Early Blitz Critical to Tennessee Triumph at Auburn

Tennessee scored 17 points in the first quarter on big plays from defensive end Shaun Ellis and running back Jamal Lewis and turned things over to the defense from that point on to take a 17-9 win on The Plains at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

That was the good news. The bad news was that Lewis was lost for the season after a fourth-quarter knee injury.

Ellis, named SEC Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts, grabbed an errant pitch and rambled 90 yards for the game's first score on the contest's first series, and Lewis ran 67 yards for another score on his first carry of the day.

Vol defenders stopped Auburn four times inside the 1-yard line in the second quarter at a critical juncture in the game, led by a key fourth-down stop by Raynoch Thompson. Auburn could muster but three field goals against a Vol defense that repulsed all tries for TDs, including one on the last play of the game.

The game was a rematch of the 1997 SEC Championship game in Atlanta.

Game Notes:

Shaun Ellis' interception for a score was the Vols' first since Dwayne Goodrich did likewise Oct. 4, 1997, against Ole Miss.
Eric Westmoreland added an interception.
The Vols' 17-point blitz came in 12:09 of the first quarter.
Jeremaine Copeland caught two passes for 55 yards, including a 29-yarder.
Ron Green (-10) and DeAngelo Lloyd (-6) had sacks for Tennessee.
The Vols had seven lost-yardage tackles, led by Deon Grant (-2, -6) and Thompson (-2, -5). Other Vols with lost-yardage tackles were Darwin Walker (-3), Ellis (-1) and Steve Johnson (-2).
Derrick Edmonds recovered a fumble and Westmoreland caused one.
It was the Vols' first appearance at Jordan-Hare since 1990 and UT's first win there since a 42-0 verdict in 1980.
It was the first in-season meeting between the two teams since the 1991 contest at Neyland Stadium.
Senior co-captain Al Wilson missed the game with a shoulder injury.
Rankings (AP/ESPN): Tennessee 3/3, Auburn (NR/NR)

University of Tennessee Athletics

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