A look back at Tennessee’s 2001 victory over Kentucky

A look back at Tennessee’s 2001 victory at Kentucky.

Throughout its tradition-rich history, Tennessee has captured some monumental victories.

This season, each week, Vols Wire will look back at one of Tennessee’s memorable games against its upcoming opponent.

The Volunteers (4-4. 2-3 SEC) will travel to Kentucky (6-2, 4-2 SEC) at Kroger Field in Lexington.

Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. EDT and the game will be televised on ESPN2.

Saturday’s game marks the 117th meeting between the Vols and Wildcats.

The two teams have met every year since 1944 and the series goes back to 1893. UT holds an 81-26-9 advantage in the all-time series.

This installment will revisit the Vols’ 38-35 comeback victory at Kentucky on Nov. 17, 2001.

Tennessee would win the game as Alex Walls kicked a 44-yard field goal with 2 minutes, 56 seconds remaining in the game, but the early chapters of this epic saga belonged to the Wildcats and quarterback Jared Lorenzen.

Lorenzen helped Kentucky dart to a 21-0 lead as he threw a pair of touchdown passes and ran for another score to help the Wildcats build their big advantage.

The Vols, the No. 6 team in the country, first scored when Casey Clausen threw a 59-yard touchdown pass to Donte’ Stallworth with 4:20 left in the second quarter.

Tennessee would tie the game in the third quarter as Constantin Ritzman recovered a fumble and returned the ball for a 1-yard score. Clausen then lofted a 48-yard touchdown strike to Kelley Washington.

The Wildcats’ took a 28-21 lead on Lorenzen’s 5-yard scoring strike to tight end Derek Abney with two minutes remaining in the third frame.

Tennessee then pulled even early in the final stanza when Clausen connected with Stallworth on a 79-yard touchdown pass to make it 28-28.

The duo would connect again a short time later to give the Vols a 35-28 advantage, their first lead of the contest.

Kentucky and Lorenzen tied the game with a 62-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Kelly, setting the stage for Walls’ game-winning kick.

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