There Is No Letdown for Tennessee, 42-17

Tennessee found itself in a difficult spot Saturday night.

The Volunteers, who scored an emotional victory over rival Florida a week earlier, could have been caught looking ahead to upcoming games against Auburn and at Georgia.

But after a sluggish start, No. 11 Tennessee (3-0) was able to shake free from Louisiana Tech for a 42-17 nonconference victory at Knoxville, Tenn.

Erik Ainge threw three touchdown passes and Cedric Houston ran for 160 yards and two more scores to lead the Volunteers.

“Last week we won the game and didn’t play too well,” Tennessee Coach Phillip Fulmer said, referring to a 30-28 victory over Florida last week. “We’re still trying to put it together.”

Tennessee relied mostly on the run and totaled 347 yards, with Gerald Riggs adding a career-high 116 yards in 16 carries.

The Bulldogs (2-2) had a 14-7 lead at the end of the first quarter before the Volunteers roared back.

No. 9 Auburn 33, The Citadel 3 -- Jason Campbell passed for 194 yards in the first half and the Tigers brushed aside the Bulldogs at Auburn, Ala.

The Tigers (4-0) had no problem overcoming a few sloppy plays against the Division I-AA Bulldogs (0-2) in a workmanlike tuneup for their game at Tennessee. They have a six-game winning streak for the first time since opening the 1997 season 6-0.

Auburn outgained The Citadel, 593-169, giving up only 71 passing yards and eight first downs.

No. 13 Louisiana State 51, Mississippi State 0 -- Alley Broussard ran for a career-high three touchdowns in the first 17 minutes and the Tigers held the Bulldogs to seven first downs and 130 yards in a rout at Baton Rouge, La.

The Tigers (3-1, 1-1 Southeastern Conference) rolled up 594 yards and led at half, 34-0.

The Tiger defense had four interceptions, recovered a fumble and scored a touchdown against the Bulldogs (1-3, 0-2), who have lost seven in a row in Tiger Stadium and 12 of 13 overall against Louisiana State.

Arkansas 27, Alabama 10 -- Freshman Peyton Hillis scored two touchdowns, Matt Jones ran for one score and threw for another and the Razorbacks (3-1, 1-0) cruised to victory at Fayetteville, Ark.

Alabama (3-1, 1-1) quarterback Marc Guillon, in his first start in place of injured Brodie Croyle, completed six of 18 passes for 57 yards and one interception.

No. 16 Florida 20, Kentucky 3 -- Ciatrick Fason had a career-high 210 yards rushing and two touchdowns as the Gators (2-1, 1-1) held the Wildcats (1-2, 0-1) to 207 yards of offense at Gainesville, Fla.

South Carolina 17, Troy 7 -- Syvelle Newton had a six-yard touchdown run and the Gamecocks (3-1) held off another upset attempt by the Trojans (2-2) in a nonconference victory at Columbia, S.C.

Wyoming 37, Mississippi 32 -- Josh Barge returned a punt 87 yards and caught a 69-yard pass, both for touchdowns, to lead the Cowboys (2-1) past the Rebels (1-3) in a nonconference game at Laramie, Wyo.

Navy 29, Vanderbilt 26 -- At Annapolis, Md., Aaron Polanco threw for 176 yards and ran for 84, including a 22-yard touchdown, as the Midshipmen improved to 4-0 for the first time since opening the 1979 season with six consecutive victories. Vanderbilt fell to 0-3.