about an hour in the past
AP
AP
Photo: Tennessee Athletics
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — – After 15 many years of getting a rival to Alabama in identify only, Tennessee snapped a humbling shedding streak, stamped by itself a championship contender and celebrated in spectacular vogue.
Chase McGrath manufactured a 40-garden discipline goal as time expired to give No. 6 Tennessee a 52-49 victory in excess of No. 3 Alabama on Saturday.
As quickly as the kick knuckle-balled by way of the uprights, some of the much more than 100,000 lovers stormed the industry to be part of the party as the Volunteers (6-, 3- Southeastern Conference) finished a 15-match getting rid of streak to the Crimson Tide (6-1, 3-1).
Fireworks went off over Neyland Stadium and it glowed orange as the song “Dixieland Delight” by the band Alabama – a Crimson Tide favourite – blared in excess of the stadium speakers.
And it did not get extended for the intention posts to go down.
“This is college or university football at its absolute most effective,” Vols mentor Josh Heupel said. “We were the most effective team on the industry tonight. That’s all we can management.”
“We did not reply the bell currently,” Alabama mentor Nick Saban explained. “We did far too quite a few matters to help (Tennessee).”
Hendon Hooker drove the Vols 45 yards in 19 seconds to set up the winner. An 18-garden go to Ramel Keyton and 27-yard hookup with Bru McCoy set the stage for the winner.
“It was not my cleanest strike,” said McGrath, who skipped a PAT previously. “I didn’t have the finest contact on the ball.”
Jalin Hyatt caught 6 passes for 207 yards and a Tennessee-history five touchdowns.
Alabama quarterback Bryce Youthful, a sport-time decision for the reason that of a sprained suitable shoulder two months in the past, finished 35 passes for 455 yards and two TDs.
“It was terrific to be out there with my teammates,” Young stated. “(My) shoulder is good.”
Hyatt’s fifth TD capture tied it at 49 with 3:26 still left in the fourth.
“(This match) just transpired,” Hyatt said. “It’s not just me. It was just the seems to be we got.”
Young drove the Tide into the Tennessee territory in the ultimate moment, but Alabama stalled at the 33 with a few straight incomplete passes. Will Reichard’s 50-property industry goal attempt for the lead was vast way right.
With only 21 seconds left, time beyond regulation seemed possible, but Hooker was not accomplished and did the Heisman Trophy winner one superior.
Hooker finished with 21 completions for 385 yards and 5 TDs.
“(Hooker) played at an unbelievable level,” Heupel claimed. “He is the important to our ignition.”
“We approach each and every activity the similar,” Hooker explained. “Engage in 100% for our brothers.”
Tennessee experienced not overwhelmed a Best 10 groups given that 2006 against Ga. That was also the last calendar year the Vols conquer Alabama.
A period afterwards, Nick Saban grew to become Alabama’s mentor. As the Tide has come to be faculty football’s best dynasty with 6 countrywide titles, Tennessee has burned through coaches and been mired mediocrity.
In his second season in Knoxville, Heupel has Tennessee searching like a legit countrywide title contender at the rear of a transfer quarterback from Virginia Tech who is in the Heisman photograph.
A 7 days after Alabama held Texas A&M out of the close zone on the very last engage in of the match to dodge an upset, the Tide went down. The Vols scored the most points in opposition to an Alabama crew considering the fact that Sewanee put 54 on the Tide in 2007.
The Tide also experienced 17 penalties for 130 yards, the most in the course of the Saban period, according to ESPN.
Tennessee’s up-tempo offense jumped out to a 21-7 1st-quarter lead and led 28-20 at halftime. All four touchdown drives took around two minutes.
Younger threw for 205 yards and a landing in the first 50 percent, though Hooker experienced 166 yards and two scores. Younger wasn’t sacked, but was knocked down five times in the 50 %.
Alabama fumbled Tennessee’s only punt. The Vols recovered and scored 4 plays afterwards.
THE TAKEAWAY
Alabama: Alabama didn’t have an remedy for a Tennessee workforce that just wouldn’t give up. A late 49-42 direct slipped absent.
Tennessee: This was a massive bounce ahead for the method that Josh Heupel is constructing. Enjoying in a midseason match that has playoff implications is the 1st move towards having a taste of the best achievement.
NOT Readily available
Two important Tennessee gamers weren’t available. WR Cedric Tillman, who sustained a significant ankle sprain towards Akron, did not play despite having surgical procedure to velocity up the restoration course of action 3 weeks in the past. This was his third skipped video game.
BY THE Numbers
Hooker has thrown a touchdown go in 18 consecutive games, tying Heath Shuler’s school document (1992-94). … In one particular possession in its possess territory, Alabama had holding, movement and delay penalties and a fumbled snap that Bryce Younger recovered. The Vols bought the ball on the Tide 35 and scored 4 performs later on. … Hooker’s 3rd-quarter interception was his initial in 260 passes.
Old School
Tennessee experienced the ball on the Alabama 2. Breaking from the norm, Hooker went less than heart somewhat than the shotgun as the Vols have been lined up in the I-formation. Fullback Princeton Fant, a limited stop who was recruited as a running back, experienced his initially carry because 2018 and scored.
UP Future
Alabama: Hosts Mississippi Point out next Saturday.
Tennessee: Hosts Tennessee-Martin future Saturday.
