Alabama Offense Too Much for Tennessee

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Alabama and Tennessee met once again for the Third Saturday in October rivalry game. Tennessee got the better of the Crimson Tide in Neyland Stadium last season, defeating Alabama 24-17 and storming the field for a second consecutive home win over the Tide. Alabama, which was on a revenge tour after dropping three games on the road last season, was looking to ground a high-flying Tennessee offense that had caused problems all season long. With a win, Alabama could vault itself into the top five in the country and cement itself as a national title contender, while picking up its fourth win over a ranked opponent.

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The first quarter saw the Crimson Tide's defense on the field first, with many questioning Kane Wommack's ability to combat an opening drive script after both Vanderbilt and Missouri took 7-0 leads on Alabama early in those games. Wommack's crew forced a three-and-out on its opening drive of the game, capped by a sack from redshirt sophomore Yhonzae Pierre, who was filling in for the injured Qua Russaw and Jah-Marien Latham.

Despite the big stop defensively, Alabama's offense was set up in rough field position, taking its first snap of the game from its own nine-yard line. Despite the poor starting field position, Alabama did what it did best: control the clock and cap drives with big-time points. The drive included almost everything Alabama fans wanted to see, including a 31-yard catch from Ryan Williams and a Ryan Williams reverse taken for a first down. The nine-minute opening drive for Alabama's offense was capped by a two-yard passing touchdown from Ty Simpson to Isaiah Horton, both Tennessee natives, to give Alabama a 7-0 lead over Tennessee.

Alabama's defense forced a Tennessee punt (once again, forced by a Yhonzae Pierre sack on third down), to give the Tide's offense a chance to add to its point total and chew significant clock, something Alabama has done a good job of this season (averaging 34 minutes of time of possession this season).

Alabama couldn't quite find enough field to work with and gave the ball back to Tennessee. The Volunteers' offense wouldn't be held down long, with the ensuing drive being the one Tennessee drew even with Alabama on. The drive, which saw a handful of big plays from Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar, was capped by a two-yard touchdown from Aguilar to Braylon Staley. Even though Tennessee took 10 plays to score, it only took four minutes and change off the clock, leaving Ty Simpson and Alabama plenty of time to work on the offensive side for Alabama.

Later in the second quarter, Alabama's defense backed up the Tennessee offense when Yhonzae Pierre collected his third sack of the evening, forcing Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar to throw the ball away late, resulting in an intentional grounding call in the endzone. Alabama took a 9-7 lead midway through the second quarter.

The Crimson Tide's offense, which looked anemic on the drive prior, kicked into second gear, going 69 yards in seven plays, while taking just three minutes and change off the clock. Quarterback Ty Simpson yet again was working the Tide's offense down the field, with big completions to Germie Bernard and Lotzeir Brooks, setting up a one-yard rushing touchdown from the Tide's starting running back, Jam Miller. It was Miller's second of the season.

The Volunteers responded like a heavyweight fighter, taking the body blows from the Crimson Tide and responding with blows of its own. Alabama would get the ball to start the second half, so Tennessee wanted to hold onto the ball and keep Ty Simpson and the Tide's offense from a "double-up" opportunity (scoring right before and right after halftime).

The Volunteers' offense held the ball, whittling the clock down as much as possible, trying to keep Alabama from having any chance to score before halftime. Tennessee took the remaining four minutes off the clock, but couldn't score a touchdown, as Alabama cornerback Zabien Brown said 'gimme that' on a Joey Aguilar pass, housing it 100 yards the other direction, giving Alabama a 100-yard pick-six to extend its lead. Alabama went from potentially a two-point lead to a sudden 16-point lead at halftime. And the good news? Alabama got the ball back after halftime.

HALFTIME SCORE

Alabama - 23
Tennessee - 7

There was no double-up for Alabama, but the Crimson Tide held a 16-point lead, that is, until Tennessee running back DeSean Bishop cut 44 yards through the Crimson Tide's defense and raced his way to the endzone. The Vols' two-point try failed, but Tennessee had cut Alabama's lead to 10 with 11:18 left in the third quarter.

And what does Alabama do best? Chew clock while adding points. On a drive that started at the Crimson Tide's one-yard line, Ty Simpson led Alabama's offense down the field on a nine-play, 99-yard drive that ate five and a half minutes off the clock. Simpson capped it with an 11-yard touchdown to Rico Scott, Scott's first since week one against Florida State.

Ty Simpson (yet again) had two touchdown passes in a single game, with 250 yards through the air as the third quarter came to a close. Alabama was preparing for its victory cigars, but needed the defense to do its part and slow down the Tennessee offense, which hadn't seen as much success as usual so far on Saturday night.

Tennessee didn't go quietly into the night, however, scoring with 10:51 left in the game from a yard out, cutting Alabama's lead back to 10 points following the extra point. Alabama needed another staple drive and take several minutes off the clock, with how quickly Tennessee could score.

Alabama finished the game with a haze over the field as Crimson Tide fans began lighting up cigars as the game was wrapping up. Alabama finished with a 37-20 victory over the Tennessee Volunteers.

Alabama Stat Leaders

Passing: Ty Simpson - 19-29, 253 yards, 2 TD
Rushing: Germie Bernard - 4 rushed, 49 yards
Receiving: Ryan Williams - 5 catches, 87 yards

Alabama improves to 6-1 (4-0), securing bowl eligibility for the 22nd consecutive season. The Crimson Tide will hit the road again next week, taking on South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina.

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.