Tennessee defeats Alabama, 52-49

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - With seconds left in the game, Tennessee defeated No. 3 Alabama. Knoxville exploded in celebration immediately afterward.

Here are the highlights from the game:

1ST QUARTER

Tennessee won the coin toss and deferred to the 2nd half. Bryce Young and Alabama would get the first crack at it and after picking up one first down, were shut down by the Volunteer defense first on consecutive runs and then an incomplete pass on third and long. The Tide would punt to Tennessee.

The Vols’ first possession would start at their own 44. A first down pass to Bru McCoy, and Tennessee was on it’s way. Hendon Hooker would pick up some nice yardage. On 3rd and 6 at the Alabama 21, Hooker connected with tight end Jacob Warren for a big first down. A 7-yard run by Jabari Small got Tennessee down to the Tide one and from there it’s Small coming up big. The TD run would be reviewed but upheld. The PAT by Chase McGrath made it 7-0 Vols with 10:18 remaining in the 1st quarter.

On its second possession, Bama picked up a big first down into Tennessee territory on a Bryce Young pass. It was 3rd and 6 and the UT 33. After a holding penalty, Bama striked with the big play on a perfect pass and catch from Young to Isaiah Bond. The play covered 33 yards. On the next play, while being pressured, it looked as if Young was throwing it away, but #80 Kobie Prentice made a tightrope catch on the sideline. On the next play, Jahmir Gibbs ran it in from 4 yards out. The game was tied 7-7 with 7:59 remaining in the first quarter.

WOW! Tennessee stuffed Bama on defense and then scored on its third straight possession. Once again 5+11=6! Vols with 21 1st quarter points after scoring 24 for the game last year. Hooker 6-7, 97 yards and 2 TDs.

2ND QUARTER

Vols’ defense bent but did not break, holding Alabama to a short FG. Will Reichard is good from 20 yards, and Tennessee led 21-10 with 14:07 remaining in the half.

What a series of events. Bama’s Quandarrius Robinson muffs a UT punt. Then it’s Hooker to Ramel Keyton on a 31-yard pass play to the Bama 9. From the 2-yard line, it’s TE Princeton Fant out of the fullback position for the TD! Vols led 28-10 with 11:41 in the 2nd quarter.

Alabama answered with an 84-yard TD drive capped off by a Bryce Young pass to Ja’Corey Brooks in the end zone from 7 yards out. Bama pulled within eleven. 28-17 Vols with 6:46 remaining in the 1st half.

Instead of attempting a 52-yard FG, coach Josh Heupel chose to go for it on 4th and 6, but Hendon Hooker’s pass to Ramel Keyton in the end zone was overthrown. The ball went over on downs to the Crimson Tide.

Bama immediately began to drive and moved into Tennessee territory thanks to the passing of Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young. The game was stopped for a review of a possible targeting call on Omari Thomas against Bryce Young on a deep pass that was incomplete out of the end zone. It was determined not to be targeting. Then on 2nd and 10 and the Vols 20 with 1:28 remaining in the half, Tennessee would stuff the run. On 3rd and 15 at the 25, Bama’s pass was incomplete. That set up Will Reichard from 43 yards out. The FG is good, and Bama came up to 28-20 with 36 seconds remaining in the half.

The Vols would bring in Joe Milton for one last pass from their own 46 to the Bama end zone. The pass got there but fell incomplete as Tennessee takes a 28-20 lead into the locker room.

3RD QUARTER

In the opening rush, Hooker faked a pass and managed to get a first down. Small came back to get another down to pick it up at the 50-yard line. He spent a minute catching his breath. Hooker threw a deep pass to Ramel Keyton, but he spun and lost the momentum, 3rd down at 13.

Jaylen Wright ran for 6 years, just sneaking into Alabama territory. Alabama’s defense kept the Vols from getting to the line at 4th and 2.

Although originally ruling a turnover of downs, the SEC referees reviewed what down it is. Several minutes of deliberation maintained the call.

