Vanderbilt Commodores vs Tennessee Volunteers Match Player Stats On Nov 19, 2011

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Nov 19, 2011

Tennessee didn't even need to take its turn on offense to finish off its 27-21 overtime victory over visiting Vanderbilt on Saturday as Eric Gordon returned an interception for a touchdown to lift the Volunteers to their 28th win in the past 29 meetings of the in-state rivals.

The Volunteers (5-6, 1-6 SEC East) had to overcome their second-half woes to do it. They tied it at 21 on Tyler Bray's 2-yard touchdown pass to Da'Rick Rogers, snapping a streak of 20 consecutive second-half possessions without scoring. The drought stretched over six games.

The drive was kept alive by a penalty against Vanderbilt (5-6, 2-6) for running into the kicker on a Michael Palardy field goal attempt that was blocked.

The defenses dominated for most of the night. Vanderbilt turned the momentum in its favor when Archibald Barnes jumped in front of a Tyler Bray pass on third-and-goal from the 3 and sprinted 100 yards for a touchdown, the longest interception return in Vanderbilt history. It matches the longest interception return ever allowed by the Volunteers.

Bray entered the game with only two interceptions on 176 pass attempts this season, but threw two picks against the Commodores. The sophomore began the game wearing gloves on both hands to protect the broken right thumb that kept him out of the previous five games. He tossed the gloves aside after the second interception.

Vanderbilt drove to the Tennessee 40 in the final minute of regulation, but Prentiss Waggner intercepted a Jordan Rodgers pass to send it to overtime.

Tennessee's Tauren Poole rushed for 107 yards on 19 carries for his third 100-yard game of the season and the ninth of his career. Rogers had 10 catches for 116 yards and two touchdowns for his second consecutive 100-yard receiving game.

Tennessee has won 10 consecutive November home games against SEC opponents. It's 73 victories against Vanderbilt are its second most against any school (Kentucky 74).