Bedlam and cigars… Vols finally end losing streak against Bama

Published 2:08 pm Monday, October 17, 2022

By Ivan Sanders

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KNOXVILLE- The frustration of being unable to defeat Alabama for the last 15 years finally lifted as Tennessee placekicker Chase McGrath sent a 40-yard field goal through the uprights as time expired to give the Volunteers a 52-49 victory that sent over 101,915 fans into a celebration that covered the playing field of Neyland Stadium as fans flooded the field and the goal posts came down.
Fans have waited for a long time to bring the goalposts down but there was doubt in the final minutes of the game that would be the case.
Tennessee set the tempo in the first half of the game as the Vols offense was clinking on every cylinder in the half as Coach Josh Heupel saw his team build a 28-20 halftime lead. That lead had been 21-7 in the first half before the Crimson Tide responded to pull within eight at the half.
Jabari Small put the home team in front early as he bullied his way onto the orange and white checkboard for a 7-0 Tennessee lead after McGrath converted the point-after attempt.
Alabama marched down the field to pull even as Jahmyr Gibbs crossed the goal line from eight yards out as Will Reichard booted the PAT to tie the contest at 7-7.
After the Crimson Tide score, it was the Jalin Hyatt show as the Vol wide receiver hauled in touchdown catches of 36 yards and 11 yards from Hendon Hooker to give the Vols a 21-7 lead on McGrath’s PATs.
The quarter ended at 21-7 in favor of Tennessee.
A 21-yard field goal from the foot of Reichard pulled the Tide within 21-10. Tennessee’s offense made short work of the ensuing possession as Princeton Fant carried the ball into the south end zone to extend the lead back to 28-10 with McGrath’s kick as 11:41 showed remaining in the half.
Alabama tacked on a couple of scores before the half as Ja’Corey Brooks caught a seven-yard pass from Bryce Young and Reichard boot the ball through the uprights.
Reichard added a 43-yard field goal before the half to send both teams to the locker room with Tennessee leading 28-20.
The Vols received the second-half kick but after a stalled out drive, Alabama took over and wasted little time in finding the end zone as Gibbs once again took care of business on a 26-yard scoring run. The Tide went for two points and converted when Young found Brooks and the game was tied at 28-28 at the 11:11 mark of the third quarter.
It took less than a minute for the Hooker to Hyatt connection to activate as Hyatt reeled in a 60-yard bomb. The kick was no good but the Vols led once again 34-28.
The Crimson Tide took their first lead of the game with 4:27 remaining in the third quarter as Gibbs scored his third touchdown of the game on a two-yard rush and with Reichard’s boot, Alabama led 35-34.
The third quarter ended with the same score but it wouldn’t take long for Tennessee to strike again as Hyatt caught his fourth score of the game – a 78-yard hook-up from Hooker and the Vols elected to go for two.
On the conversion, Hooker shuffled a pass to Fant coming across the middle and Tennessee was back in front 42-35 with 14:01 left to play.
As had been the case all game in the slobber-knocking contest, the Tide responded with a score of their own as Cameron Latu caught a one-yard pass from Young after a pass interference call on Tennessee took a third and 16 to a third and one on the penalty. Reichard was true and the Tide evened the score at 42-42 with 8:38 to play in the contest.
Things took a bad turn for the Vols as a fumble at the Tennessee 11-yard line allowed Dallas Turner to pick the loose football up and walk into the end zone to push ‘Bama back in front 49-42 with 7:49 to play after Reichard’s kick.
Tennessee never stopped fighting as Hooker went to his main receiver Hyatt who caught a 13-yard pass for his fifth score of the contest. McGrath put the ball straight through the uprights and the Vols were standing toe-to-toe with the Tide at 49-49 with 3:26 remaining.
Alabama had the perfect setup to win the game as they started the ensuing drive at the Alabama 25-yard line and behind the feet and passing of Young moved the football to the Tennessee 37-yard line with 22 seconds left to play and facing a fourth down situation.
Alabama coach Nick Saban sent Reichard in to potentially give the visiting Crimson Tide a three-point lead with little time left on the game clock.
Reichard put a good foot into the kick but the ball pulled to the right of the uprights to send Vol Nation into a frenzy.
With 21 seconds remaining and needing to get into McGrath’s field goal range, Hooker went to work and in two pass plays had the Vols on the cusp of a victory with the ball sitting at the ‘Bama 23-yard line.
After Saban tried to ice McGrath with a timeout, the Vols placekicker calmly eyed the uprights and with a good snap, McGrath sent the ball just across the crossbar on the uprights as Tennessee pulled off the victory and fans began storming the field as fans were enjoying the tradition of smoking of a victory cigar.
Tennessee finished the contest with 567 yards of total offense as Hooker finished the game 21-of-31 for 385 yards and five touchdowns with Hyatt on the receiving end of all five scoring tosses.
Hyatt finished his tremendous day with six catches for 207 yards.
The Vols rushed 39 times for 182 yards as Jaylen Wright led the way with 12 carries for 71 yards. Hooker legged out 14 carries for 56 yards while Small added 12 carries for 53 yards.
Bryce Young, playing his first game since injuring a should two games ago had a big night throwing the ball as he completed 35-52 for 455 yards and two scores. Gibbs finished the night with 24 carries for 111 yards and three rushing touchdowns.
Alabama finished the contest with 569 total yards of offense.
Trevon Flowers led the Vols defensively with 11 tackles with Tamarion McDonald adding nine. Christian Charles and Doneiko Slaughter whom started in the place of Jaylen McCollough who was held out after an incident during the week leading up to the contest.
“This is just one game and we have a lot more work to do,” said Heupel during his post-game press conference. “One of the things I like about this team is it was all about taking care of business during the week leading up to today’s game. The offensive line is where it starts for us because we have to run the football and I felt like we did that tonight.”
Tennessee will host UT-Martin for Homecoming 2022 on Saturday, Oct. 22 at noon.

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