Crompton leads Vols past UAB

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Jonathan Crompton threw for 240 yards and two touchdowns to lead Tennessee to a 35-3 win over UAB on Saturday.

The Volunteers (1-1) erased bad memories of a poor offensive effort at UCLA two weeks ago before entering the toughest stretch of their Southeastern Conference schedule.

Crompton completed 19 of 31 passes and threw two interceptions before being replaced by backup Nick Stephens late in the fourth quarter.

UAB (0-3) gave Tennessee a short field to set up the Vols' first touchdown. Crompton rolled out of the pocket and tossed a 20-yard pass to Gerald Jones in the left corner of the end zone to put Tennessee up 7-0 with 4:35 in the first quarter.

A 48-yard pass from Crompton to Lucas Taylor cut the field in half in the Vols' subsequent drive. That set up another connection from Crompton to Jones on a 14-yard TD pass to put Tennessee up 14-0.

Taylor led the Vols with 132 yards on nine catches. Arian Foster ran 12 times for 100 yards and Lennon Creer added 93 yards rushing and touchdown runs of 45 yards and 3 yards.

Kevin Sanders picked off Crompton at the UAB 43 to help set up a 47-yard field goal by Swayze Waters with 9:35 in the third quarter.

The Vols responded with an 80-yard drive highlighted by a 31-yard Foster run and a 22-yard connection between Crompton and Foster. Montario Hardesty ran 2 yards for to put the Vols up 21-3 with 7:08 in the third quarter.

UAB moved into scoring position but Joe Webb threw an interception to Eric Berry at the goal line 4:25 before halftime. Three plays later, Crompton gave the ball back to the Blazers on an interception to Marquis Coleman, but Webb was sacked and UAB was out of scoring range.

Webb finished 19-for-34 for 167 yards and three interceptions, and also ran for 78 yards. Frantrell Forrest caught eight passes for 83 yards.

The Blazers were called for nine penalties for 79 yards. The UAB defense, ranked 117th of 118 Football Bowl Subdivision teams for total defense, had little success stopping the Vols, who rolled up 548 yards.

The Vols had an announced attendance of only 98,205 -- well below the 102,038 capacity. Many of the empty seats were located in the section belonging to the students, who were charged for tickets for the first time this season.