NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Followers of the Vanderbilt Commodores danced onto the sector, leaping up and down as they tore down a objective put up, carried it out of the stadium and rang out candy sounds of victory.
Then they toted the objective put up simply over a pair miles and tossed it into the Cumberland River.
Their college’s historic win over No. 1 Alabama deserved to be celebrated this fashion.
Sedrick Alexander ran for 2 touchdowns, Randon Fontenette scored on a pick-six and Diego Pavia outplayed Heisman Trophy candidate Jalen Milroe as Vanderbilt shocked Alabama 40-35 on Saturday for the Commodores’ first win over the nation’s top-ranked crew.
Vanderbilt (3-2, 1-1 Southeastern Convention) had misplaced all 60 video games in opposition to AP top-five groups, in line with SportRadar. The Commodores hadn’t crushed Alabama on the sector in 40 years, however they snapped a 23-game skid making massive play after massive play to provide coach Clark Lea his alma mater’s largest win ever.
“That is the dream, proper right here,” Lea stated. “And for the following 12 hours, I’m going to benefit from the dream. We’ve acquired extra forward of us, however that is what Vanderbilt soccer must be about: Large wins on massive phases. We’re going to go get some extra.”
The Commodores scored the primary 13 factors and took a 16-point lead that was their largest ever over the No. 1 crew within the nation. Solely Jam Miller working for his second TD simply earlier than halftime trimmed that to 23-14.
Alabama had simply moved to the highest of the AP High 25 final week after a win over then-No. 2 Georgia. It’ll be a brief keep, and first-year coach Kalen DeBoer stated it’s again to work for a crew that wasn’t at its greatest Saturday.
“We’re going to search out out actually how a lot we care about one another and what it appears like shifting ahead,” DeBoer stated. “We’ve been examined in numerous methods actually a variety of the video games right here this season, and it is a totally different sort of take a look at now in our response.”
Alexander capped the sport’s opening drive with a 7-yard TD to place Vandy forward to remain. It marked the primary time since 2007 that Vandy had opened a recreation in opposition to Alabama with a TD, the final time being Nick Saban’s second recreation as coach.
The Tide (4-1, 1-1) helped Vanderbilt pad that lead with too many errors, sloppy play and penalties.
Alabama acquired to 30-28 with Milroe’s 58-yard TD move to Ryan Williams.
The Commodores answered with 10 factors. Of their complete, 13 got here off Milroe’s two turnovers, the second a strip sack by Miles Capers recovered by Yilanan Ouattara at midfield.
Pavia capped the drive with a 6-yard TD move to Alabama native Kamrean Johnson with 5:07 left for a 40-28 lead. Milroe tried to rally Alabama, with Williams scoring on an finish round on fourth-and-1 from 2 yards out with 2:46 left.
Vanderbilt followers and gamers began celebrating as Pavia knelt all the way down to run out the clock.
“Video games like this transformation your life,” Pavia stated.
Milroe had his second move of the sport tipped into the air by De’Rickey Wright, who dedicated to Alabama and wound up at Vanderbilt. Fontenette grabbed the ball and ran 24 yards to the tip zone for the pick-six and a 13-0 lead at 8:03 of the primary quarter.
Vanderbilt jumped out to a 23-7 lead, simply the second time within the final 10 seasons {that a} No. 1 crew trailed an unranked opponent by 16 or extra factors.
Vanderbilt by no means trailed because the Commodores performed keep-away, holding the ball for simply over 42 minutes. Alabama had a 312-252 yardage benefit on offense. It didn’t matter with Vandy changing 12 of 18 on third downs sporting down the Tide protection.
Alabama linebacker Deontae Lawson stated it’s early and the whole lot stays in entrance of the Tide.
“We by no means wish to really feel this once more,” Lawson stated.
Ballot implications
Alabama will drop out of the highest spot after this loss to the SEC’s perennial cellar dweller. Alabama now could be 64-4 in opposition to unranked groups because the AP’s top-ranked crew.
The takeaways
Alabama: The Tide performed sloppy coming off an emotional win over Georgia and damage themselves with too many penalties. The Tide had six penalties for 57 yards. In addition they didn’t sack Pavia even as soon as.
Vanderbilt: Lea’s quite a few offseason adjustments paid off, and people included bringing in Pavia as a graduate switch alongside together with his head coach and offensive coordinator from New Mexico State. … Kicker Brock Taylor additionally acquired a much-needed confidence increase after lacking two subject objectives within the second time beyond regulation of a highway loss at then-No. 7 Missouri. After having his second further level try blocked, he got here again to make a pair of subject objectives, together with a 51-yarder.
Up subsequent
Alabama returns dwelling to host South Carolina.
Vanderbilt visits Kentucky.
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