KNOXVILLE — Tennessee closed out the 2019 regular season on a high note, notching its fifth consecutive victory.
The Volunteers (7-5 overall, 5-3 in the Southeastern Conference) used a solid defensive performance to capture a 28-10 win over in-state rival Vanderbilt on a cool and soggy Saturday at Neyland Stadium.
In the process of snapping a three-game losing streak to the Commodores (3-9, 1-7) found a future star in freshman running back Eric Gray.
Gray, a Memphis native and three-time Tennessee Titans Mr. Football standout, rushed for 245 yards and three touchdowns on 25 carries.
He had a 3-yard plunge for UT’s last score of the game and that was set up when Jarrett Guarantano connected with Jauan Jennings on a 50-yard strike.
Jennings had just two receptions for 56 yards, but Gray more than picked up the slack as he had long touchdown scampers of 56 and 94 yards.
Guarantano went 6-of-17 for 120 yards. He had a touchdown pass to Dominick Wood-Anderson and threw an early interception that set up a score for the Commodores, who turned his miscue in to a field goal by Riley Gauy, that gave Vanderbilt a 3-0 lead.
The Vols, who will reach the postseason for the first time in three years, also broke a two-game losing streak to the Commodores in Knoxville.