Tatum grad Lennon Creer probably could not believe it. But, more than 70,000 people in attendance at the Southeastern Conference Championship saw it.

Lennon Creer, who is a true freshman for the Tennessee Volunteers, etched his name in the SEC title-game record book with a 50-yard kickoff return, topping the previous record of 46 yards by Auburn's Markeigh Cooper in 1997.

Lennon Creer finished the contest with four kickoff returns for 99 yards. He also had one carry for one yard and one catch for six yards. Fellow Tatum graduate Denarius Moore, also a true freshman at Tennessee, caught one pass for 16 yards in the Vols' 21-14 loss to LSU. Tennessee, now 9-4 overall, faces Wisconsin in the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Fla., at 11 a.m. on New Year's Day. ...

The Florida volleyball team defeated College of Charleston (3-0) and Oklahoma (3-0) to earn a spot in the NCAA Championship Regional, which Lady Gators will host. Amber McCray, a Pine Tree graduate and Florida senior, had 16 kills and two digs in the win over Charleston. She had 11 kills, seven digs and three blocks (one solo) against Oklahoma. She hit .438 against Charleston and .310 against Oklahoma. Florida, currently ranked 10th in the latest NCAA Division I poll, is 29-2. Florida joins St. John's, Southern California and Texas in the regional. ...

Oklahoma blasted Missouri 38-17 in the Big 12 Conference title game, and former Longview wide receiver Malcolm Kelly, an Oklahoma junior, caught four passes for 72 yards. Former Gilmer Buckeye Manuel Johnson, also an OU wide receiver, snared one pass for 17 yards. Oklahoma is 11-2 overall and will play in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl against West Virginia in Tempe, Ariz., at 7 p.m. on Jan. 2. ...

Texas A&M-Commerce's Daniel Swaim (Kilgore), Darron Sheppard (Longview) and Derek McKenzie (Gilmer) recently finished their junior football seasons. Swaim, a 6-1, 230-pound punter, averaged 38.8 yards per punt on 56 boots, pinning 16 punts inside the 20-yard line.

Sheppard played extensively on the offensive line. McKenzie had four tackles (two solos). TAMU-Commerce finished 5-6 overall and 3-2 in the Lone Star Conference. ...

Oklahoma City University volleyball player Adrienne Tillery, a Carthage graduate, had 94 kills, 59 blocks and 18 digs this year. The freshman outside hitter, who played in 23 matches and started nine, helped Oklahoma City finish 34-10 overall and 8-4 in the Sooner Athletic Conference. ...

Northwestern State quarterback Germayne Edmond, a Daingerfield graduate, completed 88 of 163 passes for 1,065 yards and eight touchdowns this year. Edmond also had 89 carries for 413 yards, scoring seven touchdowns. Former Longview player Gordon Freeman, a sophomore tight end, had seven catches for 63 yards, including one touchdown catch.

University of Miami basketball player Raymond Hicks, a Longview grad, scored four points and pulled down six rebounds in Miami's 66-47 win over St. John's. Hicks also pulled down five rebounds in the Hurricanes' 83-74 triumph over Alabama State. Miami is a perfect 7-0 on the young season. ...

Senior articles will run during the Christmas holiday. However, please understand, because of bowl games, there maybe one or two of the articles that will be delayed. As we get more information on the bowl games, I will make that available. I will have a complete listing of seniors that will be featured in upcoming senior articles.

In addition, I am looking for winter athletes to write about. If anyone wants to make sure a son/daughter is on my growing list, please e-mail me (Dan62293@cs.com). I will need the name of the athlete, the former high school, the college/university he or she is attending and the sport he or she is playing. Please put "Longview News-Journal" in the subject line of the e-mail.

See more at www.news-journal.com