Nov. 28, 2009

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) -- Montario Hardesty ripped off a 20-yard touchdown run in overtime to lead the Tennessee Volunteers to a 30-24 win over the Kentucky Wildcats in an SEC showdown at Commonwealth Stadium.

Hardesty's overtime score capped off a monster performance in which he carried the ball 39 times for a career-high 179 yards and three scores. Jonathan Crompton orchestrated the Tennessee (7-5, 4-4 SEC) offense, completing 13- of-23 pass attempts for 220 yards and a touchdown.

Kentucky (7-5, 3-5) was paced by Randall Cobb, who carried the ball 18 times for 101 yards and a touchdown.

The Wildcats defense opened up the scoring when Sam Maxwell picked off a Crompton pass and returned it 56 yards for a touchdown to give his team a 7-0 lead.

Tennessee responded on the ensuing possession as Hardesty sprinted nine yards for a touchdown.

Kentucky broke the tie in the final seconds of the first quarter when Cobb raced 17 yards for a score to give his team a 14-7 lead.

The Volunteers tied the game late in the second quarter with a 13-yard touchdown run from Hardesty.

Kentucky responded in the final minute of the first half as Derrick Locke barreled his way in from the one-yard line to give the Wildcats a 21-14 lead at the break.

Tennessee tied the game late in the third quarter when Crompton hooked up with Luke Stocker from 16 yards out for the touchdown.

The Vols took a 24-21 lead in the closing minute of the third quarter when Devin Mathis drilled a 30-yard field goal.

Kentucky managed to tie the game and send it into overtime late in the fourth quarter when Lones Seiber kicked a 23-yard field goal to make it a 24-24 contest at the end of regulation

The overtime period saw Kentucky go on offense first, but a missed field goal by Seiber left the door open for Tennessee. Hardesty responded immediately, with a 20-yard touchdown run to give his team the six-point victory.

Tennessee controlled the football, winning the time of possession battle by more than five-minutes, while outgaining Kentucky 446-261 on the night.