KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Redshirt senior Chase McGrath kicked a 40-yard field goal as time expired to deliver No. 6/8 Tennessee an epic 52-49 victory over No. 3/1 Alabama in front of a capacity orange-out crowd of 101,915 at Neyland Stadium on a Tennessee Saturday night.
The Vols, who scored their most points ever in the 105-game series, improved to 6-0 overall and 3-0 in the SEC, securing their first triumph over the Crimson Tide since 2006. In surrendering the most points since giving up 54 to Sewanee in 1907, UA fell to 6-1 overall and 3-1 in league play.
Also of note, Tennessee has defeated four ranked teams for the first time in a regular season since 1998. That year, it took care of No. 17 Syracuse, No. 2 Florida, No. 7 Georgia and No. 10 Arkansas.
UT started its game-winning possession at its own 32 with 15 seconds left in the contest, and it seemed overtime was in the offing. With completions of 18 and 27 yards to senior Ramel Keyton and redshirt junior Bru McCoy, respectively, redshirt senior quarterback Hendon Hooker moved the Big Orange down the field expeditiously into field goal range and opened the door for a possible victory in regulation.
McGrath, who missed his first PAT in 98 attempts as a Vol earlier in the contest, came through in the clutch with the hopeful weight of Tennessee fans everywhere on his shoulders. As his kick cleared the crossbar, Big Orange waves of fans spilled out of the stands and covered Shields-Watkins Field as the strains of Rocky Top and Dixieland Delight provided a musical soundtrack to the joyous celebration that included the taking down of both goal posts.
In the win, junior wide receiver Jalin Hyatt enjoyed a school-record day, carding five receiving touchdowns. His scoring catches of 36, 11, 60, 78 and 13 yards enabled him to finish the day with a career-high 207 yards on six receptions. His five TDs in a single game also tied a program best that was established by Gene McEver on Dec. 7, 1929 vs. South Carolina.
Hooker turned in a 21-of-30 effort for a career high of 385 yards passing and a career-best-tying five scores. The Vol signal-caller also extended his streak of games with at least one touchdown pass to 18, tying Heath Shuler (10/17/92 to 1/1/94) for the school record.
After winning the pregame coin toss and deferring to the second half, Tennessee kicked off to the Crimson Tide. The Big Orange defense allowed one first down on the game-opening drive before…
The Vols, who scored their most points ever in the 105-game series, improved to 6-0 overall and 3-0 in the SEC, securing their first triumph over the Crimson Tide since 2006. In surrendering the most points since giving up 54 to Sewanee in 1907, UA fell to 6-1 overall and 3-1 in league play.
Also of note, Tennessee has defeated four ranked teams for the first time in a regular season since 1998. That year, it took care of No. 17 Syracuse, No. 2 Florida, No. 7 Georgia and No. 10 Arkansas.
UT started its game-winning possession at its own 32 with 15 seconds left in the contest, and it seemed overtime was in the offing. With completions of 18 and 27 yards to senior Ramel Keyton and redshirt junior Bru McCoy, respectively, redshirt senior quarterback Hendon Hooker moved the Big Orange down the field expeditiously into field goal range and opened the door for a possible victory in regulation.
McGrath, who missed his first PAT in 98 attempts as a Vol earlier in the contest, came through in the clutch with the hopeful weight of Tennessee fans everywhere on his shoulders. As his kick cleared the crossbar, Big Orange waves of fans spilled out of the stands and covered Shields-Watkins Field as the strains of Rocky Top and Dixieland Delight provided a musical soundtrack to the joyous celebration that included the taking down of both goal posts.
In the win, junior wide receiver Jalin Hyatt enjoyed a school-record day, carding five receiving touchdowns. His scoring catches of 36, 11, 60, 78 and 13 yards enabled him to finish the day with a career-high 207 yards on six receptions. His five TDs in a single game also tied a program best that was established by Gene McEver on Dec. 7, 1929 vs. South Carolina.
Hooker turned in a 21-of-30 effort for a career high of 385 yards passing and a career-best-tying five scores. The Vol signal-caller also extended his streak of games with at least one touchdown pass to 18, tying Heath Shuler (10/17/92 to 1/1/94) for the school record.
After winning the pregame coin toss and deferring to the second half, Tennessee kicked off to the Crimson Tide. The Big Orange defense allowed one first down on the game-opening drive before…
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