VOLS GET BY GEORGE, BUCKEYES\Tennessee's Graham puts on stellar show\TENNESSEE 20, OHIO STATE 14.

Byline: Rusty Miller Associated Press 

If the Heisman Trophy were based only on the last game, Jay Graham might have more to pack for the trip back to Tennessee.

Heisman winner Eddie George rushed for 101 yards and a touchdown, but was upstaged by Graham as Tennessee beat Ohio State 20-14 in the Florida Citrus Bowl on Monday.

Graham carried 26 times for 154 yards, including a 69-yard touchdown run, and the Vols' defense came up with four big stops in the fourth quarter to preserve the victory.

"He's a great tailback and the Heisman Trophy winner," Graham said of his Ohio State counterpart. "But it was a great day for Tennessee."

Heisman winners have had problems in the postseason, with their teams going 4-11 in bowl games since 1980.

Ohio State was limited to 89 yards rushing as a steady downpour and the Volunteers defense conspired to give the Buckeyes their worst rushing day of the season.

"We kind of expected that," George said of Tennessee's emphasis on stopping the run. "We knew we would have to work for it and things didn't pan out."

After Tennessee's Jeff Hall kicked a 29-yard field goal for a 17-14 lead with 9:24 left, the Volunteers shut down Ohio State's high-powered attack - with help from the Buckeyes.

In its last four possessions, Ohio State (11-2) lost three fumbles and threw a pass to an ineligible receiver in the game between teams co-ranked No. 4.

"We came back at Penn State, and this was the same feeling when we got a second chance," Ohio State quarterback Bob Hoying said. "Everyone's got to take the blame, but the brunt of the loss goes on the offense's shoulders."

On the first miscue, George fumbled at his own 39. On the next, Hoying's option pitch intended for George on fourth-and-1 at midfield bounced off the helmet of the lead blocker, fullback Matt Calhoun, and the Vols' Tori Noel recovered.

On fourth-and-3 at the Buckeyes' 25, Hoying was pressured by Ron Green and Steve White, and flipped a desperation pass that was caught by guard LeShun Daniels. Ohio State was flagged for an ineligible receiver, and Hall added a 25-yard field goal soon after.

On its last possession, Ohio State moved to midfield with a minute left, but Hoying's pass was caught and then fumbled by Dimitrious Stanley at the Tennessee 38. Craig King recovered for the Vols.

"We obviously had to stop Eddie George first," Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer said. "I don't know how many yards he got, but I know he didn't just run up and down the field like I was concerned he might."

George was taunted throughout the game by Tennessee fans who chanted "Ed-die! Ed-die! Ed-die!" whenever things went wrong for Ohio State.

Things went right for much of the first half.

Central McClellion blocked a punt by Larry Binion that Ohio State recovered at the Tennessee 23 midway through the first quarter. George, Ohio State's fifth Heisman Trophy winner, scored from 2 yards out.

But Ohio State's offense misfired when given the ball at the Tennessee 24 and 37 later in the half. George was stacked up by Bill Duff for a 2-yard loss on fourth-and-inches at the Tennessee 2 to end one threat.

Tennessee took over at its own 20 with 45 seconds left in the first half, and tied the score on Graham's long TD run with 23 seconds remaining.

The Volunteers made it 14-7 five plays into the second half on Peyton Manning's 47-yard touchdown pass to Joey Kent, but Ohio State pulled even on a 32-yard scoring strike from Hoying to Rickey Dudley as the fourth quarter started.

"Tennessee's safeties played as deep as any we've seen," said coach John Cooper, now 1-6 in bowls with the Buckeyes. "They took away our ability to make the big plays. You've got to give their defense all the credit in the world."

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Photo Ohio State's Terry Glenn (83) balks at the referee's call during the Buckeyes' Citrus Bowl loss to TenneOssee. Gary Bogdon / Orlando Sentinel