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Rapid Reaction: Tagovailoa, Alabama rock Tennessee on Third Saturday in October
By Marq Burnett
Published:
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — If you blink, you will miss it.
What No. 1 Alabama is doing to teams in the first quarter of games this season should be illegal in 50 states. The Crimson Tide continued its slaughter through the schedule with a record-setting 58-21 drubbing of Tennessee on Saturday afternoon.
Alabama topped 50 points for the sixth time, setting a single-season program record. Their point total Saturday was the program’s most against Tennessee.
Alabama (8-0, 5-0 SEC) hung 28 on the Volunteers in the first quarter, essentially ending the game before it started. Alabama has its bye week next Saturday before traveling to Baton Rouge for a top-10 showdown with LSU on Nov. 3.
Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa continued his precise play, throwing for 306 yards and 4 touchdowns. He still hasn’t thrown an interception this season. Freshman wide receiver Jaylen Waddle topped 100 receiving yards and had a score on the day.
It took nine plays, but Alabama continued its season-long streak of finding the end zone on its opening drive. Tagovailoa, wearing a bulky knee brace, found Jerry Jeudy in the corner of the end zone for an 11-yard touchdown to cap off a balanced drive (5 runs, 4 passes). The catch was Jeudy’s 10th touchdown of the season.
Alabama scored its second touchdown less than 30 seconds later. Alabama safety Xavier McKinney sacked Tennessee quarterback Jarrett Guarantano and forced a fumble, which linebacker Christian Miller recovered. Two plays later, running back Josh Jacobs scored on a 3-yard run to make it 14-0 early in the first.
Tagovailoa continued to show why he’s the Heisman front-runner with his second touchdown pass. Tagovailoa found Jaylen Waddle streaking toward the sideline. It was a perfect throw as Waddle was able to catch it in stride, turn up field and outrace the defenders for a 77-yard touchdown to make it 21-0.
Later in the first quarter, Damien Harris scored on a 3-yard run to make it 28-0.
To its credit, Tennessee kept fighting. After starting quarterback Jarrett Guarantano was knocked out of the game on a vicious hit from Mack Wilson, backup Keller Chryst found running back Ty Chandler for a 10-yard touchdown to make it 28-7 midway through the second.
The excitement didn’t last long for Tennessee as Alabama responded quickly. Tennessee attempted and recovered an onside kick, but it was overturned because the ball touched a Volunteer player before going 10 yards. That gave Alabama a short field, and Jacobs found the end zone for the second time on the day to make it 35-7.
Chryst continued to make Alabama’s defense pay for not covering the middle of the field. He found receiver Tyler Byrd for a 20-yard touchdown to make it 35-14.
Tagovailoa stepped up again with surgical precision, driving Alabama down the field for another score. He found tight end Irv Smith Jr. for a 9-yard score to make it 42-14 just before half.
Things were already ugly, but the opening sequence of the second half made it worse for the Vols. Tennessee opened the half with a safety after fair catching the kickoff at its own 3. On the ensuing possession, Tagovailoa found Henry Ruggs III for a 41-yard touchdown to make it 51-14.
That would be Tagovailoa’s last drive of the game as Jalen Hurts took over. Hurts’ first pass was tipped at the line and resulted in a pick-6 to make it 51-21. He responded on the next drive, rushing for a 21-yard touchdown to make it 58-21 late in the third quarter.
Mac Jones put the finishing touches on the Tide’s 12th consecutive victory over the Vols.
Veteran Alabama beat reporter Marq Burnett covers the Crimson Tide for Saturday Down South.
