Kalen DeBoer confirms suspicion about game-changing play in Alabama’s win over Tennessee
Tennessee’s fate against Alabama was seemingly sealed in the first half when a potential Vols touchdown turned into seven points for the Crimson Tide
It’s not often that you can say one play changed the game in a 17-point loss, but that’s what happened to the Tennessee Vols against the Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday night in Tuscaloosa.
The turning point in Tennessee’s 37-20 loss to Alabama came just before halftime when Vols quarterback Joey Aguilar threw an interception that was returned 99 yards for a touchdown.
Tennessee had a chance to go into halftime down 16-14. Instead, the pick-six sent Alabama to the locker room with a 23-7 lead.
Kalen DeBoer confirms suspicion about game-changing play in Alabama’s win over Tennessee
The game-changing pick-six before halftime happened when the Vols were in a second-and-goal situation with no timeouts and only nine seconds remaining in the half.
Tennessee should’ve had plenty of time to score, but Vols head coach Josh Heupel’s poor clock management put the Vols in a situation where they had to make a predictable play call. Tennessee was running the ball well, but the clock dictated that a passing play needed to be called.
The Vols came out in a bunch formation, ran play action, and tried to get tight end Miles Kitselman open in the flat.
If Aguilar makes a better throw, Kitselman probably scores. The throw, however, was inside, and Alabama defensive back Zabien Brown, who was anticipating a pass play, read the play perfectly and made the interception.
Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer confirmed after the game on The Kalen DeBoer Show that Tennessee’s play action did absolutely nothing to fool the Crimson Tide defense.
“ZB (Zabien Brown), I really feel like he knew that the throw had to happen, so the play action wasn’t probably that big of a threat,” said DeBoer. “And for him to snatch it and go make the play — it’s one thing to see it, it’s another thing to do it. He’s had some big plays for us, but that was a big one.”
“I think the key is that they didn’t have any time outs,” continued DeBoer. “And so understanding that they do have a chance to run more than one play. Yes, they are on the one-yard line…we gotta get in a [defensive] front that’s going to put some pressure and make it hard for them to run it in there and not give them an easy touchdown. But just smart football, knowing that more than likely, the ball’s got to be in the air….and then the guys in the back half doing a good job of being disciplined and not falling for the play action.”
Ultimately, Heupel’s clock mismanagement put Tennessee in a situation that made it difficult for the Vols to make a play and easy for Alabama to make a play.
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