No. 1 Tennessee Wins SEC Title

At least No. 1 Tennessee did its part.

Tee Martin, harassed most of the night by incessant blitzing, threw two touchdown passes 28 seconds apart in the fourth quarter and the Volunteers survived a wild Saturday, rallying to beat No. 23 Mississippi State 24-14 in the Southeastern Conference Championship Game.

Tennessee (12-0) assured itself of a chance to play for the national title in the Jan. 4 Fiesta Bowl with a fourth-quarter comeback worthy of a champion.

"We have one more big one to play," coach Phillip Fulmer said.

Mississippi State (8-4) went ahead 14-10 on Kevin Prentiss' 83-yard punt return with 8:43 remaining, but the Vols weren't about to suffer the same fate as Kansas State and UCLA.

"This football team showed an incredible amount of character," he said. "That fourth-quarter finish was typical of what this team was about this year."

Martin, who was 15-of-32 for 208 yards, directed Tennessee's struggling offense right down the field, throwing a 41-yard touchdown pass to Peerless Price with 6:15 to go. Then, after Wayne Madkin fumbled on State's next play from scrimmage, Tennessee needed only one play to score again.

Martin stood in the pocket under heavy pressure, lofting a perfect 26-yard pass to Cedrick Wilson for the clinching touchdown with 5:47 left.

"They kept going to the well and finally got water," said Mississippi State coach Jackie Sherrill, whose team won its only SEC title in 1941.

One of three undefeated teams at the top of the rankings beginning the day, Tennessee was the only one at the end. No. 2 Kansas State was upset by Texas A&M in the Big 12 Championship Game, losing 36-33 in double overtime, while third-ranked UCLA was stunned 49-45 by Miami.

The Vols won't know until Sunday who their opponent will be in the Fiesta Bowl. But they've accomplished the most important thing -- getting there.

Tennessee won its second straight SEC title largely because of itdefense, which limited the Bulldogs to 145 yards and didn't allow their offense to score a touchdown.

Phil Fulmer has his Volunteers pointed in the direction of the Fiesta Bowl. (AP)

"The defense played great," said Price, who had 97 yards on six receptions and was named the game's MVP. "They kept us in the game. They gave us a chance to come back."

Mississippi State, a 14-point underdog, put up a tougher fight than expected. Tennessee was held under 200 yards until the fourth quarter, and the Bulldogs had a chance to win because of two long returns.

Robert Bean went 70 yards for a touchdown after intercepting a Martin pass before Prentiss stunned the largely orange-clad crowd at the Georgia Dome with his punt return. He seemed to mesmerize the Tennessee defenders with a studder step, then burst down the sideline without being touched.

Prentiss had 152 yards on six punt returns, more than Mississippi State's offense could manage even with James Johnson, the SEC's leading rusher, back in the lineup after being hobbled by ankle and shoulder injuries.

The Bulldogs had only 149 yards, including 38 yards on 14 carries by Johnson.

After Tennessee built a 10-7 lead at the half, defense dominated the third quarter. The two teams combined for only 52 yards, but that only set the stage for a thrilling final period.

"We knew Kansas State and UCLA has lost," Price said. "We knew we controlled our own destiny."

Travis Henry had 120 yards rushing, 79 coming in the final period when the State defenders finally tired.

The Bulldogs surprised Tennessee by jumping ahead just before the end of the first quarter on Bean's spectacular interception return. When Martin overthrew Price on a deep pass, Bean managed to make a juggling catch off his knees even when bumped by the Tennessee receiver.

Going back the other way, Bean almost ran out of bounds along the right sideline before cutting straight back across the field, picking up a block from safety Ashley Cooper and tiptoeing the final five yards to stick the ball across the goal line.

Until Saturday, Tennessee has not given up a touchdown on a return of any kind.

The Vols evened the score in the second period after an interception return of its own. Madkin, under heavy pressure, made a freshman mistake by heaving the all into coverage, and Tennessee safety Deon Grant drifted in front of the receiver to pick off the pass.

Grant showed some nifty running on a 24-yard return to the Mississippi State 20, and the Vols quickly moved into position for Travis Stephens' 2-yard touchdown run.

The Vols took a lead to the half when Jeff Hall connected on a 31-yard field goal after couple of big completions by Martin. He hooked up with Jeremaine Copeland on a 35-yard pass and Price on a 19-yarder.

Madkin completed only 10-of-22 passes for 84 yards.

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