Tennessee 27, Kentucky 8

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) Erik Ainge passed for 221 yards and two touchdowns Saturday as Tennessee avoided finishing last in the SEC East with a 27-8 win over Kentucky.<br> <br> With the victory, Tennessee (5-6, 3-5 Southeastern Conference) ended a disappointing season by extending the second-longest active winning streak in an uninterrupted series between major college opponents to 21 games. Notre Dame&#39;s 42-game winning streak over Navy is the longest. Kentucky (3-8, 2-6) hasn&#39;t beaten Tennessee since 1984.<br> <br> Tennessee began the season ranked No. 3 but fell out of bowl consideration last Saturday with a home loss to Vanderbilt, ending the Volunteers&#39; 22-game winning streak over their in-state opponent. The Vols, however, haven&#39;t lost to both Vanderbilt and Kentucky in the same season since 1964.<br> <br> Kentucky had been competitive against Tennessee the past two seasons, losing 20-7 and 37-31, but the Wildcats squandered their chances this time. Three times the Wildcats had possession inside the Tennessee 10, but came away with only two field goals.<br> <br> Ainge made his fifth start of the season and went the distance, completing 17 of 25 passes, including first-half touchdown throws of 50 yards to Robert Meachem and 32 yards to Chris Hannon that staked the Vols to a 17-6 halftime lead.<br> <br> The lead could&#39;ve been larger, but Tennessee had two turnovers in its own territory and had two long touchdown plays by tailback Arian Foster a 55-yard run and a 78-yard catch called back because of penalties. Foster finished with 114 yards on 26 carries and also had five catches for 44 yards.<br> <br> Kentucky lost starting quarterback Andre Woodson in the second quarter to a shoulder injury, and his backup, freshman Curtis Pulley, fumbled three times, losing one, and threw three interceptions, one of which Tennessee defensive tackle Justin Harrell returned 7 yards for a third-quarter touchdown.<br> <br> Pulley finished 22-of-32 passing for 149 yards.<br> <br> Kentucky opened the second half by driving from its own 20 to the Tennessee 9, but Pulley fumbled and Tennessee&#39;s Kevin Simon recovered. The Wildcats made only one other trip into Tennessee territory and scored their only second-half points on a fourth-quarter safety.<br> <br> Ainge&#39;s touchdown pass to Meachem came courtesy of a Kentucky error, as Meachem caught a short pass and went untouched into the end zone after two Kentucky defenders missed potential tackles.<br> <br> Kentucky&#39;s Draak Davis forced and recovered a fumble by Tennessee punt returner Jonathan Hefney at the Tennessee 9, but the Wildcats lost four yards on three plays and settled for a 31-yard field goal by Taylor Begley.<br> <br> Kentucky lost the ball on downs at the Tennessee 41 late in the first quarter, but Trey Mielsch recovered a fumble by Ainge at the Vols&#39; 30. Again, Kentucky couldn&#39;t record a first down, and Begley missed a 43-yard field-goal attempt.<br> <br> Tennessee went up 14-3 on its next series, as Ainge connected with Hannon for a touchdown. Begley added a 25-yard field goal before halftime.<br> <br> Tennessee kicker James Wilhoit had field goals of 31 and 40 yards.<br> <br> (Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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