"It's not about the streak at all. It's about each individual win.''UT junior Ben Martin
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Streak? What streak?
A crowd of 70,981 came to Commonwealth Stadium on Saturday night, most dressed in blue and desperately hoping to see the streak end.
It didn't.
Tennessee escaped with a 30-24 overtime victory over Kentucky - its 25th in a row dating back to 1984, before any of the current players were born.
But when Montario Hardesty ended the game with a 20-yard touchdown run in the first overtime period, both sides were talking about anything but the longest winning streak in a major college football rivalry.
"It's not about the streak at all,'' said UT junior Ben Martin. "It's about each individual win.''
Ditto, said quarterback Jonathan Crompton.
"We weren't even thinking about that,'' said Crompton. "We wanted to win this game to get to a better bowl game.''
They will.
UT finished 7-5, 4-4 SEC, in coach Lane Kiffin's first season. The Vols will await a bowl invitation, with the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Fla., on New Year's Day a best-case scenario.
The Wildcats (7-5, 3-5 ) will go to a bowl game for a fourth consecutive year. But losing another close call to the Vols was a bitter pill to swallow - and not just because of the "S" word.
"It's tough,'' said Kentucky coach Rich Brooks.
"We had a chance to do something that hadn't been done around here, finishing second in the SEC East. We failed.''
But the Wildcats didn't fail to give the Vols all they wanted from the get-go.
Kentucky jumped to a quick 7-0 lead when linebacker Sam Maxwell returned an interception 56 yards for a touchdown.
With Alcoa native Randall Cobb causing problems for Tennessee in a variety of ways, the Wildcats held on for a 21-14 halftime lead.
Both Tennessee touchdowns came on Hardesty runs, of 9 and 13 yards.
His third touchdown, the game-winner, boosted him to a career-high 179 yards rushing, bettering the mark he set one week ago against Vanderbilt.
Kentucky got a first-half touchdown from Cobb on a 17-yard reverse.
His 18-yard punt return set that drive in motion. Then he popped a 43-yard kickoff return that set the stage for Derrick Locke's 1-yard touchdown just before the first half ended.
"He's a great player,'' Kiffin said of Cobb. "I wish he was on our team.''
Even without Cobb, Kiffin's team dominated the second half.
The Vols drove the first possession of the third quarter to the Kentucky 1 before getting stopped on fourth down.
The next drive produced a 16-yard TD pass from Crompton to Luke Stocker to tie the score 21-21.
Cobb then fumbled on the first Kentucky snap after the kickoff and the Vols recovered and were able to move close enough for a 30-yard field goal by walk-on Devin Mathis.
Their first lead, 24-21, came with 44 seconds in the third quarter.
Kentucky had 187 yards of offense in the first half, but it was a different story in the second.
The Wildcats never crawled beyond their own 30-yard line until they got a gift in the closing minutes.
Tennessee was in position to run out the clock in regulation until Stocker fumbled at the Vols' 38 with 2:21 to play.
The crowd came alive, Cobb uncorked two nice runs and it was first down Kentucky at the UT 13.
The Vols dug in, though, and the Wildcats settled for a 23-yard field goal from former Central standout Lones Seiber.
At 24-24 with 35 seconds left, Kiffin was content to let it go to overtime.
On this field two years ago, the Vols and Cats fought through four overtimes before Tennessee prevailed.
This time it took but one.
Tennessee went on defense first at the 25. Eric Berry tackled Locke for a 6-yard loss and Seiber missed a 49-yard field goal.
The Vols' turn started poorly with a holding penalty. But Crompton found Gerald Jones for 14 yards to the 20.
On third-and-5, Hardesty slashed through a gap and ran to the end zone.
"Obviously,'' said Kiffin, "we're pleased with the outcome, for our players to make so many plays down the stretch.
"I wish it wouldn't have come to that.''
So did Stocker, a Kentuckian who had five catches for 78 yards prior to the fumble.
"The defense bailed me out,'' he said.
In this rivalry, it seems Tennessee always finds a way to bail out a win in the end.
That's 25 in a row - if anybody were keeping count.
Well, it seems someone was:
"This is a great feeling,'' said senior offensive lineman Jacques McClendon.
"Being a senior you have pride in what you do and that's to finish the Tennessee-Kentucky rivalry.
"Since I've been born, Tennessee ain't been beat. That streak wasn't going to end on me.''
Oregon sends Lady Vols home from…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 361
Slimjim_Vols writes:
GBO!!!!!!!!!!! 25 in a row...... Hardesty is a beast and EB 1 MORE YEAR!!!!!!
interestedperson writes:
Go Big Orange!
the10sevol writes:
let's go to tampa!
GBO
off_the_porch writes:
Wow. What a game. Stoker is feeling better after the fumble. No worries.
kentuckyorange writes:
A win is a win. Go Vols!!
dwa7#337691 writes:
7-5................nice season considerating everything...........now win the BOWL!!!
VolPatrick writes:
New Years in Tampa! GO VOLS!
reidtownriverrat writes:
no.2 is the beast
stevefrommemphis writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
tngivem6 writes:
Hardesty for heisman!!!
ssgdebity writes:
That was one hell of a game. Florida here we come. I was really worried when he lost that fumble. But they really stepped it up. GBO this is the 25th anniversary.
volpreacher writes:
Where are those naysayers?????? The ones who said Kiffin was too conservative, the ones who said Monte couldn't stop the Wildcat???????? Way to go Big Orange!!!! 2nd in the East. Outback here we come and we will be healthier.
BillyVol writes:
you gotta believe in Vols and the Kiffin's now.
