The Third Saturday of October, From Z14

Written By Tucker Harlin

By Tucker Harlin

I honestly can’t believe I’m writing about another instant classic in Tennessee football history. The Third Saturday of October 2024 was just that as the Vols rolled the Tide 24-17 in Neyland Stadium.

While the game progressed similarly to the Vols’ win over Florida last week, I didn’t feel the nervous energy from Checker Neyland in the Orange Out. Flukiness isn’t something the Vols have seen on the Third Saturday of October the way they have against the Gators.

My section was populated with Alabama fans.

I’ve always thought of Alabama fans as classier than Florida fans, and the ones directly in front of me lived up to that perception. We had a respectful discourse going all game, but I did cringe a little bit when one asked me what the name of “The Rocky Top Song” is.

The home environment drowned out the Tide fans who made the trip. Communication was difficult for Jalen Milroe and the Alabama offense, leading to numerous pre-snap penalties.

Onto the game itself.

OFFENSE

The phase that is supposed to be the most fun under Josh Heupel wasn’t for about a quarter and a half.

For the third consecutive week, the Vols were held scoreless by an opponent in the first half. The guy who won a prize for making a field goal with nine minutes to play in the third quarter scored more points than Tennessee at that point in the game.

Lack of execution reared its ugly head in many instances on offense. There were several opportunities for Nico Iamaleava to hit a receiver in stride for a deep touchdown in the first half, but the Vols came up short on all of them.

However, Nico was able to hit a pair of deep passes in the second half, one of which was the go ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter.

Other than those two passes, what impressed me most about Nico was the improvisational work he did on the ground. I’ve said for a while that Nico is the most natural running quarterback Heupel has coached at Tennessee.

I’m not saying Nico needs to run whenever the opportunity presents itself because we got a bitter taste of what life without Nico is like with Gaston Moore’s interception. But it’s a useful asset to keep in the back pocket.

I can’t discuss this offense without mentioning Dylan Sampson. One of the few true workhorses in the league, you could argue Sampson is now more of a focal point on this offense than Nico with the energy he gives it.

Despite fumbling on Tennessee’s opening possession, Sampson still finished with 139 rush yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Sampson now sits two rush touchdowns away from the program record for a single season. The Vols left the game with a 214-75 advantage on the ground.

DEFENSE

Tennessee’s defense continues to flex its muscles as the high point of the 2024 season.

The nasty streak the defensive front plays with was alive and well against the Tide offensive line. James Pearce finished the night with 1.5 sacks, continuing to play like the guy who caught the attention of many in the world of mock drafts last season.

For the injury blow the linebackers took last week, Jeremiah Telander and Arion Carter held the fort down well.

Something else caught my attention after combing through highlights. We’re so accustomed to watching Alabama dominate its opponents by cashing in on big plays left and right. The big plays were at a premium for Alabama on offense Saturday.

Here is Alabama’s longest play of the game:

The Tide definitely doesn’t have the same number of big play receivers we watched on some of Nick Saban’s very best teams. But it does have at least one impact player at receiver that we know of.

We watched Ryan Williams torch Georgia in a performance of the ages just under a month ago. Williams finished the day with eight catches, 73 yards, and a touchdown, but he received far more targets from Milroe than completed passes.

Speaking of Williams, Vols corner Jermod McCoy picked up off one of those passes intended for him in spectacular fashion.

McCoy is Tennessee’s best find out of the portal from the 2024 offseason. This isn’t up for debate.

I’m not going to go full Randy Travis and say I told you so, but I was of the belief new blood was necessary for growth in the secondary. McCoy is a perfect representation along with hard hitting safety Jakobe Thomas.

There’s one more player in the secondary I can’t write this without mentioning. That player is none other than Will “White Lightning” Brooks.

How poetic is it for a kid who grew up just south of Birmingham, didn’t receive an offer from Alabama, and walked on at Tennessee to seal the game by picking off Jalen Milroe?

SUMMARY

Unlike the last time these two met in Neyland Stadium, the cigars were lit before the Vols could take a final knee. You could see all of the lighters flickering in the crowd in the closing seconds.

Josh Heupel has evolved from offensive guru to Al Davis screaming “Just win, baby!” in the span of two seasons.

Believe me, issues have presented themselves with this team in the past three weeks. But as much as this team makes you want to rip your hair out, it still wins.

The Vols are 6-1 through seven games with wins in consecutive weeks over Florida and Alabama. If Tennessee plays similar games against those programs fives years ago, it’s getting destroyed.

Simply put, Josh Heupel is a winner.

Tucker Harlin
Previous

Vols Land Interior Lineman in Wake of Third Saturday of October
Next

Wadley’s Weekly: WABA