Vols edge Kentucky 30-24 in overtime

Vols edge Kentucky 30-24 in overtime

By MARK NAGI
6 Sports Anchor/Reporter

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WATE) -- The night began with the Tennessee Volunteers holding the nation's longest win streak over one team, the Kentucky Wildcats. The Vols had won 24 in a row against their division rivals.

The night ended with that streak intact. Make it 25 straight.

Vols senior Montario Hardesty, who gained a career high 179 yards on the ground, scored the winning touchdown in overtime. His 20 yard run up the middle gave Tennessee a 30-24 victory.

The game did not start well for the Vols. Jonathan Crompton was picked off by Sam Maxwell, who returned the ball 56 yards for a score, giving Kentucky a 7-0 lead.

Tennessee (7-5, 4-4 Southeastern Conference) tied the game with a three play, 60-yard drive, which ended with a Montario Hardesty touchdown run from nine yards out.

Former Alcoa star Randall Cobb, who is Kentucky's Mr. Everything, gave the Wildcats a 14-7 lead in the second quarter thanks to a 17-yard touchdown run. Cobb finished with 186 total yards.

Tennessee led 24-21 with under three minutes left, but did a favor for the Wildcats. Vols tight end Luke Stocker fumbled, giving Kentucky a short field to work with.

Former Central High School kicker Lonas Sieber kicked a chip shot to send the game to overtime.

In overtime, Kentucky couldn't move the football, and Sieber missed a 49-yard field goal.

That set up the Hardesty's run and the Vols dramatic victory.

Tennessee clinches second place in the SEC Eastern Division and now awaits word as to which bowl they will be playing in. 

The Outback Bowl (Tampa) and the Chick-fil-A Bowl (Atlanta) seem to be the most likely destinations.