Well called game.
senracjr writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Txvol57 writes:
Where is HireSanders???
orangepridenation writes:
GO BIG ORANGE GO VOLS GO VOLS GO TENNESSEE GO UT GO BIG ORANGE GO SWARM!!!!!! 25 STRAIGHT!!! 7-5 BOWL SEASON HERE WE COME!!! WE LOVE YOU MONTARIO HARDESTY!!!.....sorry kentucky...lol
Huttdawg100 writes:
How do you guys feel about Hardesty's NFL chances? He's had some injuries, but he looks like a beast!!!
HollySpringsVOL writes:
HOW ABOUT THEM VOLS!!!!!!!!!! An OT win over Kentucky on the road. 2nd in the SEC East and probably a New Years Day bowl in Florida. GO BIG ORANGE!!!!!!!!!!! We are partying on Rocky Top tonight! Yippee!
kiffownsfla writes:
Hel l YEA 2ND SEC EAST GUD GAME! DECENT BOWL GAME NOW! 1ST IN SEC EAST NEXT YEAR AND MAYB THE CONFERENCE! GET READY GATORS AND TIDE WE COMIN 4 YA! GO VOLZZZ ! BOOK SAY MIXEM UP!
Slimjim_Vols writes:
Now we can all talk bowl game....... who you guys think we will play? I am thinking maybe Penn State in a rematch or possibly Iowa
OLROCKYTOP writes:
This team has heart!! Was down and fought back!! Bring on the Big 10 or the ACC. We will whip any one of them. GO BIG ORANGE!!!!!!!!
shulessjo writes:
Hardesty
Just get on my back and I'll carry you......sheer want to's......
gwh_1947 writes:
What bowl game will UT be invited. Cannot believe we finished second in the East.
volpreacher writes:
Oh he will play pro but he won't be drafted high because of injuries. But whoever gets him will get one really good back.
CB4VOLZ writes:
Preach.. I'm still here.. he WAS too conservative and you know it. If you think otherwise..well, you're just an idiot. I'm glad they bucked up and won.... shows some heart..
britt writes:
Hey UK....heres a quarter call someone who cares
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLG2ja...
crimsonviper writes:
GREAT Game Vol fans!!!GBO!
nwcs writes:
He's definitely played himself to probably being a third round pick. I don't think he'd go any higher because of the durability question. But, like Crompton, Kiffin has made these guys draftable.
elbtenn#502977 writes:
YES!!!!!!!!!
orangepridenation writes:
Hardesty is the Tennessee Volunteers' MVP....what a way to finish the season!!!! his two best games here have been the most recent two, way to go Hardesty!!! Way to go defense for steppin it up against the wildcat. WAY TO GO VOLS!!!
Slimjim_Vols writes:
I think he is a 1st day pick myself....... maybe not 1st round, but definetly 2nd or 3rd........ He could bump himself up after the bowl game, if he does well in senior bowl and combine, I think he would be a good back in the NFL...... he reminds me of Clinton Portis in his younger days
volpreacher writes:
I won't stoop to calling names. But I'm smart enough to realize he knows better what to do than you or I. He called a great game. In fact, I thought he didn't run enough in the first half. But either way, we won, and you guys who thought we had lost and questioned CLK and CMK have to realize they know best.
Go Big Orange
volatil writes:
Ran, ran, ran, then ran some more!!!! 25 in a row.
schymtz writes:
I like the class of the Wildcat football fans - not so much the sense of entitlement of UK basketball's true believers. I like the win and like the streak of 25, but one of these days they may beat UT when it really matters. Go Vols!
UTVOLSRROCKN writes:
Whoooooooooooppeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great win Vols! Hardesty is the "MAN"!
crimsonviper writes:
hiresanders ,you have a call on line one.
mercuryvol writes:
One of the gutsiest UT teams ever.Kiffin and staff called a great game and have made the most out of less than I've seen @ the Hill in many a moon. GO VOLS!
kiffownsfla writes:
HARDESTY IS A DAM BEAST ! 39 CARRIES 179 YARDS! GONNA MISS THA OLE BOY! GO VOLZ! POUNDIN THE ORANGE KOOL-AID!
bamahater writes:
great game defense really stood tall in the 2nd half
GBO
nashvol34 writes:
I'm in Nashville and don't have ESPNU. So I watched on justintv.com, I don't know who was streaming the game, but as soon as regulation was over, he switched to frioggin soccer,SOCCER, if these guys are getting paid to "broadcast" these games, the they should show the entire game. Who the hell wants to watch soccer, especially when UT is in overtime? Man, I;d like to give this retard a peice of my mind.
elbtenn#502977 writes:
Whachutalkinbout Willis? GREAT season---better than Satan's first year!
TrueVol70 writes:
Sweet win! What a year!
volatil writes:
Now that's how you man up, way to go Cat.
kyvol98 writes:
I said a BIG dose of Hardesty would do it...
Guess UK OD'd on it...
25 baby! Lovin it here in the Bluegrass...
senracjr writes:
You DA he was talking about a bowl game in Florida
BillyVol writes:
You are a true fan of the game. I would hope I would have been able to make a post if Vols lost.
volpreacher writes:
Thanks Cat. Good luck in your bowl game. You guys played really hard and have really improved. I believe the factor was your defense got tired. Depth will help that.
primetimevol writes:
Quote of the day in response to Kentucky fans in shock. For 24 years you've been told your wife has been cheating on you, but yet on the 25th year you believe "this year she's going to be faithful!"
vol_4_fan writes:
Very nice win for our VOLS, KY played well but could not do anything on offense in the 2nd half. Ole Monty is pretty dang sharp!!
88volgrad writes:
He was talking about a bowl destination rocket scientist.
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