GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Alex Brown and Florida's defense proved Tee Martin correct.

The Tennessee quarterback paid little attention to the fact the Gators had given up 784 passing yards to a couple of creampuffs their first two games. But whenever the Volunteers showed up, Martin had said, Florida seemed to be bigger, faster, stronger, better.

It didn't take him long to find out.

	Alex Brown pulls down Tee Martin for one of his five sacks.

On the third play of the game, Martin handed off on a draw and got his coonskip cap knocked off by Brown.

The Gators' sophomore defensive end was flagged for a late hit, but the message had been succintly delivered: He would be back.

Thanks to Brown, so was the Gators' defense.

Brown had five sacks and an interception, and a defense that lost four players to the NFL and returned no starters played like world-beaters Saturday night in a 23-21 victory over the Volunteers.

Two of Tennessee's touchdowns were set up by Florida turnovers that gave the Volunteers a short field with which to work. Make the Volunteers drive the length of the field, and Brown or someone else usually was there to shut them down.

The result? Fewer renditions of "Rocky Top," and another smooth road toward another SEC title for the Gators.

Tennessee's most sustained drive in the first quarter went to the Florida 42. That ended when Martin was sacked by Brown and McCaslin on consecutive plays. Midway through the second half, the Volunteers faced fourth-and-3 from the Florida 35 when coach Phillip Fulmer gambled. Martin tried a quick slant, but the pass was picked off.

Guess who?

Brown snagged the dart for his first career interception. More telling were his five sacks, all courtesy of a fearsome burst of speed off the line considering his 6-foot-4, 251-pound frame.

Brown became a starter when Jevon Kearse left school a year early and was drafted in the first round by the Tennessee Titans. By the look of it Saturday night, the dropoff is minimal. Brown now has eight sacks in three games, one more than Kearse had all of last year.

Two of them came on consecutive plays late in the third quarter, when Tennessee trailed 23-7 and was trying to keep in the game. Both times, Brown lined up wide and was zeroing in on Martin before he received the shotgun snap.

Gerard Warren, a bullish defensive tackle playing his first game of the year because of a suspension, helped carry the load inside. Jamal Lewis had his moments, but not many not any long runs like the one that killed the Gators a year ago.

Lewis had 75 yards at halftime, but finished with only 90 yards on 22 carries. With Tennessee facing fourth-and-2 with 2:10 left in the game, Lewis was stuffed for no gain which effectively sealed Florida's victory.

Martin had an even rougher night. He was 16-of-38 for 192 yards, and saw a lot more of Brown that he wanted.