Crompton Comes Alive: Vols crush Georgia 45-19

Photo by Michael Patrick

Tennessee quarterback Jonathan Crompton (8) passing during second half action against Georgia on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009 at Neyland Stadium.

Tennessee and quarterback Jonathan Crompton had plenty to celebrate Saturday.

Crompton threw four touchdown passes to lead the Vols to a 45-19 romp over Georgia in coach Lane Kiffin’s first SEC win.

A crowd of 103,261 at Neyland Stadium watched the UT (3-3, 1-2 SEC) shut down Georgia (3-3, 2-2).

The Bulldogs only offensive points were a 52-yard Blair Walsh field goal. The other scores came on a kickoff return, an interception return and a safety.

Tennessee was up 21-12 at the half after a surprising aerial assault from Crompton.

After a scoreless first quarter, Crompton fired three touchdown passes in the second.

He first hit Gerald Jones from 6 yards out, but UT’s 7-0 lead lasted only seconds.

Brandon Boykin returned the ensuing kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown.

Tennessee went back in front 14-7 on Crompton’s 33-yard TD pass to Denarius Moore.

After Georgia’s field goal, the Vols kept coming. Crompton hit Marsalis Teague from 5 yards out to make it 21-10.

The Bulldogs salvaged two points on a safety by blocking a Chad Cunningham punt out of the end zone with 23 seconds left in the half.

Early in the third quarter the Vols added a 30-yard Daniel Lincoln field goal after a Dennis Rogan interception to lead 24-12.

Georgia closed to 24-19 when Bacari Rambo intercepted Crompton and raced 18 yards for a touchdown.

Tennessee answered with a pair of big plays, however.

Montario Hardesty ran 39 yards for a score, then Crompton hit Jones for a 51-yard score and the third quarter ended with Tennessee up 38-19.

The Vols got more in the fourth quarter. Eric Berry’s 46-yard mid-air fumble return to the Georgia 14 set up Bryce Brown’s 1-yard scoring run to make it 45-19.

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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