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No. 1 Alabama rolls past Tennessee

Oct 27, 2013 - 12:13 AM Tuscaloosa, AL (SportsNetwork.com) - Another week, another blowout win for No. 1 Alabama.

T.J. Yeldon ran for three touchdowns and AJ McCarron threw for two more as the Crimson Tide humbled the Tennessee Volunteers, 45-10, at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Yeldon gained 72 yards on 15 carries while McCarron was an efficient 19-of-27 for 275 yards, hitting Kevin Norwood six times for 112 yards and a score.

Alabama (8-0, 5-0 SEC) has a week off before hosting nationally-ranked LSU.

Tennessee's Justin Worley completed 8-of-15 attempts for 120 yards, and one of the two interceptions he threw was returned for a touchdown by Landon Collins.

Joshua Dobbs took over for Worley in the second half and totaled 75 yards on 5-of-12 passing in his collegiate debut.

The Volunteers (4-4, 1-3) halted their 19-game losing streak against ranked opponents last week by knocking off South Carolina, but ending Alabama's 11- game win streak proved an impossible task.

Nick Saban gained headlines this week by speaking out against Alabama's student body for leaving games early. The stadium was still essentially full by game's end Saturday despite the outcome being decided by halftime.

"I certainly appreciated our fans today," Saban said. "They stayed for the game and did a great job of supporting our team. It was a great atmosphere for our players to play in."

The fireworks started three plays into the game as McCarron and Amari Cooper hooked up for a 54-yard touchdown.

Yeldon went in from a yard out a little later, and Norwood was wide open in the end zone for a 22-yard catch to cap a 12-play, 66-yard drive just before the second quarter.

Another 1-yard plunge by Yeldon made it 28-0, and Collins finished the one- sided half with an 89-yard interception return for a touchdown -- the fifth longest in school history.

"We probably played our worst half of football that we have played all year," Tennessee head coach Butch Jones admitted. "Some of it was due to the quality of our opponent. Some of it was self-inflicted wounds."

Alabama had scored 104 unanswered points dating back to its game against Kentucky on Oct. 12 before Michael Palardy booted a 37-yard field goal 2:07 into the third quarter.

Norwood's diving 34-yard catch down along the sideline set up yet another 1- yard TD run by Yeldon late in the third quarter.

The Vols got into the end zone on Rajion Neal's 3-yard run early in the fourth -- just the second touchdown allowed by Alabama since its game against Texas A&M on Sept. 14, and Alabama's Adam Griffith made a 20-yard field goal to account for the final margin.

Game Notes

Alabama has outscored its last six opponents, 246-26 ... The 45 points were the most scored by Alabama in a home win over Tennessee ... Tennessee converted three of its 12 third-down chances while Alabama was 7-of-11 on such opportunities ... Neal had 70 yards on 13 carries ... Alabama has won seven straight meetings.