Vols’ McGrath, Hyatt’s record day shocks No. 3 Alabama

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — – Right after 15 many years of becoming a rival to Alabama in title only, Tennessee snapped a humbling losing streak, stamped itself a championship contender and celebrated in magnificent vogue.

Chase McGrath produced a 40-yard industry purpose as time expired to give No. 6 Tennessee a 52-49 victory around No. 3 Alabama on Saturday.

As shortly as the kick knuckle-balled by means of the uprights, some of the more than 100,000 admirers stormed the subject to sign up for the party as the Volunteers (6-, 3- Southeastern Conference) finished a 15-game getting rid of streak to the Crimson Tide (6-1, 3-1).

Fireworks went off about Neyland Stadium and it glowed orange as the music “Dixieland Delight” by the band Alabama – a Crimson Tide favorite – blared in excess of the stadium speakers.

And it didn’t get very long for the goal posts to go down.

“This is higher education football at its complete most effective,” Vols coach Josh Heupel reported. “We were the finest group on the discipline tonight. That’s all we can command.”

“We did not response the bell nowadays,” Alabama coach Nick Saban explained. “We did much too a lot of points to enable (Tennessee).”

Hendon Hooker drove the Vols 45 yards in 19 seconds to established up the winner. An 18-property move to Ramel Keyton and 27-property hookup with Bru McCoy established the stage for the winner.

“It was not my cleanest hit,” claimed McGrath, who missed a PAT before. “I didn’t have the very best speak to on the ball.”

Jalin Hyatt caught six passes for 207 yards and a Tennessee-file 5 touchdowns.

Alabama quarterback Bryce Youthful, a match-time selection simply because of a sprained correct shoulder two weeks ago, accomplished 35 passes for 455 yards and two TDs.

“It was good to be out there with my teammates,” Younger explained. “(My) shoulder is great.”

Hyatt’s fifth TD capture tied it at 49 with 3:26 still left in the fourth.

“(This game) just took place,” Hyatt said. “It can be not just me. It was just the appears to be like we acquired.”

Young drove the Tide into the Tennessee territory in the last minute, but Alabama stalled at the 33 with 3 straight incomplete passes. Will Reichard’s 50-property discipline objective attempt for the lead was wide way suitable.

With only 21 seconds remaining, overtime appeared very likely, but Hooker wasn’t carried out and did the Heisman Trophy winner one particular much better.

Hooker finished with 21 completions for 385 yards and 5 TDs.

“(Hooker) played at an unbelievable degree,” Heupel said. “He’s the vital to our ignition.”

“We tactic each activity the very same,” Hooker said. “Participate in 100% for our brothers.”

Tennessee experienced not crushed a Best 10 teams considering that 2006 in opposition to Georgia. That was also the very last year the Vols beat Alabama.

A season afterwards, Nick Saban turned Alabama’s mentor. As the Tide has grow to be college or university football’s greatest dynasty with 6 national titles, Tennessee has burned as a result of coaches and been mired mediocrity.

In his next period in Knoxville, Heupel has Tennessee looking like a reputable national title contender powering a transfer quarterback from Virginia Tech who is in the Heisman photograph.

A 7 days after Alabama held Texas A&M out of the end zone on the very last participate in of the game to dodge an upset, the Tide went down. The Vols scored the most points towards an Alabama workforce due to the fact Sewanee put 54 on the Tide in 2007.

The Tide also had 17 penalties for 130 yards, the most during the Saban era, in accordance to ESPN.

Tennessee’s up-tempo offense jumped out to a 21-7 very first-quarter guide and led 28-20 at halftime. All four landing drives took around two minutes.

Younger threw for 205 yards and a landing in the initially half, though Hooker had 166 yards and two scores. Younger wasn’t sacked, but was knocked down 5 occasions in the half.

Alabama fumbled Tennessee’s only punt. The Vols recovered and scored four plays later on.

THE TAKEAWAY

Alabama: Alabama failed to have an remedy for a Tennessee group that just wouldn’t give up. A late 49-42 lead slipped absent.

Tennessee: This was a significant jump forward for the method that Josh Heupel is setting up. Enjoying in a midseason sport that has playoff implications is the first move toward getting a flavor of the ultimate achievements.

NOT Readily available

Two important Tennessee gamers weren’t accessible. WR Cedric Tillman, who sustained a large ankle sprain in opposition to Akron, didn’t perform in spite of possessing surgery to speed up the restoration process three months ago. This was his third skipped sport.

BY THE Quantities

Hooker has thrown a touchdown pass in 18 consecutive online games, tying Heath Shuler’s school file (1992-94). … In a single possession in its individual territory, Alabama had keeping, motion and hold off penalties and a fumbled snap that Bryce Younger recovered. The Vols received the ball on the Tide 35 and scored 4 plays later. … Hooker’s third-quarter interception was his very first in 260 passes.

Aged School

Tennessee had the ball on the Alabama 2. Breaking from the norm, Hooker went below center instead than the shotgun as the Vols had been lined up in the I-formation. Fullback Princeton Fant, a limited end who was recruited as a running again, had his to start with have due to the fact 2018 and scored.

UP Next

Alabama: Hosts Mississippi Point out future Saturday.

Tennessee: Hosts Tennessee-Martin following Saturday.