There was no doubt Trevon Diggs was going to return a fumble out of the end zone the other way for an Alabama touchdown against Tennessee on Saturday.
Linebacker Terrell Lewis had every intention of running down the field to celebrate in the end zone with Diggs after the fourth-quarter, 100-yard touchdown return put Alabama ahead 35-13.
It didn’t work out that way.
“That was sweet,” Lewis said of the play. “I was running with him at first but I was like, ‘damn, he’s flying.’ I was thinking I’d meet him in the end zone, but then I was like, ‘nah.’ I figured I would just meet him back down here on the field and congratulate him.
“I knew he was going to take it all the way, that’s why I stopped at like the 40.”
Diggs scooped up a fumble by Tennessee quarterback Jarrett Guarantano, who tried to sneak the ball from the Alabama 1 midway through the fourth quarter. He was stuffed by linebacker Shane Lee and the Alabama defense and fumbled. The ball rolled into the end zone in front of Diggs.
“He was running like he was trying to show people his 40 time,” Lewis said.
Reach Edwin Stanton at 205-722-0226, edwin.stanton@tuscaloosanews.com or via Twitter, @edwinstantonu2
