Alabama football: Crimson Tide tops Tennessee Vols with late Derrick Henry TD

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Running back Derrick Henry ran 14 yards for a touchdown with 2:24 left and No. 8 Alabama escaped with a 19-14 victory over Tennessee on Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

"It's a great win for our team," Alabama coach Nick Saban said. "We were tired out there today and we didn't look really quick or fast. We didn't have a lot of energy like we usually do, and I think that's due to playing eight games in a row. The best thing I can say is that you have to really respect a team that finds a way to win and makes plays when they have to make plays."

Tennessee (3-4, 1-3 SEC) had taken the lead by going 75 yards in four plays to make it 14-13 on running back Jalen Hurd's 12-yard touchdown run with 5:49 remaining.

However, the Crimson Tide (7-1, 4-1) answered, with quarterback Jake Coker completing big passes to wide receivers Calvin Ridley and ArDarius Stewart on the game-winning drive.

"We know what it takes (to win)," Alabama tight end O.J. Howard said. "We never gave up and we fought hard. The plays were being called and we executed. We know we needed to score at the end to win the game, and that's what we did."

Tennessee had an opportunity with two minutes remaining, but Ryan Anderson sacked quarterback Joshua Dobbs, whose fumble was recovered by Tide defensive lineman A'Shawn Robinson to preserve the victory.

"I thought our team showed some grit, some determination and some resiliency on the road against a quality opponent, a Top 10 opponent, in a hostile environment to go down and drive the ball and put us in a position to win," Tennessee coach Butch Jones said. "At the University of Tennessee, there are no moral victories."

Henry led a struggling Alabama offense with 143 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries.

Neither offense sustained consistent drives early on.

Tennessee drove into Alabama territory, but the drive stalled when Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster tackled Dobbs for a loss. The Volunteers then missed a 41-yard field goal attempt wide right.

Alabama found the end zone on its opening possession, with Henry scoring on a 20-yard run. It was Henry's 13th rushing touchdown of the season.

The Volunteers responded with a 10-play, 75-yard drive, capped by an 11-yard touchdown pass from Dobbs to receiver Josh Smith. It was the first opening-quarter touchdown Alabama had allowed all season.

Midway through the second quarter, Alabama was putting a drive together, but Coker's pass was intercepted by Tennessee safety Brian Rudolph.

On Alabama's opening possession of the second half, the Crimson Tide drove 73 yards in 12 plays and took six minutes off the clock. But the Tide could add only three points when kicker Adam Griffith connected on a 19-yard field goal to make it 10-7.

With 14:06 left, Alabama took over and bled 6:58 off the clock and added another three when its drive stalled at the 11-yard line. Griffith drilled a 28-yard field goal to make it 13-7.

Tennessee took the ball with 7:08 and drove for the go-ahead score to set up the dramatic finish.

"It hurts. It's a loss," Dobbs said. "It doesn't feel good, but there are a lot of learning opportunities. We can't let this loss beat us twice. We have to be ready to go, because Kentucky doesn't really care about what happened this weekend.'"

NOTES: Alabama safety Eddie Jackson left the game in the first quarter because of a knee injury, but returned in the second half. He was replaced by freshman Ronnie Harrison, who left the game late in the second quarter with a sprained ankle and did not return. ... Alabama RT Dominick Jackson left the game with a sprained ankle and did not return. ... Alabama wore No. 28 decals on their helmets to honor former RB Altee Tenpenny, who died this week in a car accident. ... Only Georgia had rushed for more than 100 yards against Alabama this season. Tennessee rushed for 132 on Saturday. ... Tennessee has lost nine straight games against Alabama. ... The Crimson Tide has won 58 consecutive games against unranked opponents.