1. No. 6 Tennessee Volunteers 52, No. 3 Alabama Crimson Tide 49
This was one of the best recreation of one of the best weekend of the season. Yes, different video games on this checklist have featured the tip of streaks, offensive explosions, jaw-dropping performances, lead modifications, heated rivalries, followers speeding the sphere, and late-game pandemonium. However, none of them had all of these issues. The third Saturday in October had been a nightmare for Vols followers for the previous 15 years.
Since Nick Saban arrived in Alabama, Tennessee had by no means crushed him, and many of the matchups have been one-sided. My girlfriend, a UT grad, didn’t even know in regards to the victory cigar custom seeing as she couldn’t even drive the final time the Vols beat Bama.
After Josh Heupel’s group squandered a 28-10 lead, and Tide linebacker Dallas Turner waltzed into the endzone on a scoop-and-score halfway by the fourth quarter to take a 49-42 lead, the inevitably of Saban and Alabama crept again in.
On an evening when Bryce Young was unconscious — 455 yards passing and innumerable Houdini impressions to increase drives — none of that mysticism mattered. Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker and the Vol offense wouldn’t be denied. Finishing with 441 complete yards and 5 passing TDs, Hooker discovered Jalin Hyatt for his fifth receiving rating with three and a half minutes left to tie it up at 49. The 11-play, 75-yard drive took half totally on the bottom because the Bama protection was completely gassed.
Applauding a Tennessee protection that allowed 569 yards appears laughable, however they did get a cease with Bama and Young threatening to get in chip-shot vary. After forcing three-straight incompletions to stall the Tide drive on the UT 32, Will Reichard missed a 50 yarder that may’ve given Bama a three-point lead with 15 seconds remaining.
As against sitting on the ball and going to additional time, Heupel trusted his quarterback, who accomplished two passes for 18 and 27 yards to place UT in vary for a 40-yard discipline purpose that kicker Chase McGrath made regardless of the ball spinning sideways off his foot.
Knoxville erupted in pleasure, followers rushed the sphere, lit cigars with UT gamers and coaches, tore down the goalpost, carried it to Tennessee River, and dumped the memento into the waterway. Even although there have been many indelible moments from this faculty soccer season, Tennessee 52, Alabama 49 will reside on the longest.