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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Casey Clausen, a freshman making his
first start for Tennessee, threw two touchdown passes to Cedrick
Wilson as the Vols beat Alabama 20-10 on Saturday.
Tennessee (3-3, 1-3 Southeastern Conference), which won its
first league game of the season and broke a two-game losing streak,
beat the Crimson Tide for the sixth straight time.
|  | | Freshman QB Casey Clausen got knocked around in his first game, but his two TD passes led to a Vols victory. |
Alabama (3-4, 3-2) has only lost six consecutive games to one
other team. That was Sewanee at the turn of the century.
Tennessee stopped a fourth-quarter drive by Alabama to preserve
the win.
The Crimson Tide, down by 10, were at the Tennessee 8 when
Brandon Miree fumbled. Kevin Burnett recovered and gave Tennessee
the ball back with 8:32 to go in the game.
Clausen, who had played in parts of three games so far, started
in place of redshirt freshman A.J. Suggs.
Tennessee coaches said at the time the move was made because
they believed Clausen gave them a better chance throwing the ball.
Even though he was often under pressure, Clausen finished
17-of-24 for 213 yards with no interceptions.
His counterpart, Andrew Zow, who filled in for an injured Tyler
Watts in Alabama's win last week, was 14-of-29 for 181 with two
interceptions. Alabama was held to just 44 yards rushing, a season
low.
Alabama, which was held to just 5 yards rushing in the first
half, had cut Tennessee's lead to 17-10 with 6:26 remaining in the
third quarter.
Neal Thomas hit a 49-yard field goal 3:45 into the second half,
the Crimson Tide's first score in the game.
But Tennessee responded with an 80-yard drive that culminated in
Wilson's 3-yard touchdown catch that put the Vols ahead 17-3 with
9:08 remaining in the third quarter.
Alabama followed with Zow's first touchdown pass of the season,
a 17-yarder to Jason McAddley, to make it 17-10.
Wilson caught a pass from Clausen and ran 23 yards down the left
sideline for a touchdown to give Tennessee a 7-0 lead with 4:26
left in the first quarter.
Alex Walls kicked a 31-yard field goal to put the Vols ahead
10-0 with 4:52 left before halftime after Alabama botched a punt
attempt.
Crimson Tide punter Lane Bearden mishandled the snap, and
Tennessee's Jabari Greer burst through the line and tackled him at
the Alabama 32.
Tennessee got the ball back three minutes after the field goal
when Teddy Gaines intercepted Zow's pass at the Vols 32. But
Tennessee couldn't take advantage and had to punt three plays
later.
Clausen started the game with a 44-yard pass to Donte'
Stallworth on the first snap, but Tennessee could not move the ball
further and had to punt.
Alabama put pressure on Clausen early and often. Clausen's
helmet was stripped off in one play, and later, he was grabbed by
the leg and still managed a short pass to Troy Fleming.
Both teams, which have won as combined 34 SEC titles, were
unranked coming into the game for the first time since 1984.
Tennessee won that game 28-27 in Knoxville. It was also the first
time since 1955 that neither team had a winning record.
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ALSO SEE
College Football Scoreboard
Alabama Clubhouse
Tennessee Clubhouse
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