The Tennessee Volunteers (6-5, 3-4 SEC) capped off their 2009 home schedule with a 31-16 victory over the Vanderbilt Commodores (2-10, 0-8 SEC) on senior night. The sixth win of the year for the Vols makes them bowl eligible for the first time since 2007.

It was a shining exit for many Volunteer seniors, but mostly so for running back Montario Hardesty, who churned out a career-high 171 yards on 32 attempts, including one touchdown.

"To be able to send our seniors off with a win is very special," head coach Lane Kiffin said.

Vanderbilt hung close for much of the game, with the score narrowed to 24-16 with less than three minutes remaining.

On the last offensive possession, quarterback MacKenzi Adams dropped back and was hurried by Chris Walker, causing him to throw a dud pass which landed in the arms of left tackle Wes Brown. Brown returned the interception 25 yards to give the Volunteers the clinching score with three seconds left.

"I saw Chris Walker taking him down and he threw it up," Brown said. "I just looked at my hands and I had it. It happened so fast."

"You can't have a guy who's worked harder since he's been here," said Kiffin. "To see him just shows you that if you want something bad enough it can happen."

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Tennessee senior quarterback Jonathan Crompton finished 20 of 34 for 221 yards and two touchdowns.

Crompton had a tipped pass in the third quarter which was intercepted, ending the quarterback's streak of 142 pass attempts without a pick, one short of tying the school record held by Casey Clausen.

Walk-on Devin Mathis filled in for injured kicker Daniel Lincoln, hitting a 25-yard field goal as well as four extra points in the game.

The Volunteer defense continued to suffer from injuries, as linebacker Greg King, defensive lineman Dan Williams and defensive back Art Evans all went down at times on Saturday night.

A win on the road at Kentucky next week will go a long ways in deciding how high the Volunteers land in the pecking order come bowl selection day.

The addition of another game for the Volunteers was especially significant to Coach Kiffin.

"It's very important for us because of the practices that we continue to develop," Kiffin said. "We have more time with our young players."