The sea of crimson, white, and gray was struck dumb this weekend when Vanderbilt triumphed over Alabama football. This comes a week after their dramatic win against Georgia. This time, the No. 2 Crimson Tide slipped into the trap, bowing to Vanderbilt by 40-35, leading to a jubilant eruption at FirstBank Stadium. This marks the most significant stumble for Alabama in the era of Kalen DeBoer, being their first loss under his leadership.
With this loss, Alabama broke a series of wins dating back to 1984. The few victories Alabama won against the Commodores were either forfeited or withdrawn. The sea started subsiding when Diego Pavia led the Vanderbilt offense to a victory in the final crucial five minutes of the game. With his second touchdown pass of the day to Kamrean Johnson, they secured a 12-point lead over Alabama.
The Alabama offense, led by Jalen Milroe, managed to retaliate with a touchdown with 2:46 remaining on the clock. Ryan Williams, a freshman member of the team, scored on a 2-yard end around. However, it was a lost cause as a Vanderbilt first down solidified their victory over the Crimson Tide. The game was a clear display of Vanderbilt’s offensive prowess, controlling the ball for more than 40 minutes.
Vanderbilt further cemented their control in the fourth quarter, with Diego Pavia connecting with Kamrean Johnson for a 6-yard score, extending their lead by 40-28. Adding to Alabama’s woes, a strip sack on Jalen Milroe resulted in Vanderbilt gaining possession of the ball with less than 10 minutes remaining in the game. The Vanderbilt side maintained and expanded their lead with a field goal of 33 yards, ending a 60-yard drive.
The third quarter drew to a close with Vanderbilt leading 30-28 against Alabama. The freshman Ryan Williams once again made an impact, pulling Alabama back from the brink. He accepted a 58-yard pass from Jalen Milroe and slipped past several defenders to score his sixth touchdown of the season, leaving the score at 30-28 and trailing Vanderbilt.
Vanderbilt, however, eschewed complacency and widened their lead. On a fourth and short, Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia released a 36-yard touchdown pass to Junior Sherrill. Conversely, Alabama was dealt another blow when a spectacular throw by Jalen Milroe was deemed an illegal forward pass, leading to a forced punt from Alabama.
Vanderbilt continued to dominate the game into the third quarter while their offense put further pressure on the Crimson Tide, stealing nearly six minutes off the clock. However, Alabama managed to regain some ground in the second half. Jalen Milroe led a quick offensive against Vanderbilt’s defense, culminating in a 14-yard quarterback rush. They started off well with a significant 46-yard kickoff return by Emmanuel Henderson.
The third quarter ended with Vanderbilt leading 30-21 over Alabama. However, the tables seemed to turn in favor of Alabama as the second half started. Jaeden Roberts was seen back at playing as the right guard, pushing Alabama’s offensive line back to their original configuration and boosting their morale.
Although trailing by 30-28, Alabama kept Vanderbilt’s offensive at the 40-yard line. A detailed comparison of first half stats shows a close competition between the two teams. For instance, total yards gained by Alabama was 157 compared to Vanderbilt’s 186. Although the Tide trailed in most areas, their spirit remained unbroken.
At halftime, Alabama was still lagging behind Vanderbilt at a score of 23-14. The Tide managed to reduce the trailing score with Jam Miller’s second touchdown rush of the day, ending the drive at 23-14, trailing Vanderbilt. Alabama once again experienced a shift in players. Geno VanDeMark stepped into the game for Jaeden Roberts at the second quarter’s two-minute break.
Vanderbilt stretched their lead to 23-7 over Alabama with a 51-yard field goal by Brock Taylor. Unfortunately, Alabama’s momentum continued to falter into the second quarter. A failed third-down connection between Jalen Milroe and Ryan Williams resulted in a forced punt from Alabama. The Crimson Tide’s Emmanuel Henderson initially fumbled on the 13-yard line, but the ball was ruled down.
Despite several setbacks, Alabama continued to push through. The second quarter ended with Vanderbilt leading 20-7 against Alabama. This included a significant touchdown by Sedrick Alexander, who capped off a 17-play, 75-yard drive that consumed nearly 10 minutes of the game. Some penalties also extended the drive, including an illegal numbering penalty, a face mask against Jihaad Campbell, and a roughing the passer penalty by Que Robinson.
The final quarter of the game began with Vanderbilt leading 13-0 over Alabama, thanks to a rushing touchdown from Sedrick Alexander and a defensive score off a Jalen Milroe interception. Alabama eventually got on the scoreboard with a touchdown from Jam Miller, who ended a 75-yard drive with an 8-yard run. Sadly, this wasn’t enough to secure a win for Alabama, which ended the game trailing Vanderbilt.
Vanderbilt Triumphs Over Alabama in Shock Football Upset appeared first on Real News Now.
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