NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) _ Shaun Alexander scored two of his three touchdowns in the fourth quarter as No. 20 Alabama rallied for a 28-17 victory over Vanderbilt on Saturday in a season opener.

Vanderbilt, which usually gives the Tide (1-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) fits, looked ready to upset Alabama for the first time since 1984, leading 17-14 in the fourth quarter.

Alabama, which has won 28 of the last 29 games in the series, finally got moving when Arvin Richard returned a punt 26 yards to the Vandy 21.

Alexander capped the five-play drive with a 3-yard TD that put the Tide ahead for good at 21-17 with 9:59 to go. He clinched the victory on the next series when Andrew Zow found him open on the left sideline, and Alexander ran in for a 51-yard TD.

The senior, who chose to return for his final season rather than go pro, finished with 26 carries for 109 yards and caught four passes for 85 yards. Zow, who played all but two series, was 15-of-24 for 201 yards.

Alabama hurt itself repeatedly with eight of its nine penalties in the first half. The Commodores, playing a nearly mistake-free game, took their last lead in the third quarter.

Freddie Milons fumbled a punt and David Meadows recovered. Steve Stricker took a reverse 20 yards to the Alabama 1, and Greg Zolman scored a play later for a 17-14 lead.

The Alabama defense shut down the Commodores, forcing them three-and-out on the next three possessions.

Both teams started slowly, with more punts (seven) than completed passes (six) in the first quarter.

Vanderbilt scored first, thanks to a little luck. Zolman's pass hit off the hand of Alabama's Cornelius Griffin, but Elliott Carson grabbed the ball and ran to the Alabama 30 for a 26-yard gain.

Zolman capped the drive with an 11-yard TD pass to Stricker in the second quarter.

Coach Mike DuBose had planned to alternate Zow with redshirt freshman Tyler Watts, but the touted quarterback failed to get a first down on his opening series. When he got in the game in the fourth quarter, he was restricted to handing off.

Alexander had only nine carries through the first five possessions before he capped the half with six carries and a catch. He gained 46 of the drive's 51 yards and tied the game at 7-7 with 38 seconds to go before halftime.