JUST LIKE HOME No. 1 Tide too much for Seminoles in Atlanta
ATLANTA — Alabama has a new home away from home.
After racking up five Southeastern Conference championships, four Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game triumphs and a win in last December’s Peach Bowl national semifinal during the past decade inside the Georgia Dome, Nick Saban’s top-ranked Crimson Tide overwhelmed No. 3 Florida State 24-7 Saturday night inside the new and dazzling Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Saturday marked the first college game and the first sellout crowd in the $1.6 million facility spearheaded by Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank and located across the street from the Georgia Dome.
Crimson Tide junior tailback Damien Harris rushed nine times for 73 yards and a touchdown, and his block of a Florida State punt with 4:17 to go in the third quarter set up a 25-yard Andy Pappanastos field goal that gave Alabama a 13-7 lead. On the ensuing kickoff, freshman Dylan Moses caused Keith Gavin to fumble, and Keith Holcombe recovered at the FSU 11.
Harris powered through the middle into the end zone on the next play, and a two-point-conversion pass
from Jalen Hurts to Calvin Ridley gave the Crimson Tide a 21-7 with 1:41 remaining in the third. A 33-yard Pappanastos field goal with 6:25 left in the fourth quarter put the game away at 24-7.
Alabama improved to 11-0 in season openers under Saban, having won all 11 by double digits.
The two biggest questions concerning Alabama entering this season were the development of Hurts as a passer and how effective the Tide could be from a pass-rushing standpoint after losing outside linebackers Ryan Anderson and Tim Williams to the NFL.
Hurts completed 10 of 18 passes for 96 yards, and he rushed 15 times for 55 yards. The reigning SEC offensive player of the year had an 18-yard run and a 53-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Ridley on consecutive plays early in the second quarter to give Alabama a 10-7 lead.
The Tide defense strengthened throughout the game, as Florida State managed 108 first-quarter yards but only 77 in the second quarter and just 48 in the third.
Harris broke free for a 34-yard carry on the game’s first play from scrimmage to the Florida State 41-yard line, but the Tide came away empty on their opening possession when Pappanastos missed a 42-yard fieldgoal try. The Seminoles drove to Alabama’s 34 on their first possession, but a fourth-and-2 keeper by Deondre Francois was stuffed for a 4-yard loss by Shaun Dion Hamilton.
Hurts had a 21-yard pass to Ridley and a 20-yard run on Alabama’s second possession, which ended with a 35-yard Pappanastos field goal and a 3-0 Tide lead.
Florida State took its second drive 90 yards on 11 plays and grabbed a 7-3 lead on a 3-yard touchdown pass from Francois to Auden Tate at the 13:41 mark of the second quarter. That advantage would be very shortlived, however, as Hurts had the 18-yard run and the 53-yard scoring strike to Ridley with 11:28 before halftime, which capped the scoring for the first 30 minutes.
Ricky Aguayo attempted a 37-yard field goal on the final play of the half for the Seminoles, but it was blocked by Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Francois completed 19 of 33 passes for 210 yards and a touchdown for the Seminoles. He threw second-half interceptions to Levi Wallace and Mack Wilson and had to be helped off the field with 5:44 remaining after being sacked by Tide safety Ronnie Harrison.
Alabama will open its home schedule this Saturday against Fresno State.