Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Alabama’s rout of Vandy continues victory streaks
NO. 1 ALABAMA 59, VANDERBILT 0
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Damien Harris ran for a career-high 151 yards and 3 touchdowns, Bo Scarbrough added 2 TDs and top-ranked Alabama routed Vanderbilt 59-0 Saturday in the SEC opener for both teams.
Alabama (4-0) now has won 19 consecutive over the SEC East. Better yet, the Crimson Tide hasn’t lost to Vanderbilt since 1984 or in Nashville since 1969. Both streaks were assured at the end of the first quarter with Alabama up 21-0 after the second of Harris’ TDs.
Coach Nick Saban said he thinks the Crimson Tide finally responded to his challenge to do more than just win by dominating an opponent for a full 60 minutes.
“Until we learn how to do that, which I think we did today, I don’t think you’ll ever get the respect you deserve,” Saban said. “I think they earned a lot of respect today.”
Vanderbilt (3-1) came in as one of the five remaining undefeated teams in the SEC with the nation’s stingiest defense in points, total yards and against the pass. The Commodores had allowed just 13 points combined through three games, yet they proved no match against Alabama’s dominating ground game.
Harris topped his season’s best by the end of the first quarter and needed only 12 carries for his big day, thanks to a 61-yarder in the first quarter. Scarbrough ran 11 times
for 79 yards more with TD runs of 6 and 2 yards. Brian Robinson added a 17-yard TD run in the fourth quarter for a 59-0 lead.
The Crimson Tide simply smothered Vanderbilt, allowing just 49 yards in the first half to Alabama’s 48 offensive plays. Alabama finished with a 677-78 edge in total offense.
“We ran into a buzz saw,” Vanderbilt Coach Derek Mason said.
Alabama got linebackers Rashaan Evans and Anfernee Jennings back after they missed the last two games with injuries. Jennings forced a fumble recovered by Da’Shawn Hand for the second takeaway by the Tide defense in the first quarter. Ronnie Harrison intercepted a tipped pass that ended Vanderbilt’s opening drive.
Kyle Shurmur came in completing 71 percent of his passes for Vanderbilt. With Alabama pressuring the quarterback, Shurmur was just 4 of 15 for 18 yards.
“We have a lot of respect for Kyle Shurmur and put enough pressure on him, I think it affected him a little bit and probably helped us in the game,” Saban said.
NO. 11 GEORGIA 31,
NO. 17 MISSISSIPPI STATE 3
ATHENS, Ga. — Freshman Jake Fromm threw a pair of touchdown passes, the defense stifled Nick Fitzgerald and No. 11 Georgia broke out plenty of trickery in a rout of No. 17 Mississippi State.
After the defense forced a three-andout from Mississippi State on the opening possession, Fromm handed off to Nick Chubb for what looked to be a routine run up the middle. Instead, Chubb wheeled around and tossed the ball back to the quarterback on a flea flicker.
Terry Godwin broke into the clear downfield. Fromm delivered the pass in stride for a 59-yard touchdown less than 2½ minutes into the game.
It was pretty much all Georgia (4-0, 1-0 SEC) from there. Fromm threw for 201 yards on just 9-of-12 passing, further solidifying his hold on the quarterback job he inherited when Jacob Eason went down with a knee injury in the first quarter of the season opener.
Chubb rushed for 81 yards and a pair of TDs, leading a parade of Georgia runners who pounded Mississippi State.
The home team burned Mississippi State (3-1, 1-1) again early in the third quarter on a third and 2. Fromm went in motion to the right, Chubb took a direct snap and ran around left end on a 28yard TD without being touched.
Georgia’s final touchdown came when Fromm faked a pitch to the right, again freezing the secondary, before delivering a 41-yard touchdown pass to Isaac Nauta that made it 28-3 late in the third quarter.
Fitzgerald passed for just 83 yards and was picked off twice while rushing for 47 yards on 10 carries.