By: Matt Laws (matt.laws@averyjournal.com)
Avery Journal-Times
In the week leading up to the Georgia game, many fans questioned why Jonathon Crompton was still the starting quarterback for the Vols. On Saturday afternoon, C
rompton showed them why he should remain the starter.Crompton led the Vols with an impressive performance as the Vols took the 45-19 victory over SEC East rival Georgia.
"Very big win for us to get our first (SEC) win at home and an SEC game, it was really powerful,” UT Coach Lane Kiffin said.
Crompton’s issues on the field have been documented. However on Saturday, it looked like the beleaguered quarterback had turned the corner.
Crompton was 20 of 27 for 310 yards and had four touchdowns. He also recorded an interception early in the second half, but kept his composure.
“To see Jonathon play so well was really great,”
Kiffin said. “Four touchdowns and 300 yards passing verses a very talented defense was great to see."Crompton’s performance perhaps overshadowed another impressive defensive performance for the Vols.
"I think the storyline of the day is the defense and I hope it doesn't get missed,” Kiffin said. “The score doesn't really show it. But think about this, the defense didn't give up many points. They gave up a 52 yd field goal but they never got inside the red zone. I don t know that I've ever been a part of a game that the defense didn't let a team into the red zone one time.”
The defense held the Bulldogs in check as they allowed the Georgia offense 241 yards compared to the Vols’ 472 yards on offense. The Bulldogs got on the board with a 100 yard kickoff return, an interception returned for TD, a safety, and the field goal.
The Volunteer offense looked the best it has all season. UT got on the board early in the second quarter when Crompton found Gerald Jones for a six-yard score. Georgia got on the board on the ensuing kickoff Brandon Boykin found a seam and went the distance on the return. UT quickly answered again as Crompton found Denarius Moore who made some moves and went 33-yards for the touchdown. Crompton also found Marsalis Teague for a five-yard touchdown before the half as UT entered the locker room leading 21-12.
Tennessee got on th
e board first in the second half with a field goal. The Bulldogs tried to seize momentum when Bacarri Rambo intercepted a pass and ran in from 28-yards to pull the Bulldogs within five points.Kiffin’s Vols wouldn’t let them get any closer. Montario Hardesty broke loose for a 39-yard scamper to answer the Georgia score, and then Crompton hit Jones for a 51-yard touchdown pass. By the time Bryce Brown capped the Volunteer scoring when he dived into the checkerboard from 1-yard out with 7:48 left in the fourth, the party was on in Neyland Stadium.
Hardesty had 20 carries for 97 yards. Jones ended the game with five catches for 105 yards and two touchdowns, while Moore had four catches for 74 yards and the touchdown. Luke Stocker and Quentin Hancock added 68 and 31 yards respectively.
"They really responded and had a good week of practice,” Kiffin said of the receivers. “We had talked about stepping up. We had one less receiver this game so we needed guys to step up and play some more plays and they did that."
Tennessee was without receiver Brandon Warren who was dismissed from the team on Monday.
Despite the success, Kiffin was not happy with all of his units as the special teams drew the coach’s ire after giving up a safety on a punt as well as the kickoff return.
“I don't know what more you can do on kickoff coverage than we did this week,” Kiffin said. “Unfortunately, we got momentum and then they got a 100 yd return again. So, we'll have to look at the film and figure something out. We put everybody that we could on that team to try and make a play so we're going to have to figure it out. Obviously the safety on the blocked punt, we got beat inside on that. It was very disappointing.”
For the coaching staff, the win on Saturday meant more than just a normal victory.
“This is a big time match up for us,” Kiffin said. “[Georgia] is a state we do a lot of recruiting at so it was very important for us. I don't know all the Tennessee history and traditions of all the matchups nor do I ever pretend to, but GA is one of the great teams in this conference. I told [the team] that to me, this is the biggest matchup. To me, Georgia, because of what we need to do in recruiting, will be the biggest matchup for this staff and for our team so it was a great win for us.”
The Volunteers will take a much needed week off before heading to Tuscaloosa to face the #2 team in the nation Alabama.
