In lore of football past, it is said that winning cures all evils.

With Tennessee's back against the wall after a 2-3 start, a hefty chip squarely on the shoulders of a struggling offense, and everything to prove, the Vols silenced their doubters and cured their evils - at least for one Saturday in October.

Jonathan Crompton threw for a career-high 310 yards and four touchdowns and Montario Hardesty rushed for 101 yards and a score as Tennessee routed Georgia 45-19 Saturday at Neyland Stadium.

Crompton led a steady dose of run and pass for the Vols that hasn't been seen since the season-opening win over Western Kentucky.

"It was a great win for us ... to see Jonathan [Crompton] play so well is great," said head coach Lane Kiffin. "It's really great to see him, to see the guys with four touchdowns and 300 yards passing against a very talented defense."

The Vols compiled 472 total yards compared to Georgia's 241.

Lost in the glow of 45 points on the scoreboard and a 26-point win over a conference rival was the play of the Tennessee defense. A dominant effort that didn't allow the Bulldogs to reach the red zone a single time.

"I think the story line of the day is the defense. The score doesn't really show it, 45-19, but think about this, the defense didn't give up any points," said Kiffin.

"They gave up what, a 52-yard field goal. [Georgia] never got inside the red zone. I don't know that I've ever been a part of a game where a defense didn't let a team into the red zone one time."

On the offensive side of the ball, Tennessee found its stride after a scoreless first quarter, scoring three times on its first three possessions in the second quarter - led by quarterback Crompton's three touchdown passes.

Crompton threw touchdown passes to cap drives of 56, 45 and 74 yards respectively.

Gerald Jones, Denarius Moore and freshman Marsalis Teague were the targets of Crompton's second quarter scoring strikes.

The Tennessee special teams unit was a disappointment for the third time in as many weeks.

After the Vols' first touchdown, Georgia's Brandon Boykin returned the ensuing kickoff 100 yards for a Georgia touchdown, the second time he has done so this year.

It was the second time in three weeks that the Vols have allowed a kickoff return for a touchdown, the other coming two weeks ago in Tennessee's win over Ohio.

"To win a game 45-19 and play pathetic on special teams says a ton about your defense. I think that is the story line - and the play of Jonathan [Crompton]."

Special teams woes were the only downfall for the Vols, with Boykin's returned kickoff for a touchdown as well as a blocked Chad Cunningham punt that went out of the back of the end zone for a Bulldog safety.

Tennessee tacked on two more scores in the third quarter.

Hardesty answered a Georgia touchdown off an interception with a score of his own. He went 39-yards for the score, completing an eight play, 80 yard scoring drive after the Bulldogs touchdown.

Crompton found Gerald Jones for their second touchdown connection of the day on the Vols next possession, this time on a 51-yard score.

Bryce Brown scored from one yard out to make the score 45-19. 

The touchdown was set up by an Eric Berry fumble recovery. Berry recovered the fumble and weaved 46 yards to the Bulldogs 14-yard line.

Brown was the second freshman to score for the Vols, after the touchdown pass caught by Teague.

"I told the guys last night, I don't know all of the Tennessee history and tradition, with the matchups and all of that, nor do I pretend to," Kiffin said. "But I told them, to me, this is the biggest matchup."

"Meeting Georgia, because of recruiting, would be the biggest matchup for this team and for our staff."

The Vols have a bye week Saturday before going on the road for only the second time this year to face rival Alabama.