It’s been nearly 16 years since the Tennessee Volunteers football team scored a win against the Nick Saban coached Alabama Crimson Tide. On Saturday night, the Vols did just that in a last second thriller to remain undefeated in the SEC. In a game that both teams combined for 100+ points and amassed 1,000 yards, the Vols finally jumped over the hurdle that’s eluded them for nearly two decades, beating the Crimson Tide 52-49.
The game had many turns; however, it was the end of the first quarter that did it for me. I stood in shock as the Tennessee Volunteers ended the first quarter with a two touchdown lead, 21-7. From the opening kickoff, I was amazed by Tennessee’s physicality and sheer dominance on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. As with many epic Crimson Tide battles, I didn’t put much thought into a possible upset due to Alabama’s resilience and will to always find a way to turn the tides. Shucks! Alabama should have lost to the Texas Longhorns. Texas was way more physical and skilled at times, but couldn’t maintain in the fourth quarter.
The matchup featured 2021 Heisman winner Bryce Young at quarterback for the Crimson Tide, which was a game time decision due to missing the past two contests due to injury and Tennessee star QB, Hendon Hooker who is a hopeful for this year’s trophy. Both quarterbacks performed exceptionally well with Hooker finishing with 385 passing yards and 5 touchdowns to star wide-out Jalin Hyatt who set a school receiving record with 203 yards. Bryce Young actually threw for 455 yards and two touchdowns going 35/52 in pass completions.
It was evident from the coin toss that the Vol’s had the momentum and a ruckus crowd behind them with nearly 105,000 fans wearing orange and white. For the entire game, it looked like Hooker was in the two-minute offense, as the Vols only had one drive all night that lasted more than 2:40. The strikes from the Tennessee offense were fast and deliberate, with each one sending shock waves throughout the Crimson Tide sideline. One thing was for certain, the Roll-Tide was going to have to roll to keep up with the pace. I must admit, Bryce Young and Biggs answered every blow with one spectacular play after another; however, we knew it was going to come down to the last minute.
At the end of the third quarter, Alabama finally secured a one point lead 35-34 as the Crimson Tide players held up four fingers heading into the fourth. The fourth quarter was a hard fought battle with both teams fighting through fatigue and pass interference penalties. To be quite frank, the Crimson Tide, known for their discipline, set a record for yellow flags with 17, totaling 130 yards. Yikes; from a Nick Saban coached team, such is unheard of.
After trading blows, the game came down to a pressure filled field goal contest. First was Alabama’s Reichard’s, with :15 seconds left in regulation and the ball on the 32 yard line, Reichard took a golf-like leg swing from 49 yards and the pig skin drifted right of the goal post. No good! With only :13 seconds left, Tennessee took over and needed at least 25 yards to make a game winning field goal possible. Hooker took the snap and found Keyton for 18 yards, putting the Vols in position with :09 seconds on the clock. Still time for one more play, Hooker found McCoy streaking down the middle of the field for a 27-yard pick-up, time out! Out jogged Chase McGrath. Of course, Nick Saban exercised his right to wait until anticipation had built to a climax, before calling time-out! With all pauses exhausted, the snap, the kick and a wobbly sidewinder barely made it over the uprights, Tennessee win, Tennessee win!
A field of Orange and White stormed the field with Ol Smokey and the Vol’s faithful will live the celebration of beating Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide for what must’ve felt like eternity! Welcome to the Saturday Night Lights~
