University of Tennessee Athletics
Clausen Carries Tennessee Past Wildcats, 38-35
November 17, 2001 | Football
Nov 17, 2001
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By STEVE BAILEY
AP Sports Writer
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Tennessee quarterback Casey Clausen was disheartened in victory.
"We, as a team, just can't come out and play like we did today," said Clausen, who rallied the sixth-ranked Vols from 21 points down to beat Kentucky 38-35 Saturday. "I guess a win is a win, but we really need to get back, study the film and work hard to get better."
Clausen threw for 285 yards and four touchdowns as Tennessee (8-1, 5-1 Southeastern Conference) narrowly avoided being beaten by the Wildcats (2-8, 1-7) for the first time since 1984.
Alex Walls kicked a 44-yard field goal to give Tennessee a 38-35 lead with 2:49 to play. But it took a Kentucky fumble deep in Vols territory with time running down to preserve the victory.
"They emotionally and physically outplayed us," Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer said. "We were not as emotionally prepared to play as we should have been, and I take responsibility for that.
"We said coming in that it would take a team effort to win the game, and that's what it was. I just don't know if the kids really believed that Kentucky would play them that tough."
The Wildcats led 21-0 in the second quarter and were ahead 28-21 in the fourth quarter before Clausen hooked up with Donte Stallworth for 23- and 38-yard touchdowns.
Kentucky tied it at 35 on a 62-yard TD pass from Jared Lorenzen to Anthony Kelly with 3:53 to play, setting up Walls' kick.
"I trust Alex completely," Fulmer said. "He'll kick 15 balls in practice and make 14, so you've got to like that ratio."
Following the kick, the Wildcats had a chance to win, but tight end Chase Harp fumbled after picking up a first down deep in Tennessee territory with 2:08 to play.
"I don't think there was any doubt on our sideline that we were going to go down, score and pull this win out," Kentucky coach Guy Morriss said. "I talked to (Chase) in the tunnel and told him his fumble did not cost us the game. We had chances to score and pick up points and we just didn't."
Lorenzen completed 34 of 53 passes for 406 yards and four touchdowns as the Wildcats outgained the Vols 543 yards to 367.
"We really thought we had the game won," said Lorenzen, who has thrown for 857 yards and 10 touchdowns with only one interception in Kentucky's last two games. "But Tennessee fought back and adjusted well to come out with the victory.
"It didn't help that we shot ourselves in the foot again and again with penalties and mental mistakes."
Clausen completed 20 of 30 passes, including three TDs of 35 yards or longer. Stallworth caught eight passes for 169 yards and three touchdowns, while Travis Stephens, the SEC's leading rusher, was held to just 79 yards on 18 carries.
Kentucky moved 76 yards on its first possession and took a 7-0 lead on Lorenzen's 6-yard pass to Tommy Cook.
The Wildcats, last in the SEC in total defense at 495 yards per game, forced Tennessee to go three and out on each of its first three possessions, holding the Vols to 14 total yards in the first quarter.
Following Tennessee's third punt, the Wildcats drove 63 yards and scored on Lorenzen's 2-yard sneak to go up 14-0 with 11:01 to play in the half.
On the Vols' ensuing possession, Kentucky stuffed Stephens for a 1-yard loss on fourth-and-1 from the Wildcats 40. Six plays later, Lorenzen found Harp in the back left corner of the end zone for a 2-yard score and a 21-0 lead with 5:33 remaining.
Tennessee found the end zone less than a minute later when Clausen hit Stallworth down the left sideline for a 59-yard score that made it 21-7 at halftime.
"We didn't execute well in the first half," Clausen said. "We knew Kentucky's defense would be tough, but I don't think anyone expected them to shut us down the way they did."
For the half, Kentucky allowed only two first downs and outgained the Vols 279 yards to 91. The Wildcats also had two touchdowns negated by penalties.
