November 22, 2004 12:17 PM — linkYou can't say that, Michael. You have no idea what "would have happened." We know that Auburn played good enough to only give up 6 points in the first half. We know that Auburn came out and dominated Alabama (one of the nation's top defenses) in the second half.
We also know that Tennessee nearly let Vanderbilt come back and beat them. How you can say that the Vols will beat Auburn is beyond me. You can hope, but there is zero tangible evidence to support your crazed proclamation.
