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PEERLESS WAS JUST THAT FOR VOLS
TEMPE, Ariz. - In one priceless play, Peerless lived up to his name.
Early in the fourth quarter Monday night, Peerless Price saw a sure touchdown - and a
national championship - bounce off his chest
into the hands of a defender.
Just four minutes later, Tennessee's big-play receiver gathered in the longest pass ever
completed in the Fiesta Bowl, a 79-yarder that helped saved the title. A perfect play to
cinch a perfect season, capped by a 23-16 victory over Florida State.
It was third-and-eight from the Tennessee 21 when Price went racing down the sidelines,
outrunning cornerback Mario Edwards, and Tee Martin let fly.
At about the 25, Price caught the ball, held on tight and ran untouched into the end zone.
The play, longest in Fiesta Bowl history, put Tennessee up 20-9 with 9:17 left.
"Peerless Price has made more happen at wide receiver than any receiver we've had at
Tennessee, and we've had some good ones," Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer said.
The Vols held on to win, and there's no doubt what play the tens of thousands of
orange-clad Tennessee fans in the record crowd of 80,470 would remember most.
"Peerless got it done on our side," Fulmer said.
For Price, the speedster from Dayton, Ohio, there could be no more dramatic way to make up
for his mistake.
Early in the fourth quarter, Volunteers' punter David Leaverton had pinned the Seminoles
on their own 1. Tennessee's defense held, as it did most of the long, penalty-filled
night.
Florida State punted and the Volunteers had first down on the Seminoles' 35. Leading 14-9,
a touchdown would go a long way toward clinching the victory.
On first down, Martin went for it all. Price sliced between two defenders just across the
goal line and the ball was delivered right on target. Inexplicably, the Vols' leading
receiver, with 61 catches going into the game, couldn't hang on.
The ball bounced off Price's chest into the hands of Dexter Jackson, who had a miserable
first half when he was called for roughing the kicker on a field goal try and a late hit.
Jackson returned the ball to the Florida State 26.
The Seminoles moved to midfield, but once again, their offense stalled. Tennessee took
over, and Price made the biggest play of his career.
The senior finished with four catches for 199 yards. In the only big Tennessee play of the
first half, he caught a 76-yarder from Martin to set up the Vols' first touchdown.
"I told Peerless I'd miss him next year," said Martin, a junior.
Early in the fourth quarter, Volunteers' punter David Leaverton had pinned the Seminoles
on their own 1. Tennessee's defense held, as it did most of the long, penalty-filled
night.
Florida State punted and the Volunteers had first down on the Seminoles' 35. Leading 14-9,
a touchdown would go a long way toward clinching the victory.
On first down, Martin went for it all. Price sliced between two defenders just across the
goal line and the ball was delivered right on target. Inexplicably, the Vols' leading
receiver, with 61 catches going into the game, couldn't hang on.
The ball bounced off Price's chest into the hands of Dexter Jackson, who had a miserable
first half when he was called for roughing the kicker on a field goal try and a late hit.
Jackson returned the ball to the Florida State 26.
The Seminoles moved to midfield, but once again, their offense stalled. Tennessee took
over, and Price made the biggest play of his career.
The senior finished with four catches for 199 yards. In the only big Tennessee play of the
first half, he caught a 76-yarder from Martin to set up the Vols' first touchdown.
"I told Peerless I'd miss him next year," said Martin, a junior.
Only one player had more yards receiving in a Fiesta Bowl. Darnell McDonald of Kansas
State had 206 yards receiving in the Wildcats' victory over Syracuse a year ago.
The longest pass play in the Fiesta Bowl had been McDonald's 77-yard catch from Michael
Bishop a year ago - until Martin heaved the ball toward the desert stars and Price watched
it fall right into his hands.
Peerless, indeed.
From The Associated Press
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