The Battle At Neyland Fizzles
The Vols' Scoring Drizzles
Photo Credit: CBS Sports |
The University of Alabama Crimson Tide football team did this afternoon what they do best...win.
No miracles. No rabbit out of the hat. No sleight of hand.
Just Alabama football showing the University of Tennessee football team not to count its chickens before they hatch.
Enough cliche's?
Well, we've heard enough of them from Tennessee the past several years now. "This is our year," or "This is a new beginning," or "We've got this one this year," or "Have you Hurd how our offense is going to expose your defense?"
In the end, it was the same. Or was it? Last year in Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa was close. This one wasn't. It really wasn't even close just prior to the opening kickoff. You could look at the Alabama football players, and offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin, and see that this one was going to be one of those heavyweight bouts you paid big bucks to see but the knockout occurred in the first round.
The No. 1 ranked University of Alabama Crimson Tide horse-whipped the No. 9/11 Volunteers of Tenness in their own house in Knoxville this afternoon 49-10. This was the worst loss for the Vols in the series in the 110-years since the first game was played back in 1906, 51-0. This was also the largest regular season win for the Tide over an Associated Press Top-10 team.
Freshman Tide quarterback Jalen Hurts may not have been perfect on the day, but he sure made up for any fumble or misreads. The youngster is dangerous. The youngster is phenomenal. In fact, the youngster is going to be one of the best quarterbacks to play the position at UA if he can stay healthy.
Alabama used a powerful running game, passing game, special teams play and defense to leave Tennessee in shambles...and the Vol fans in shock.
This is the Crimson Tide's 19th consecutive victory, dating back to last season, and was Bama's 10th consecutive win over the Volunteers. It was a game showcasing every facet of the football team, from coaching & play-calling right on down to execution. Alabama improves to 7-0 overall, 4-0 SEC while the Volunteers, losing their 13th consecutive game to an SEC Western Division school, falls to 5-2 overall, 2-2 SEC.
With his 58-yard pick six today, Ronnie Harrison became the seventh Alabama defensive player to score a touchdown this season. Eddie Jackson also returned a punt on special teams for a 79-yard score. That's now 11 non-offensive scores for the Tide this season, eight of which came by way of defense.
What an offensive display. Two Crimson Tide backs had 100 rushing yards, quarterback Jalen Hurts and running back Bo Scarbrough. Damien Harris got oh-so-close with 94 yards on 14 carries. The offense put up a total of 438 rushing yards against the Vols, the most since 1986 when Bama racked up 451 yards against, you guessed it, Tennessee.
Game Stats | UA | UT |
---|---|---|
Total Yards | 594 | 163 |
Pass Yards | 156 | 131 |
Rushing Yards | 438 | 32 |
Penalty Yards | 5-38 | 1-10 |
1st Downs | 28 | 11 |
3rd Downs | 6-12 | 3-16 |
4th Downs | 0-1 | 0-1 |
TOP | 31:33 | 28:27 |
Photo Credit: Alabama Athletics |
Photo Credit: Alabama Athletics |