Everybody knows the main highlights from the day as Tennessee football beat the Alabama Crimson Tide 52-49. Jalin Hyatt had five touchdowns, Alabama muffed a punt, and the Vols made a late field goal after Alabama missed theirs. However, what dictated the flow of the game? Here are the turning points from the victory.
Succession of penalties kills Alabama’s third drive
Yes, the Vols stopped the Crimson Tide on the first drive, but that’s common. As they led 14-7 in the first quarter, you just felt Alabama would turn it on. However, on the kickoff after UT’s second touchdown, Alabama had a holding penalty that spotted them the ball at their own 14. That’s just where it started.
Another holding penalty made it 1st and 17 from their own seven. Then they had a false start. That followed with a delay of game. A bad snap was in between, so it brought up a 3rd and 22, which they couldn’t convert. The crowd was huge in this, and it forced Alabama to punt. After UT scored on the next possession to go up 21-7, they got the real belief that they could win.
Hendon Hooker throws third touchdown pass to Jalin Hyatt
Of all the Jalin Hyatt touchdowns on the day, this one stood out the most. After that succession of penalties, Tennessee football was able to use the momentum to build a 28-10 lead, helped out by that muffed punt. However, Alabama fought back and tied it in the third quarter at 28.
At that point, you just knew they were going to take control, as a series of mistakes is what put them ahead in the first place. Well, Hendon Hooker and Hyatt had other goals in mind. Hooker hit Hyatt for a 60-yard touchdown pass to give the Vols the lead right back, and that play proved that they weren’t going away.
Defense gets a stand after turnover
On the heels of that touchdown to Jalin Hyatt, Chase McGrath missed an extra point. Alabama scored on the following drive to go up 35-34, and then they intercepted Hendon Hooker, his first pick all season. You just knew that this was the time the Vols would choke away the game.
Well, once again, they came through unexpectedly. Two solid defensive plays brought up a 3rd and 8, and then a false start made it 3rd and 13, which the Vols stopped. As a result, the defense got the ball back, and yes, Hooker found Hyatt again, this time for a 78-yard touchdown pass.
Jaylen Wright gains 11 yards 3rd and 5
Welcome to the most forgotten about play of the game. Alabama took a 49-42 lead late after a Hendon Hooker and Jabari Small fumbled exchange that was returned for a touchdown. However, Tennessee football didn’t panic and started moving the ball once again. They got a first down off a pass interference on 3rd and 6, but now it was 3rd and 5 at the Alabama 44.
Alex Golesh made the play-call of the game, calling a draw play to Jaylen Wright, and it worked to perfection, as Wright carried it 11 yards for the first down. That play was crucial and changed the flow. Of course, a pass interference later on the drive saved what could’ve been a game-clinching interception, and UT scored a touchdown after that, but it all came down to this run.
Ramel Keyton 18-yard catch; Bru McCoy 27-yard catch
It’s unfair, really. Ramel Keyton was a huge part of this offense, but he’s going to be overshadowed by Jalin Hyatt. However, sandwiched between the missed field goal by Alabama and the game-winner by Chase McGrath was this play. Immediately after Alabama’s missed field goal, the Vols had the ball with 15 seconds left, two timeouts and the game tied at 49.
From 1st and 10 on their own 32, Hendon Hooker hit Keyton over the middle for a perfect pass. Keyton hauled it in at the 50. That was what set up the game-winning field goal. Immediately after that, Hooker found Bru McCoy for another huge grab, this one from 27 yards out, to set up the game-winner.
Keyton and McCoy didn’t have Hyatt’s night, but they came up big for Tennessee football on that final possession, and that was huge. While certain players got all the numbers, tons of guys stepped up when needed, and they all deserve their props.