Unlikely match
Citadel proves it’s no cupcake, gives ’Bama a challenge
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The No. 1 Crimson Tide finally found a team that could play toe to toe with them, at least until halftime.
The surprise twist: It was The Citadel, an FCS team, not a Southeastern Conference rival.
Tua Tagovailoa passed for 340 yards and three touchdowns, but Alabama struggled for 30-plus minutes before putting away The Citadel in a 50-17 victory Saturday.
Alabama coach Nick Saban said his team learned a lesson — it must be mentally prepared.
“I don’t really care who you’re playing,” he said.
“Every team that comes here and plays us is going to give us their best shot,” he added. “These guys have got everything to gain and nothing to lose, and we’ve got nothing but downside in the game.”
Alabama (11-0), which had coasted against SEC opponents, went into halftime tied at 10 with the Bulldogs (4-6). It wasn’t until ’Bama scored two touchdowns in a 12-second span on its way to a 27point third quarter that the Tide could rest easy.
“I thought we played a great first half, and our players believed we had the best first half we could have had,” Citadel coach Brent Thompson said. “We could have hung in there a little longer.”
Tagovailoa completed 18 of 22 passes in three quarters, including touchdowns of 21 and 5 yards to Jaylen Waddle and a 68yarder to tight end Irv Smith Jr. Tagovailoa broke AJ McCarron’s school single-season record of 30 touchdown passes.
“Thirty-one touchdowns, that’s cool,” Tagovailoa said. “But we’ve got another game to finish off this season and another game after that. We’re more focused on finishing this season the right way.”
Alabama still has Auburn and then No. 5 Georgia in the SEC championship game.
Alabama was coming off back-to-back shutouts of ranked SEC West rivals, but Jacob Godek sent the Bulldogs into the half all even with a 48-yard field goal on the final play.
“We’re not scared of anybody,” said Citadel quarterback Brandon Rainey, who ran 25 times for 79 yards. “I think we came out and played our butts off.”