Tide Comeback Tops Vols

Smoke 'em if you gott 'em. Revenge is a dish best served cold. Those two old slogans sum up No. 11 Alabama 34, No. 17 Tennessee 20.

And you know what? Even with the windows closed, the smell of victory cigar smoke still wafted into the press box.

Tide coach Nick Saban said, "Obviously a pretty fun second half. Tennessee's got a really good team. I'm proud of our players for the way we competed in the game.

"We came out and scored in two plays to start the second half and changed the momentum of the game.

"I' can't tell you how pleased and proud I am."

Tennessee marched 75 yards on its first possession and the drive ended when Joe Milton fired 39 yards to Squirrel White just 2:21 into the game. White appeared to bobble the ball but after a replay the call stood. White played at Clay-Chalkville High outside Birmingham but Alabama did not recruit him.

Another long Vols drive stalled and Charles Campbell kicked a 24-yard field goal to put the Vols up 10-0 with two minutes left in the opening stanza.

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Jalen  Milroe was strip-sacked and Tennessee recovered at the Alabama 23. Four plays later, Campbell connected from 26 yards and the first quarter ended with the visitors up 13-0.

A 34-yard shuttle pass from Milroe to Kendrick Law moved the ball to the UT 39, but a sack moved the Tide out of scoring position.

Milroe found Jermaine Burton for 22 yards to convert a third down and set up Burton's 10-yard TD catch . With 7:05 to go before intermission,Tennessee's lead was cut to 13-7. The Tide scoring drive went 59 yards.

Milton was stopped short on a fourth-and-one and Bama took over at the Vols 34.

Milroe was intercepted in the end zone killing a key potential scoring drive with 3:10 left in the half. The Tide was well within field goal range at the UT 20.

Milton fired six yards for a back-breaking TD with 12 seconds left in the half to McCallan Castles and Tennessee took that two-score lead into the locker room.

Having deferred to start the game, Bama received the second half kick. Tue Crimson Tide wasted no time.

Jase McClellan opened the half by racing 29 yards to the UT 46. Milroe then hit Isaiah Bond for a 46-yard score and just 41 seconds into the quarter the Tide had drawn to 20-14. It was again a game.

Will Reichard kicked a 42-yard field goal to cut the lead to 20-17 with 8:33 left in the third.

Another fourth down stop by Bama gave the offense the ball at the Vols 47, giving the Tide another golden opportunity.

A 22-yard Burton grab set up MclCellan, who scored from the 5,  and with 3:42 left in the period Bama had its first lead, 24-20.

The Tide opened the fourth period with that four-point advantage and the ball.

After Milroe was sacked, Reichard booted a 50-yard field goal to extend the Alabama lead to 27-20. The drive lasted 7:51 and there was still 8:17 left in the contest.

Jihaad Campbell scooped up a Milton fumble and scored from 24 yards out to put the Tide up 34-20 with 7:26 left. Chris Braswell caused the Vol turnover with the strip sack.

On fourth-and-10 at the Bama 14, Milton fired incomplete in the end zone and the Tide took over the ball with two minutes left.

A late Dallas Turner sack of Milton sealed the deal and unsealed humidors all over the state of Alabama.

Alabama is now 7-1, 5-0 SEC and will have a bye before hosting LSU on Nov. 4.

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