A SPECIAL VICTORY
Showdown becomes showcase for No. 1 Crimson Tide’s defense, special teams
ATLANTA — The Alabama defense turned in a dominating performance, the Florida State special teams endured a terrible night and one of the most anticipated opening games in college football history went to the topranked Crimson Tide.
Damien Harris ran for a touchdown and blocked a punt, and Jalen Hurts chipped in with a touchdown pass in a game that basically required the sophomore quarterback to make no major mistakes, leading Alabama to a 24- 7 beatdown of the No. 3 Seminoles on Saturday.
This one was all about that dynamic Alabama defense. And Florida State’s not- so- special teams.
Alabama picked off a pair of passes by Deondre Francois in the second half, snuffing out any hopes of a Florida State comeback. Throw in a blocked punt, a blocked field goal and a fumble recovery on a kickoff return, and there was really no path to victory for the Seminoles.
“The defense did a fantastic job, especially in the second half,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said. “Special teams was a big difference. It’s good to get a win, but we have a lot of work to do. “We’ll get better.” The Tide led 10- 7 at halftime, catching a huge break in the closing seconds when the officials didn’t call a pass- interference penalty on Tony Brown while defending Francois’ pass into the end zone for Nyqwan Murray.
Brown never looked for the ball, running into Murray as he tried to go for a scoring catch that would’ve given the Seminoles a lead. When Florida State was forced to settle for a 37- yard field- goal attempt, Minkah Fitzpatrick leaped up to make the block on the final play of the half.
Appearing deflated, the Seminoles never got anything going over the final two quarters. Levi Wallace and Mack Wilson both had interceptions, and Francois’ night ended with him being helped off the field — putting no weight on his left knee — after being sacked from behind by blitzing safety Ronnie Harrison.
Francois grabbed at his knee even as he was going down. After being treated for several minutes on the turf, he wrapped his arms around a couple of trainers and hobbled off the field.
It was a potentially crushing blow on a night that already went bad enough for the Seminoles.
“I hugged him,” Fisher said. “We’ll get the diagnosis and figure out what we’ve got to do from here.”
With the Tide still clinging to that three- point lead, the game was essentially decided by a seven- play sequence toward the end of the third quarter. Backed up deep in his own territory, Logan Tyler’s punt was smothered by Harris, racing in from the left side, and Dylan Moses fell on it at the Florida State 6.
The Seminoles made an impressive stand, forcing Alabama to settle for Andy Pappanastos’ 25- yard field goal.
It was all for naught when, on the ensuing kickoff, Keith Gavin muffed the ball in the end zone, picked it up, ran into one of his own men, and then fumbled on a hit by Moses. Keith Holcombe recovered at the 11, and Harris ran up the middle for a touchdown on the very next play.
Florida State managed only 65 yards in the second half and finished with 250 in the game. Alabama had just 269 yards, and missed a pair of field goals.