TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The most vivid example of Alabama’s 45-7 decimation of Tennessee on Saturday afternoon at Bryant-Denny Stadium did not result in a score, a turnover, a first down or a sack.
On the final play of the first half and the game essentially decided at 21-0, Volunteers quarterback Jarrett Guarantano tried to make something happen 53 yards from the Crimson Tide end zone. Instead, Alabama linebackers Rashaan Evans and Mack Wilson along with nose guard Da’Ron Payne converged on Guarantano, resulting in him being separated from his helmet as he threw an incomplete pass and tumbled to the ground.
“To be honest, I didn’t even realize it was that big of a hit,” Evans said afterward as a smile engulfed his face. “When his helmet flew off and I saw it rolling on the ground, I was like, ‘That may have been a big hit.’ I think we did a good job.
“The No. 1 thing we wanted to do was affect the quarterback, and you could see that we were trying to do anything we could to get him to scramble or throw a bad pass.”
Alabama did everything it wanted while racking up an 11th consecutive victory over the Vols. The top-ranked Crimson Tide (8-0, 5-0 Southeastern Conference) had a 35-7 advantage in first downs and a whopping 604-108 edge in total yardage.