KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — After 15 years of being a rival to Alabama in identify solely, Tennessee snapped a humbling shedding streak, stamped itself a championship contender and celebrated in spectacular trend.
Chase McGrath made a 40-yard discipline objective as time expired to provide No. 6 Tennessee a 52-49 victory over No. 3 Alabama on Saturday.
As quickly because the kick knuckle-balled by the uprights, among the greater than 100,000 followers stormed the sector to affix the occasion because the Volunteers (6-0, 3-0 Southeastern Convention) ended a 15-game shedding streak to the Crimson Tide (6-1, 3-1).
Fireworks went off over Neyland Stadium and it glowed orange because the track “Dixieland Delight” by the band Alabama — a Crimson Tide favourite — blared over the stadium audio system.
And it didn’t take lengthy for the objective posts to go down.
“That is school soccer at its very best,” Vols coach Josh Heupel mentioned. “We had been the perfect workforce on the sector tonight. That’s all we are able to management.
“We didn’t reply the bell right now,” Alabama coach Nick Saban mentioned. “We did too many issues to assist (Tennessee).”
Hendon Hooker drove the Vols 45 yards in 19 seconds to arrange the winner. An 18-yard cross to Ramel Keyton and 27-yard hookup with Bru McCoy set the stage for the winner.
“It wasn’t my cleanest hit,” mentioned McGrath, who missed a PAT earlier. “I didn’t have the perfect contact on the ball.”
Jalin Hyatt caught six passes for 207 yards and a Tennessee-record 5 touchdowns.
Alabama quarterback Bryce Younger, a game-time determination due to a sprained proper shoulder two weeks in the past, accomplished 35 passes for 455 yards and two TDs.
“It was nice to be on the market with my teammates,” Younger mentioned. “(My) shoulder is ok.”
Hyatt’s fifth TD catch tied it at 49 with 3:26 left within the fourth.
“(This sport) simply occurred,” Hyatt mentioned. “It’s not simply me. It was simply the appears we bought.”
Younger drove the Tide into the Tennessee territory within the closing minute, however Alabama stalled on the 33 with three straight incomplete passes. Will Reichard’s 50-yard discipline objective try for the lead was huge approach proper.
With solely 21 seconds left, time beyond regulation appeared probably, however Hooker wasn’t performed and did the Heisman Trophy winner one higher.
Hooker completed with 21 completions for 385 yards and 5 TDs.
“(Hooker) performed at an unbelievable degree,” Heupel mentioned. “He’s the important thing to our ignition.”
“We method each sport the identical,” Hooker mentioned. “Play 100% for our brothers.”
Tennessee had not crushed a High 10 groups since 2006 in opposition to Georgia. That was additionally the final yr the Vols beat Alabama.
A season later, Nick Saban grew to become Alabama’s coach. Because the Tide has turn into school soccer’s best dynasty with six nationwide titles, Tennessee has burned by coaches and been mired mediocrity.
In his second season in Knoxville, Heupel has Tennessee wanting like a reliable nationwide title contender behind a switch quarterback from Virginia Tech who's within the Heisman image.
Every week after Alabama held Texas A&M out of the top zone on the final play of the sport to dodge an upset, the Tide went down. The Vols scored probably the most factors in opposition to an Alabama workforce since Sewanee put 54 on the Tide in 2007.
The Tide additionally had 17 penalties for 130 yards, probably the most through the Saban period, in response to ESPN.
Tennessee’s up-tempo offense jumped out to a 21-7 first-quarter lead and led 28-20 at halftime. All 4 landing drives took over two minutes.
Younger threw for 205 yards and a landing within the first half, whereas Hooker had 166 yards and two scores. Younger wasn’t sacked, however was knocked down 5 occasions within the half.
Alabama fumbled Tennessee’s solely punt. The Vols recovered and scored 4 performs later.
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