No. 1 Tennessee wins Eastern Division title by beating KY 59-21
Nov. 21, 1998
By Gabe Correa - Smokey's Trail
(KNOXVILLE, TENN.) -- -- Tennessee has won the Eastern Division title and are going to play in the SEC Championship game Dec. 5th at the Georgia Dome. Tennessee came to play football on both sides of the ball.
| |  | | Tennessee running back Travis Henry breaks a tackle by Kentucky strong safety David Johnson. |
The offense scored almost at will and the defense played excellant in zone coverage. Jeff Hall went in the record books in the game, by being the all time leader in the SEC scoring points.
After a moment of silence was observed by the crowd of 107,252, the Wildcats forced the Vols to punt, but Tim Couch, whose best friend died in the crash, was unable generate any offense.
| |  | | Kentucky quarterback Tim Couch was sacked six times by the fierce Tennessee pass rush. |
From that point, Tennessee was unstoppable, scoring on seven consecutive possessions and rolling to a 38-7 halftime lead.
The Wildcats were unable to stop the Vols in the second half, either. Travis Henry scored on a 1-yard run and Martin ran 33 yards for third-quarter scores and Travis Stephens added a 1-yard TD run.
Tennessee (10-0, 7-0 SEC) took a big step toward playing for the national title in the Fiesta Bowl on January 4.
The traditional Beer Barrel, the blue, white and orange-painted trophy that goes to the winner of this annual rivalry, was not displayed "out of respect for the families involved with the tragedy last Sunday in Kentucky," Vols associate athletic director Gary Wyant said.
Report Card
Offense Grade = B+
Most Notable Players: Tee Martin, Travis Henry, Peerless Price, Cedrick Wilson, Jermaine Copeland, Shawn Bryson and Jeff Hall
Defense Grade = B+
Most Notable Players: Chris Ramseur, Darwin Walker, Shaun Ellis, Raynoch Thompson, Eric Westmoreland, Billy Ratliff, Deon Grant and Dwayne Goodrich
Kentucky (25) 7 0 7 7 = 21
Tennessee (1) 14 24 14 7 = 59 FINAL
Tennessee-FG Hall 27
Tennessee-FG Hall 32
Kentucky-Mickelsen 3 pass from Couch (Hanson kick)
Tennessee-Bryson 1 run (Bryson reception for two-point
conversion)
Tennessee-C Wilson 55 pass from T Martin (Hall kick)
Tennessee-Bryson 58 run (Hall kick)
Tennessee-FG Hall 47
Tennessee-Crosby 1 run (Hall kick)
Kentucky-Homer 1 run (Hanson kick)
Tennessee-Henry 2 run (Hall kick)
Tennessee-T Martin 33 run (Hall kick)
Tennessee-Stephens 1 run (Hall kick)
Kentucky-Mickelsen 3 pass from Couch (Hanson kick)
---------------------Kentucky----Tennessee
First downs-------------21-----------21
Rushed-yards---------29-39-------45-237
Passing yards---------337----------229
Sacked-yards lost------2-13-------6-42
Return yards-------------12----------11
Passes ----------------35-58-1------15-25-1
Punts--------------------3-36.3----3-37.0
Fumbles-lost -------------1-0--------1-0
Penalties-yards----------7-61------8-45
Time of possession-------30:57----29:03
Individual Statistics
RUSHING:
Kentucky-Homer 13-50, Johnson 3-11, A White 4-7,
Shanklin 1-5, Carter 1-2, Couch 7-minus 36.
Tennessee-Henry 15-67, Bryson 4-63, T Martin 8-54, Stephens 11-42, Bartholomew 1-11, Crosby 2-3, Veazey 2-0, T Graham 2-minus 3.
PASSING:
Kentucky-Couch 35-56-1-337, Mumme 0-2-0-0.
Tennessee-T Martin 13-20-0-189, Veazey 2-5-1-40.
RECEIVING:
Kentucky-Yeast 7-102, Robinson 7-74, Mccord 5-60, Coleman 5-57, A White 5-30, Mickelsen 3-7, Homer 2-9, Comstock 1-minus 2.
Tennessee-C Wilson 4-100, Price 3-60, Finlayson 2-21, Copeland 2-12, Bryson 2-minus 4, D Martin 1-29, Taylor
1-11.
Att: 107,252
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