Tennessee Doesn’t Fool Around

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. —  Now Tennessee can think about its regular-season finale at third-ranked Florida.

First the No. 7 Volunteers (9-1, 6-1 Southeastern Conference) had to get past in-state rival Vanderbilt (2-8, 0-7) on Saturday after having to rally last week to beat Kentucky.

“We wanted to make a fast start and not play around with them. We wanted to prove we are a contender,” Tennessee Coach Phillip Fulmer said after a 38-0 win over Vanderbilt. “Last week, we didn’t look like one.”

Donte Stallworth put some pizazz in the Volunteer scoring ability.

He has fully recovered from a broken wrist earlier this season and been on a tear in the last three games, scoring eight touchdowns.

Stallworth returned a punt 55 yards for a touchdown and turned a short pass from Casey Clausen into an 80-yard score.

“They’ve been trying to stop [tailback] Travis [Stephens], so we’ve been going to the air more,” Stallworth said.

Clausen also threw a touchdown pass to Kelley Washington in the first half. Clausen completed 20 of 29 passes for 278 yards and no interceptions.

Tennessee’s game with Florida was postponed to Dec. 1 because of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Fulmer, Florida Coach Steve Spurrier and fans have been pushing for many years to get the game moved to the end of the season.

The winner almost always plays in the SEC championship game.

“Write your congressman. I’ve done all I can do,” Fulmer said about changing the game permanently.The game has added importance as Florida and Tennessee are still in the running for the national championship.

In Coach Woody Widenhofer’s next-to-last game, Vanderbilt couldn’t get much offense going. Widenhofer will resign after the Commodores’ final game next weekend at Mississippi.

Vanderbilt quarterback Greg Zolman was sacked five times and intercepted twice, each time setting up Tennessee scores.

The Vols’ quick start had to wait until the second half.

Stallworth scored his second touchdown on the first play of the third quarter. He caught a short pass from Clausen, cut to the middle of the field and ran untouched 80 yards to the end zone for a 28-0 lead 31 seconds into the second half.

Stallworth gave Tennessee a 21-0 halftime lead when he returned a punt 55 yards for a touchdown.