Vols Put Wraps On Ohio St.

Citrus Bowl

For much of the season, the Ohio State Buckeyes seemed headed for the Rose Bowl and a shot at the national title. They ended the season Monday at the Citrus Bowl knowing that running back Eddie George’s Heisman Trophy is the only major postseason honor they will take home.

On a wet, slippery field at the Florida Citrus Bowl, Tennessee beat the Buckeyes, 20-14, before 70,797, most of whom were attired in Tennessee orange.

In a steady rain, the big plays more often went the way of the fourth-ranked Volunteers, who finished 11-1 and received a congratulatory phone call from Vice President Al Gore, a former senator from Tennessee.

For the Buckeyes, who entered the game tied in the rankings with Tennessee, there was little solace in a season that began with 11 victories but ended with two losses. A loss to Michigan in the final game of the regular season kept the Buckeyes out of the Rose Bowl. Monday’s loss kept them from bringing a bowl trophy to Columbus.

“I’m disappointed,” senior quarterback Bobby Hoying said. “Our ultimate goal was to win the Rose Bowl, and we didn’t get there. Then we come down here and don’t do what we needed to do.”

Indeed, Ohio State’s big threats were outplayed. George carried 25 times for 101 yards and a touchdown, but he dropped a number of passes and fumbled once. Vols tailback Jay Graham rushed 26 times for 154 yards and a touchdown and was named the game’s most valuable player.

Tennessee sophomore quarterback Peyton Manning completed 20 of 35 passes for 182 yards and a touchdown. His favorite target was wide receiver Joey Kent, who caught seven passes for 109 yards and a touchdown.

“The bottom line today was the heart and spirit of our guys,” Tennessee coach Phil Fulmer said.

That spirit was evident with 23 seconds left in the first half, when Graham, on first-and-10 from the Vols 31, turned what looked to be a run-out-the-clock run up the middle into a 69-yard touchdown run, which tied the game 7-7.

The Vols took a 14-7 lead when Manning hit Kent on a 47-yard touchdown pass early in the third quarter. The Buckeyes tied the game on a 32-yard touchdown pass from Hoying to Rickey Dudley early in the fourth quarter, but the Vols answered with a 59-yard drive that resulted in a 29-yard field goal from Jeff Hall.

George fumbled on the ensuing possession. On the next one, the Buckeyes moved from their 20 to a fourth-and-1 at midfield with 5 minutes, 12 seconds left.

Coach John Cooper took a timeout to consider his options. Surprisingly, the option Cooper chose was the option - a play the Buckeyes rarely ran this season.

Hoying ran right and pitched the ball toward George, but the ball bounced off the helmet of fullback Matt Calhoun and was recovered by Tennessee.

In eight seasons at Ohio State, Cooper is 1-6 in bowl games.

Tennessee 20, Ohio State 14

Ohio State 7 0 0 7 - 14

Tennessee 0 7 7 6 - 20

OSUGeorge 2 run (Jo.Jackson kick)

Ten-Graham 69 run (Hall kick)

Ten-Kent 47 pass from Manning (Hall kick) OSUDudley 32 pass from B.Hoying (Jo.Jackson kick)

Ten-FG Hall 29

Ten-FG Hall 25

A-70,797.

OSU Tenn First downs 17 15 Rushes-yards 36-89 32-145 Passing 246 182 Return Yards 69 79 Comp-Att-Int 19-38-1 20-35-0 Punts 7-48 9-34 Fumbles-Lost 5-3 1-1 Penalties-Yards 6-57 8-43 Time of Possession 29:21 30:39

RUSHINGOSU, George 25-101, Sualua 2-3, Pearson 1-1, Glenn

1-(minus 4), B.Hoying 7-(minus 12). Tenn., Graham 26-154, Ford 1-4, Manning 5-(minus 13).

PASSINGOSU, B.Hoying 19-38-1-246. Tenn., Manning 20-35-0-182.

RECEIVINGOSU, Glenn 7-95, Dudley 5-106, George 3-18, Stanley 1-14, Tillman 1-7, Houser 1-5, Sualua 1-1. Tenn., Kent 7-109, Kyler 4-16, Nash 3-44, Price 2-4, Graham 2-0, Pfeiffer 1-7, Lane 1-2.