Tennessee Saves Season With 35-20 Win

Tennessee was playing to make up for an embarrassing start and avoid an embarrassing finish.

Jeff Francis threw three long touchdown passes, and William Howard scored on two short runs Saturday to lead the Volunteers past Vanderbilt, 35-20, for their fourth straight victory.

The Volunteers (6-5) will play Minnesota in the Liberty Bowl Dec. 29, but Coach Johnny Majors said the invitation could have been withdrawn had Tennessee finished with a losing record.

Majors praised his team, ranked in the top 10 early in the season, for overcoming a 2-5 start.

“They have certainly come back from a point which some people would consider hopeless and disastrous to begin to play well and turn the season around,” Majors said.

Tennessee built a 28-0 lead in the second quarter on the three scoring passes by Miller before holding off a Vanderbilt surge keyed by sophomore quarterback Eric Jones.

Francis, a sophomore, connected with Anthony Miller on scoring pass plays of 51 and 50 yards, and of 38 yards to wingback Terrence Cleveland. Francis completed 10 of 18 passes for 211 yards.

Howard scored on runs of four and two yards, finishing with 158 yards in 30 carries.