Bama’s offense picked up the ball at the 40-yard-line. Tennessee’s defense slammed into Bama for a loss of 3 yards. Young’s pass to a wide-open Jahmyr Gibbs made a 26-yard touchdown. Alabama’s first attempt at a two-point conversion is successful this season, bringing the score up to 28-28.

The Vols picked up the ball at their own 25-yard line and ran the ball for a 3-yard gain. A MASSIVE 60-yard throw to Hyatt brought Vols ahead. However, McGrath missed the kick, 34-28 with 10 mins left.

Paxton Brooks kickoff for 65 yards for a touchback. Gibbs ran for 3 yards before he met the Vols’ defense. Young’s pass to Isaiah Bond was incomplete, but Bama got a first down on the next play with an 8-yard pass to Prentice.

Bama’s drive moved down the field with three complete passes.

Young threw a solid pass to an open Gibbs at Tennessee’s 2, and a penalty against UT’s Banks brought the ball to the one-yard line. Saban called a timeout to catch his breath with 4:52 left in the game.

Tennessee’s defense nipped at the heels of McClellan as he made it into the endzone. A holding play against Alabama moved the ball back five yards to the Vols’ 16.

A pass was incomplete to Brooks, but a penalty call against Tennessee brought the ball back to the 2. Bama walked into the endzone, bringing the score up to 35-34 Bama.

Small started the drive with a few runs for two first downs. Hooker’s pass was intercepted by Bama. They don’t get far when the clock runs out, starting the 4th Quarter.

4TH QUARTER

Tennessee opened the drive at their own 6. Hyatt made an amazing catch and ran past any hopeful Bama defensive players for a 78-yard touchdown. The two-point conversion was good, bringing the score up to 42-35.

This was a record day for Hyatt already. This was his first game with four touchdowns. There was still plenty of game left with 14 minutes left in the 4th quarter.

Paxton Brooks kickoff for 65 yards for a touchback. Young was sacked by Omari Thomas for a 2nd and 24. A massive run by Gibbs brought the ball to the 5. Alabama brought it up to the 1-yard line but met Tennessee’s defense. It was 4th and goal before a pass connected with Cameron Latu for a touchdown. Alabama tied the game, 42-42 with 8:36 left.

The ball came back to Tennessee’s 5. Hooker made a smart move by going for a 10-yard run. Alabama picked up a fumbled ball and ran it into the endzone, bringing the score to 49-42 Alabama.

Vols picked up the ball and immediately grabbed the first down. A defensive pass interference granted Tennessee a new set of downs. There were 5 minutes left in the game. Tennessee faced 4th and one at the Alabama 34. A false start penalty backed Tennessee up 5 yards.

Two flags were thrown down after Alabama intercepted the ball in Tennessee’s endzone on 4th down. Referees deliberated and called a pass interference against Alabama, which granted Tennessee another chance.

A pass connected with Hyatt, bringing the score up to 49-49 and giving Hyatt another record for five touchdowns in a game.

With under a minute left in the game, Young passed to Prentice to bring the ball to the 50-yard line.

The ball stopped at the 32-yard line within field goal range. Tennessee called a timeout with 25 seconds left.

Reichard missed a 50-yard field goal.

There was one second left. Hooker completed a pass within field goal range. McGrath made the kick, beating Alabama 52-49. Knoxville exploded in celebration.

This year’s edition of “The Third Saturday in October” featured a battle of undefeated teams for the first time since 1989 as No. 6 Vols play host to No. 3 Alabama inside a sold-out Neyland Stadium.

Saturday marked the sixth time in the series history that the Vols and Crimson Tide met as top-10 opponents inside of Neyland Stadium and several VFLs are back for this one including Chicago Bears rookie Velus Jones.

Tennessee is the only FBS program this season with three or more victories over AP Top 25 ranked teams at the time of meeting. They’ll try and continue that trend this afternoon against the Crimson Tide.

Also in attendance today, the Sheriff himself, Peyton Manning and fellow quarterback Josh Heupel spending a couple of minutes together down on the field prior to kickoff.

Copyright 2022 WVLT. All rights reserved.