NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Quarterback Tony Robinson fired two touchdown passes and Johnnie Jones ran for more than 100 yards and another score Saturday to lead Sun Bowl-bound Tennessee to a 29-13 Southeastern Conference victory over Vanderbilt.
Robinson, a junior, completed 20 of 30 passes for 273 yards, including scoring strikes of 19 and 55 yards to wide receiver Tim McGee. McGee finished the game with 10 receptions for 190 yards.
Jones, who gained 119 yards in 23 carries, also scored on a 57-yard run.
The Vols improved their season record to 7-3-1 entering their Dec. 22 Sun Bowl match against Maryland, champions of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Tennessee's other scoring came on 37 and 29-yard field goals by Fuad Reveiz and a safety.
The Commodores, who had not scored a touchdown in nine previous quarters, finally crossed the end zone in the fourth period when quarterback Kurt Page hit flanker Chuck Scott on a 6-yard scoring pass.
With 6:26 to go Page hit Joe Kelly on a 7-yard pass to bring the Commodores within 12 points.
The Commodores finished the regular season with a 5-6 overall record and 2-4 in the conference. The Vols ended their conference season with a 3-3 worksheet.
Tennessee broke the game open in the third period when Robinson connected on two touchdown passes.
Tennessee marched 70 yards in 10 plays to open the third quarter with Robinson carrying the load. The drive was climaxed by a 19-yard pass into the end zone by McGee.
The Vols scored the next time they got the ball when Robinson hit McGee on a 55-yard strike on a dead run. The extra point put the score at 26-0 with 7:47 to go in the third period.
Vanderbilt got its offense cracked up in the fourth period when Page came off the bench to engineer two drives climaxed by scoring passes.
The two teams sparred during the first period with Vanderbilt driving twice into Tennessee territory but not close enough to threaten. Tennessee began to move the ball late into the first quarter.
The drive was climaxed with Reveiz's 37-yard field goal in the opening seconds of the second period.
A punt which went out of bounds on the Vanderbilt 6-yard line led to a safety for Tennessee when Vol defensive linemen tackled quarterback Mark Wracher in the end zone on the first play from scrimmage.
On the free kick Tennessee got the ball on its 38-yard line and on the second play of the series Jones burst through the middle 57 yards for the score.
Tennessee coach Johnny Majors said he was extremely proud of the way his team played.
'I felt we had some tremendous execution, and I could not have expected anything more of our defense than we got in the first half,' Majors said after the game.
'I felt both teams showed tremendous fortitude. Anytime you can beat Vanderbilt, you have accomplished a lot. This game is a very hard-fought rivalry.'
Majors praised the play of his quarterback, Tony Robinson.
'Not only is he talented physically, but mentally as well. He loves to play the game, and he doesn't let a mistake get him down,' he said.
Majors was looking forward to the Vols' bowl date against Maryland, a team he said was playing as well as any team in the nation in the last few weeks. 'It will be a tremendous challenge.'
George MacIntyre, Vanderbilt head coach, said he thought his team 'played hard -- not great -- but our players played hard.'
MacIntyre said the Commodores never got on track offensively during the game.
'At the start of the season we realized we had to be an offensive team this year,' he said. 'We didn't get going today until it was too late.'
