Tennessee Volunteers QB Jonathan Crompton
Maligned Football Player Delivers Career-Best Effort vs. Georgia
Oct 10, 2009
Crompton completed 20 of 27 passes for a career-high 310 yards and four touchdowns as Tennessee defeated Georgia 45-19 in a Southeastern Conference game at Knoxville, Tenn. He threw just one interception, which was a ball that bounced off a receiver's hands.
The 6-foot-4, 230-pound senior had seen action in 25 games during his four-year varsity career. And they were mostly moments Tennessee fans wanted to forget.
In 2008, he drew wire with performances such as that 8-for-23, 67-yard effort in a 14-12 loss to Auburn, and that 11-for-27, 91-yard outing in a 13-7 defeat vs. Wyoming. Criticism of the quarterback reached such extremes that he received death threats.
Things weren't going so great in 2009, either. Entering Saturday's game, Crompton was 82-for-150 for 900 yards and nine TDs, but he also had eight interceptions. And even worse, Tennessee was 2-3 overall, 0-2 in the SEC and 0-3 against teams from Bowl Championship Series conferences.
Crompton, of course, was taking much of the blame. He was limited to 93 yards passing by both UCLA and Florida, and threw a total of five interceptions in those two games. He had no interceptions in last week's 26-22 setback to Auburn, but drew little affection with an inconsistent 20-for-43, 259-yard game.
But against Georgia, Crompton showed why first-year head coach Lane Kiffin has shown faith in him, displaying poise and an accurate throwing arm.
Crompton Fires 3 TD Passes in 2nd Quarter
Crompton guided the Volunteers (3-3 overall, 1-2 SEC) on an eight-play 56-yard scoring drive, which he capped with a 6-yard TD pass to Gerald Jones for a 7-0 lead with 13 minutes, 10 seconds remaining in the second quarter.
Georgia's Brandon Boykin returned the ensuing kickoff 100 yards to tie the game at seven, but Crompton had the Volunteers back ahead just 37 seconds later, hitting Demarius Moore with a 33-yard score.
After the Bulldogs (3-3) pulled within 14-10 on a 53-yard Blair Walsh field goal, Crompton led the Vols on a six-play, 74-yard touchdown drive. He hit all four of his passes – including a 33-yarder to Jones and a 5-yard TD to Marsalis Teague.
At the end of the half, Crompton was 12-for-15 for 205 yards, and his team held a 21-12 lead.
Crompton, Vols Bounce Back from Interception
The worst moment for Crompton came with 8:21 left in the third quarter. He made a high-velocity throw that was slightly behind the receiver deflected into the hands of Baccari Rambo, who returned it 28 yards for a TD.
That cut Tennessee's lead to 24-19 and put the Vols offense into a position where it needed to respond.
It did just that. The Vols marched 80 yards for a touchdown, taking a 31-19 lead on Montario Hardesty’s 39-yard TD run with 4:15 remaining in the quarter.
Crompton then delivered the most devastating blow to the Bulldogs, firing to a wide-open Jones for a 51-yard score to make it 38-19 with 1:20 left in the period.
Crompton Had Plenty of Help
It wasn't just Crompton who had a great game. Tennessee's offensive line did not allow a sack, and the hard-running Hardesty also kept heat off Crompton by rushing 20 times for 101 yards. Crompton had been sacked 10 times over the first five games.
The receivers also stepped up after a shaky performance vs. Auburn. Jones had five catches for 105 yards and two TDs. Moore added four receptions for 73 yards and a TD, and tight end Luke Stocker made four catches for 68 yards.
Tennessee's defense, meanwhile, limited Georgia to 241 yards and no touchdowns. The Bulldogs' only offensive points came on Walsh's field goal.
What's Next for Crompton, Vols
Despite a strong team effort and a sterling performance by their QB, Volunteers fans can't get too giddy just yet. The victory came against a Georgia team that's been up and down all season.
And next week, Tennessee plays at No. 2 Alabama, which just might have the best defense in the nation. And Crompton will be pressured much more heavily than he was by Georgia.
