KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Tennessee needed a solid game before their final Southeastern Conference stretch. <br>
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The Volunteers got it in a 59-7 win over Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday. <br>
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In addition to rushing for a season-high 273 yards, the Volunteers (6-3, 3-2 SEC) added touchdowns on Antonio Reynolds' 70-yard interception return and a 20-yard blocked punt return by Antonio Wardlow. <br>
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The win was Tennessee's most lopsided since a 70-3 homecoming victory over Louisiana-Monroe in 2000. <br>
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After being criticized for giving up on the run early in their three losses, Tennessee coaches spread out the run game against Louisiana Lafayette (1-8). <br>
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Arian Foster and Lennon Creer both ran for touchdowns. Foster finished with 100 yards on 20 carries, propelling him just past the 2,000-yard career mark. He is the 12th Tennessee tailback to surpass that mark. <br>
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Creer finished with 109 yards on seven carries, and Montario Hardesty added 45 yards on nine runs. <br>
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The Vols also had success passing. Quintin Hancock caught a 5-yard pass from Erik Ainge with 7:59 in the third quarter. Ainge finished 16-for-23 for 125 yards. Daniel Lincoln also scored on a 24-yard field goal. <br>
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The win gave Tennessee the chance to work some reserve players in preparation for upcoming games against Arkansas, Vanderbilt and Kentucky. The Vols must win all three to play in the SEC championship. <br>
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Backup quarterback Jonathan Crompton threw his first TD pass of the season, a 49-yarder to Kenny O'Neal with 11:24 in the fourth after coaches decided to rest Ainge. Gerald Jones, a reserve wide receiver who played a few snaps at quarterback, ran 12 yards for a touchdown. <br>
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The Ragin' Cajun easily drove down the field several times, but struggled getting into the end zone. Michael Desormeaux threw an interception in Tennessee territory and Drew Edmiston came up short on a 49-yard field goal attempt. <br>
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Louisiana-Lafayette's only touchdown came after a 69-yard drive that took less than two minutes. Tyrell Fenroy ran 21 yards for the score early in the third quarter. <br>
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A homecoming matchup with a one-win team wasn't enough to put fans in the stands. The 96,197 attendance total was the smallest since Tennessee expanded Neyland Stadium in 1996. <br>
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The stadium seats 102,038 and was averaging 105,423 in attendance for the season.
