Freshman running back Eric Gray ran 25 times for 246 yards and three touchdowns, leading Tennessee to a 28-10 victory over in-state rival Vanderbilt in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday afternoon.

The Volunteers committed to the run near the end of the first quarter, and it paid off. They rushed for 222 yards in the first half, with Gray -- who entered Saturday with 207 rushing yards all season and a 3.3 per-carry average -- going for 181 and two scores, including a 94-yarder, before half. He went over 200 yards rushing in the third quarter.

The Vols' defense also set the tone early, allowing the Commodores no more than 26 yards on their first eight drives.

With Vandy not moving the ball, the Vols were content to sit on their 18-point halftime lead much of the second half. Finally, Vanderbilt showed life when quarterback Riley Neal threw a dart to wide receiver Kalija Lipscomb for a 22-yard touchdown with 11:34 left.

That put some urgency back in the Tennessee offense.

Quarterback Jarrett Guarantano hit receiver Jauan Jennings for a 50-yard catch-and-run over the middle of the field. Two plays later, Gray added a 4-yard rushing touchdown, creating the final margin.

Due to weather, the game was delayed 28 minutes before it started and 39 minutes midway through the fourth quarter.

Vanderbilt corner Jaylen Mahoney picked Guarantano on a third-and-10 play at the Tennessee 31 on the game's third snap. The Commodores, struggling to move the ball after running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn was temporarily knocked out of the game with an injury on the first play of the drive, settled for kicker Ryley Guay's 41-yard field goal.

Guarantano started 0-for-7 passing before the Vols primarily went to the ground. Gray dashed through a huge hole up the middle and then broke to the left sideline for a 56-yard scoring run with 3:04 left in the first quarter to take the lead for good.

A 19-yard punt helped set the Volunteers up at their 47, before a seven-play drive ended with Guarantano finding tight end Dominick Wood-Anderson with a 6-yard toss. Kicker Brent Cimaglia's point-after put the Vols up 14-3 with 10:51 left in the second quarter.

After the Commodores pinned the Volunteers deep with another punt, Gray dashed through another hole up the middle, going 94 yards untouched for another score.

The loss snapped Vandy's three-game winning streak in the rivalry.

Vanderbilt tight end Jared Pinkney, a preseason All-American, didn't play due to injury.

--Field Level Media