Tennessee Turns Tide Vols Rally From 13-0 Deficit To Hand Alabama Its First Loss

Jay Graham’s season was bleak and getting no better. Peyton Manning was having his worst day of the season. Tennessee and Alabama were staring overtime in the face.

In a blink, everything changed.

Graham ripped through the line and raced 79 yards with 2:17 left to play Saturday to lift the sixth-ranked Volunteers to a 20-13 victory over the seventh-ranked Crimson Tide.

“This win is the biggest thing in the world to me, to beat them in my senior year,” Graham said. “We had some great blocking by the offensive line. I hit the corner and ran as fast as I could to get to the checkered end zone. It felt good.”

After Graham’s run, Alabama drove to the Tennessee 11, but a fourth-down sack ended the threat. And the Vols (5-1, 3-1 SEC) had their second straight win over Alabama (7-1, 4-1) and first at home since 1984.

Graham had 11 games of more than 100 yards last season, but had one this year. After nearly 58 minutes against Alabama’s SEC-leading defense, he had 49 yards in 13 carries.

But on a second-and-12 from the Vols 21, he followed blocks by fullback Eric Lane and guard Spencer Riley and broke into the clear.

Graham juked past Alabama safety Kelvin Sigler and raced down the right sideline for the longest run from scrimmage against the Tide defense this season. His second TD run capped a comeback from a 13-0 deficit.

Dennis Riddle had a career-high 184 yards on 38 carries for Alabama.

Manning was just 12 of 25 for 176 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. He was sacked four times and his receivers dropped several catchable balls.

It was the first time Manning had completed less than 50 percent of his passes since the Memphis game his freshman season, 21 games ago.

“Ever since the Florida game, everybody’s been kind of disappointed,” Manning said. “You beat Ole Miss, you beat Georgia you’re happy, but anytime you can beat Alabama it gives you a good feeling.”

Alabama took a 10-0 lead on the opening possession of the second half, scoring on Kitchens’ 40-yard pass to Marcell West.

On Tennessee’s second play of the ensuing possession, Manning’s pass bounced off receiver Joey Kent’s helmet, and Deshea Townsend intercepted. He returned it to the Vols 13, but the Crimson Tide settled for Brian Cunningham’s 25-yard field goal and a 13-0 lead with 9:16 left in the third quarter.