KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Johnnie Jones rushed for a school-record 248 yards andtwo touchdowns and Alan Cockrell threw two scoring passes to power bowl-bound Tennessee to a 34-24 come-from-behind win over archrival Vanderbilt Saturday.
Jones, a junior tailback, became the first Tennessee back to run for 1,000 yards in a season. His record-breaking performance gave him 1,116 yards on the season.
Vanderbilt led 24-20 beginning the fourth quarter, but Tennessee struck for two long touchdowns to clinch the victory. Jones exploded for a 70-yard touchdown early in the fourth period as Tennessee reclaimed the lead 27-24. Minutes later, the Vols widened the margin to 34-24 when Cockrell flipped a short pass to split end Clyde Duncan and he zipped 85 yards down the sideline for the score.
Upset-minded Vanderbilt was led by quaraterback Kurt Page, who completed 26 of 45 passes for 330 yards.
Tennessee finished the regular season 8-3, its best finish in 10 years, and takes on Maryland Dec. 17 in the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando. Coach Johnny Majors, in his 16th season as a coach, picked up his 100th career win.
Vanderbilt finished 2-9. Seven of its losses came to teams now headed for bowl games.
Vanderbilt came back from a 20-10 halftime deficit to score two third-quarter touchdowns and take a 24-20 lead.
Page rifled a 9-yard touchdown to split end Phil Roach for the first score. The Commodores then took the lead minutes later when fullback Louis Stephenson plunged into the end zone from 1 yard out to climax a 65-yard drive.
Tennessee took the lead when Cockrell lofted a 78-yard touchdown pass to split end Tim McGee on Tennessee's second play from scrimmage. On their next possession, the Vols marched 48 yards in nine plays to set up a 25-yard field goal by Fuad Reveiz that made it 10-0.
Vanderbilt trimmed the lead to 10-3 on a 24-yard field goal by Ricky Anderson to cap a 73-yard drive.
Jones then sprinted 41 yards for his first touchdown to make it 17-3 but Vanderbilt answered with a 14-yard touchdown run by Page to make it 17-10.
Reveiz nailed a 36-yard field goal just before halftime to give the Vols a 20-10 edge.
