KNOXVILLE - The top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide had been looking all season for that complete football game.
They found it Saturday in a 49-10 humbling of Tennessee.
Alabama racked up 438 rushing yards and held the No. 9 Volunteers to a measly 32 yards on 32 carries. The Crimson Tide also increased their non-offensive touchdown total this season from nine to 11, with Ronnie Harrison returning a first-quarter interception 58 yards for a touchdown and Eddie Jackson returning a fourth-quarter punt 79 yards for a score.
"We said we wanted a complete game, and we certainly did that," Alabama coach Nick Saban said. "We wanted to make sure that the other team did not gain any momentum in the game and that we wanted to play 60 minutes in the game, and we obviously did that. I think the defense played outstanding, and our ability to run the ball for more than 400 yards took a lot of time off the clock and kept them off the field.
"I think our guys just did a really, really good job, and this is as proud of our team as I've been all year long."
The Crimson Tide had four rushers average more than 6 yards a carry, with freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts amassing 132 yards on 12 carries (11.0 per rush) and sophomore tailback Bo Scarbrough adding 109 on five (21.8). Alabama rushed for 245 yards in the first half in staking a 21-7 lead, and the Crimson Tide made sure there would be no late Vols rally by rushing for 133 yards and gobbling up nine minutes and 52 seconds of the fourth quarter.
"They didn't have a lot of depth on defense, and we kept a fast pace the whole game," Tide senior tight end O.J. Howard said. "They got tired. They were barely getting in their stance, and we were hiking the ball again already.
"They were putting their hands on their hips and walking back to the huddle kind of slow."
Defensively, the Crimson Tide not only held Tennessee to a yard per carry but limited the Volunteers to just 3-of-14 on third-down opportunities.
"We haven't played as well as we've wanted on third down this year, but we did a great job today," Saban said. "When you play these no-huddle, fastball teams, when you don't get off the field on third down, they get extended drives and players get tired. It was a big point of emphasis, and we sacked them twice rushing three guys in the first quarter."
Jonathan Allen, Reuben Foster and Tim Williams each had a sack for an Alabama defense that recorded 10 tackles for loss. Williams and Ryan Anderson are outside linebackers most Saturdays but were used up front against Tennessee.
"It was our plan today to play what we call 'nickel rabbits,' which means Tim Williams and Ryan Anderson play defensive end," Saban said. "We usually play one of those guys and three big guys, but we respected their perimeter runs and their quarterback's athletic ability. It's the way we played Clemson in the second half last season.
"I think it helps because it gives us more multiples of players to substitute, so we can actually play more guys, which saves them a little bit. That was the plan today, and it worked out well."
Alabama's 11 non-offensive touchdowns are the most in the Saban era, and the Crimson Tide still have at least six games left this season and as many as eight. Harrison had a 55-yard fumble return for a touchdown in the 34-6 win over Kentucky two weeks ago before adding his 58-yard interception for a score at the expense of Josh Dobbs.
"It felt like he threw it straight to me," Harrison said. "I knew it was coming. They ran that play in the A&M game and in the Florida game."
Jackson returned a punt 85 yards for a touchdown in last month's 48-43 win at Ole Miss. His score Saturday put the Tide up 42-10 and gave the Crimson Tide two more non-offensive touchdowns than South Carolina has total touchdowns this season.
"It kind of surprises me, but with the guys we have on this team, it's just great," Jackson said. "Everyone prepared great this week. We knew it was a big rivalry game, and we came out and executed."
Alabama hosts Texas A&M this Saturday in a matchup of the lone undefeated teams left in the SEC.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.