|
Vanderbilt Falls at Tennessee 11/22/2003
Vanderbilt Falls at Tennessee 11-22-03 KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Casey Clausen threw three touchdown passes and scored on a sneak in No. 9 Tennessee’s 48-0 victory over Vanderbilt on Saturday. Mark Jones caught one of Clausen’s scoring passes and returned a punt 58 yards for a touchdown for the Volunteers (9-2, 5-2 Southeastern Conference), who are trying to stay in contention for a berth in the league championship and a BCS bowl. Tennessee had no trouble beating its in-state rivals for the 21st straight year. The Vols were ahead 21-0 at the end of the first quarter after Clausen’s 16-yard touchdown pass to Tony Brown, Jabari Davis’ 7-yard TD run and Jones’ punt return. The Commodores (2-10, 1-7) finished with a losing record for the 21st season in a row, although they did end their 23-game losing streak in the SEC last week by beating Kentucky. They were nowhere close to ending their streak against the Vols, who outgained Vanderbilt 452-191 in total yards. Tennessee recognized the seniors before their final game in Neyland Stadium, and Clausen made sure his home finale was memorable. On the Vols’ third drive of the game, Clausen broke Peyton Manning’s school record of 132 passes without an interception and pushed the mark to 143 before Vanderbilt’s Bill Alford picked off a pass in the second quarter. The turnover hardly mattered because Tennessee was already ahead 38-0. Chris Hannon caught a 38-yard TD pass from Clausen, who then scored on a 1-yard sneak before halftime. James Wilhoit added field goals of 39 and 41 yards. Vanderbilt crossed midfield for the first time in the fourth quarter and set up its best chance to avoid a shutout. Tennessee’s Gibril Wilson knocked down two of Jay Cutler’s passes, and Antwan Stewart intercepted Cutler’s pass in front of the end zone and returned it 38 yards to end the threat. Derrick Tinsley caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from Clausen before the third quarter ended. Clausen finished 15-of-29 for 262 yards and didn’t play in the fourth quarter. The Vols end their regular season next week at Kentucky, hoping to finish in a three-way tie with Georgia and Florida at the top of the East division. Head-to-head competition and BCS rankings will break the tie. Tennessee came into the game ranked seventh in the BCS. |
