Notebook: Alabama's cruises to a 400-yard rushing day

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. |t was a historic afternoon for the rushing attack, one that ran around and through defenders to pile up 438 yards, the most an Alabama team had compiled since rushing for 451 against Tennessee 30 years ago.

Every Crimson Tide runner, including leader rusher quarterback Jalen Hurts, had a carry that went for at least 14 yards, except back-up quarterback Cooper Bateman. In total, UA had 16 carries of at least 10 yards.

There were also runs of 85, 45, 37, 29, 22, 21and 18 yards. Hurts led the way with 132 yards, including three touchdowns, and was joined by Bo Scarbrough who had a career-high 109 yards, including an impressive 85-yarder down the left sideline.It was the eighth time in school history that at least two rushers went for more than 100 yards in a single game.

“When we’re having that much success we just want to keep running the ball,” left guard Ross Pierschbacher said. “I think we did a good job of that in the second half, to keep pounding. This is our type of game.“It makes it fun for us, and we know we have a stable back there. Each week we just continue to grow and develop our running game and that’s fun for us on the offensive line.”

Series streak

With the dominating win, Alabama extended its win streak over Tennessee to 10 games, the second-longest UA winning streak in the series’ history (UA won 11 games from 1971-81).

“I didn’t even know it has been 10 years,” linebacker Shaun Dion Hamilton said. “I knew it had been a while. Hey, it’s a really, really good feeling to know that the streak’s been going on for that long.”

OJ

With a 23-yard reception in the third quarter, senior tight end O.J. Howard now has 209 receiving yards and one touchdown this season. The talented pass cacthcer had 208 total yards and two touchdowns against Clemson in the national championship game.

Second-half team

Tennessee had Alabama’s attention at halftime with the Volunteers’ penchant for overcoming two-score deficit’s in the second half.

But the UA players also consider themselves pretty good in the second half.

“We’re a fourth-quarter team,” Hamilton said. “Our motto is we’re going to play 60 minutes hard.”

Shank out

Starting right guard Alphonse “Shank” Taylor did not play. Taylor missed most of the week’s practice after sustaining a concussion during the Arkansas game. Tuscaloosa-product Lester Cotton started in his place at right guard.

Moving on up

Jonathan Allen’s first-quarter sack of Tennessee’s Joshua Dobbs moved the talented senior defensive end to a tie for third in program career sacks at (23) with Jarrett Johnson.

Missed opportunities

Alabama missed a couple of scoring chances in the first half that could have padded the halftime lead.

The first missed opportunity came when quarterback Jalen Hurts tripped missed the handoff/pitch to running back Josh Jacobs and tried to throw the ball away only to have the ball go straight up in the air into the arms of Tennessee defensive end Derek Barnett. That turnover came at the Volunteers’ 25 yard line.

The second came when senior kicker Adam Griffith missed a 37-yard field goal wide right as time expired on the first half.

Manning honored

Legendary Tennessee quarterback and two-time Super Bowl champion Peyton Manning was recognized for his outstanding career just prior to the gameManning was introduced to the sold-out crowd and given a standing ovation that last more than a minute before being met in the end zone by his former head coach Phillip Fulmer and current Tennessee Athletic Director Dave Hart.

Vols missing

Tennessee was missing four defensive players who started the season as starters, including Cam Sutton, Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Malik Foreman and Darrin Kirkland Jr.The Volunteers was also without offensive lineman Dylan Wiesman.

Tidebits

Ryan Anderson, O.J. Howard, Dalvin Tomlinson game captains…Alabama won the toss and deferred to the second half…Former Tennessee lettermen ran between the Power T prior to the game along with Former Volunteers head coach…Tennessee’s first three offensive drives ended in fourth-and-19, fourth-and-27 and fourth-and-30…The official attendance was 102,455…Jalen Hurts’ 45-yard touchdown run in the second quarter was a career long for the true freshman…Scouts from 12 NFL clubs were in attendance…The most yards Alabama has ever gained against Tennessee…The old record was 562 yards in 1989.

Reach Aaron Suttles at aaron@tidesports.com or at 205-722-0229.