Washington gives Vols offensive spark

Yes, Kelley Washington almost single-handledly saved 3-0 Tennessee from a loss to LSU last weekend. But if quarterback Casey Clausen doesn't become more consistent, upsets surely lurk just around the corner.

The 26-18 win over LSU was a tale of two halves, and the Vols literally stunk up the joint in the first half when they gave up a 67-yard LSU touchdown bomb and squandered three TD opportunities inside LSU's 30 yard-line, coming away with only two field goals and trailing 7-6 at intermission.

And in the final 11:46, after having stifled LSU for three quarters except for the 67-yard TD pass play, Tennessee's defense gave up LSU scoring drives of 75 and 80 yards which narrowed the Vol lead to only 26-18.

If there'd been another 90 seconds on the clock when LSU got the ball the last time, the game might have gone into overtime, and Tennessee might have lost.

But Washington, who appeared out of nowhere last winter and asked to walk-on, caught 11 passes for a Tennessee record 235 yards and scored one TD on a 70-yard pass play.

In an articulate, unassuming manner, Washington just says he wants to contribute. And, for a team with a depleted receiver corps, he's a Robin Hood arriving in the nick of time to save Maid Marian.

He finds the crease in zone coverages, beats man-to-man coverage in a breeze, and makes difficult catches seem easy. He's well on his way to becoming the best walk-on in SEC history.

Without him Saturday, Tennessee (3-0) could not have beaten LSU and maintained its lofty national ranking going into this week's game with Georgia.

But Clausen's erratic play, if it continues, means uncertainty and possibly losses for the Vols in the weeks ahead.

At times, Clausen is sensational, like when he completed his first six passes of the second half and was 5-for-5 for 101 yards in the third quarter. At times, he is a disaster waiting to happen. Early against LSU, two of his first three passes were intercepted.

When Clausen is on his game, the Vols play like national champions. When he is off, as he was except for three straight scoring possessions to start the second half, the Vols are ripe for the picking.

Other concerns coach Phillip Fulmer and his staff have as the Vols begin preparation today for Georgia are the injuries in the LSU game.

Will Overstreet, who has played brilliantly at defensive end, may undergo knee surgery. Defensive tackle John Henderson aggravated his sprained ankle. Wide receiver Eric Parker reinjured his shoulder but, like Henderson, returned to the game.

Notebook

Kelley Washington's 256 receiving yards against LSU were third most for a single-game in SEC history but far short of the national record, 405 yards by Louisiana Tech's Troy Edwards against Nebraska in 1998. ... Johnny Mills held the old Tennessee record (225 against Kentucky in 1966). ... Safetyman Julian Battle moved to cornerback after Andre Lott got burned on LSU's 67-yard TD pass play. ... Battle led all Vols with eight tackles. ... Vol free safety Rashad Baker played well, had seven hits. ... LSU linebacker Trev Fault had an All-America day (13 tackles). ... The LSU game crowd (108,472) was second largest in Neyland Stadium history and the largest for an LSU team.

Elsewhere in the SEC

Florida's 52-0 win over Miss State was payback for State's 47-35 victory over the Gators a year ago. ... Florida racked up 640 yards total offense. ... Georgia's redshirt, left-handed QB, David Greene, threw for 298 yards and two TDs in beating Arkansas, 34-23. ... South Carolina's Phil Petty is the SEC's most under-rated QB. ... Can Penn State's Joe Paterno and Notre Dame's Bob Davie survive 0-3 starts?

Bob Gilbert is a former Associated Press sports writer, retired director of University of Tennessee news operations and biographer of Gen. Robert R. Neyland, Tennessee's legendary football coach.