For the 2018 University of Alabama football season, TideSports’ Terrin Waack will provide select stellar stats, obscure facts and notable quotes from the most recent game to show how the Crimson Tide uses “The Process” against its opponents.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — No. 1 Alabama defeated Tennessee 58-21 at Neyland Stadium last Saturday in front of 97,087 people.
Stellar stats
• The Crimson Tide’s 58 points are the most Alabama has ever scored against Tennessee. This was the 101st time the two teams have met.
• Alabama has now defeated Tennessee 12 years in a row, setting a series record. The previous streak was 11 consecutive games from 1971-81 under late head coach Paul W. “Bear” Bryant.
• For the eighth game in a row, Alabama has topped 500 offense yards. This is UA’s first eight-game run ever. It had 545 against Tennessee.
• Like it has every game this season, Alabama scored on its first opening drive. Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
• Tagovailoa threw for 306 yards, marking his third 300-yard passing fame this season. That ties him with Gary Hollingsworth (1989), Jay Barker (1994) and AJ McCarron (2013) for Alabama’s single-season record. Tagovailoa still has not taken a single snap in the fourth quarter.
• Walk-on Mike Bernier punted for Alabama against Tennessee. He had two boots, both went for 41 yards. Skyler Delong was averaging 34 yards per punt this season before Bernier took over.
Obscure facts
• Alabama sacked Tennessee’s starting quarterback, Jarrett Guarantano, three times but did not sack backup Keller Chryst once even though he replaced Guarantano early in the second quarter. UA defensive back Xavier McKinney, lineman Isaiah Buggs and linebacker Christian Miller all left their mark on Guarantano.
• Despite their loss, the Volunteers rank 10th in all-time wins among Division I teams. Their record is 836-387-53 overall.
• Twenty-one points are the most Tennessee has scored against Alabama since 2003, when the Vols put up 51 in a five overtime win.
• Alabama had back-to-back three-and-outs to start the third quarter. That’s the first time this season such a thing has happened with Tagovailoa at the helm. It’s the third time overall.
• The Crimson Tide is outscoring opponents 165-31 in the first quarter alone this season.
• The Crimson Tide held the Vols to -13 rushing yards in the first half, marking the lowest total this season. It was the first time Alabama made its opponent go into halftime with negative yards on the ground, too.
The spread
OddSharks.com had Alabama as a 29-point favorite. The Crimson Tide did cover, for the second week in a row. It won by 37 points.
Quoting Nick Saban
On having a fan throw ice at you while heading to the locker room for halftime …
“The ice doesn’t bother me at all. I would rather have someone upset when playing on the road than happy with the circumstance. That means our circumstance wouldn’t be very good.”
Quoting the Crimson Tide
Offensive lineman Ross Pierschbacher on getting into an offense rhythm …
“It’s fun. It’s tiring. That two-minute drive, I was like we’re lucky it was cold out (Saturday) otherwise I’d be throwing up on the wall.”
Quoting the opponent
Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt on overall thoughts …
“We learned a lot about our football team (Saturday). There are some guys we had on our team that this game was way too big for them, and I think everyone was able to see that. It helps up, and we’ll move on with it.”
GAME LEADERS
Top 3 rushers
1. UA: Josh Jacobs, 12 carries for 68 yards and two touchdowns
2. UA: Brian Robinson Jr., 13 carries for 60 yards
3. UA: Najee Harris, nine carries for 50 yards
Top 3 receivers
1. UA: Jaylen Waddle, four receptions for 117 yards and a touchdown
2. UT: Jauan Jennings, six receptions for 102 yards
3. UA: Jerry Jeudy, five receptions for 72 yards and a touchdown
Top 3 passers
1. UA: Tua Tagovailoa, 19-29-0 for 306 yards and four touchdowns
2. UT: Keller Chryst, 9-15-0 for 164 yards and two touchdowns
3. UT: Jarrett Guarantano, 5-10-0 for 63 yards (sacked three times)
Top 3 defenders
1. UT: Nigel Warrior, eight total tackles (a pass breakup)
2. UT: Daniel Bituli, eight total tackle
3. UT: Quart’e Sapp, eight total tackles
NEXT UP
The Crimson Tide (8-0) has its bye week. Alabama’s next game will be Nov. 3 against LSU (7-1) at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Tigers also have their bye week now.
Reach Terrin Waack at twaack@tuscaloosanews.com or at 205-722-0229.
