Tennessee Goes Rout Against Kentucky

Travis Henry got a chance, Phillip Fulmer got a game ball and Tennessee got back on track.

Filling in for Jamal Lewis, who sat out because of a shoulder injury, Henry ran for 179 yards and three touchdowns as the No. 7-ranked Volunteers routed Kentucky, 56-21, Saturday in a Southeastern Conference game at Lexington, Ky.

Tennessee, 8-2 overall and 5-2 in the SEC, remains in contention for one of two at-large berths in the Bowl Championship Series and eased some of the hurt from the previous Saturday’s 28-24 loss at Arkansas, which knocked the Volunteers out of contention for the national championship.

“It was clear why we were here,” said Fulmer, who got his 75th career coaching victory, along with a game ball from his players. “It wasn’t a social call. We were here for respect.”

It was the Volunteers’ 15th consecutive win in the 95-game series between border-state rivals and the fourth in a row in which they have scored more than 50 points.

Kentucky (6-5, 4-4) is eligible for a bowl appearance, but not guaranteed an invitation. The Wildcats are among at least eight SEC teams contending for the conference’s seven guaranteed bowl berths.

No. 21 Georgia 20, No. 16 Mississippi 17--Quincy Carter passed for 349 yards, Terreal Bierria had a late interception, and Hap Hines kicked four field goals as the Bulldogs (7-3, 5-3) beat the Rebels (7-3, 4-3) at Oxford, Miss.

Hines’ fourth field goal, from 48 yards, came with 5:24 to play.

Mississippi then drove from its 14 to the Georgia 14 in three plays, but Miller’s third-down pass over the middle was picked off by Bierria, who juggled the ball. The officials at first ruled it an incompletion, but reversed themselves and ruled it, correctly as replays showed, an interception.

No. 22 Arkansas 14, No. 12 Mississippi State 9--Clint Stoerner completed seven of 10 passes on one touchdown drive and threw a 33-yard pass to Anthony Lucas to set up a second touchdown as the Razorbacks (7-3, 4-3) defeated the Bulldogs (8-2, 5-2) at Little Rock, Ark.

Arkansas remained in the running for the Cotton Bowl, and Mississippi State is also headed for a bowl. The Bulldogs’ Thanksgiving game with Mississippi (7-3) will play a role in their destination.

The Bulldogs, who opened the season 8-0, were eliminated from the SEC championship game when Alabama beat Auburn.