Top-ranked Crimson Tide toss Catamounts aside
NO. 1 ALABAMA 48, WESTERN CAROLINA 14
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Banged up in two consecutive victories over SEC West bruisers, Alabama took a while to overwhelm a lower-division team that wasn’t supposed to be able to put up much of a fight.
Derrick Henry rushed for two touchdowns and scored a third on a reception, all in the first half, to lead the Crimson Tide to a 48-14 victory over Western Carolina on Saturday.
The Tide (10-1) recovered from a slow start to score the final 31 points in its first game since rising to No. 1 in the College Football Playoff rankings. FCS member Western Carolina (7-5) scored a touchdown on the opening drive and trailed just 17-14 early in the second quarter.
“We didn’t have much energy in the beginning of the game,” Alabama Coach Nick Saban said. “We didn’t have much energy and enthusiasm as we came out in pregame. But as the game wore on, I thought our guys started playing better.”
Blake Sims was 17 of 25 passing for 222 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also threw an interception in the end zone to snap a 158-pass streak without one. Henry had touchdown runs of 10 and 23 yards and a 9-yard scoring reception.
Neither played in the second half.
The Tide, who was coming off close victories over LSU and No. 4 Mississippi State, can clinch a spot in the SEC championship game with a victory next weekend at home over No. 16 Auburn.
Western Carolina popped Alabama with a 75-yard drive to open the game. The Tide recovered a third-down fumble, but the Catamounts got a mulligan because of an inadvertent whistle by the officials.
“We came out sluggish. We weren’t ready to play,” Alabama safety Landon Collins said. “They hit us with a few quick passes and moved the ball downfield on us, and [we] weren’t prepared for it.”
Alabama held out injured tailback T.J. Yeldon (ankle), wide receiver DeAndrew White (hamstring) and placekicker Adam Griffith, whose injury hasn’t been specified. Saban said all three probably could have played if needed.
Alabama set a school record with 36 first downs and outgained Western Carolina 612-213 in total yards.
Backup quarterback Jake Coker saw his first action in four games and completed 12 of 18 passes for 115 yards and a touchdown.
Tyren Jones ran for 75 yards, and Altee Tenpenny (North Little Rock) gained 64.
NO. 4 MISSISSIPPI STATE 51, VANDERBILT 0
STARKVILLE, Miss. — Dak Prescott threw three touchdown passes and ran for another to lead Mississippi State over Vanderbilt.
It was a dominant performance by the fourth-ranked Bulldogs (10-1, 6-1 SEC), who finished undefeated at Davis Wade Stadium for the first time since 1999.
Prescott threw touchdown passes of 9, 27 and 14 yards and Christian Holmes ripped the ball out of Vanderbilt receiver Latevius Rayford’s hands before returning it 51 yards for a touchdown as the Bulldogs built a 37-0 lead by halftime.
It was the largest halftime lead for Mississippi State against an SEC opponent in program history. The Bulldogs now have 10 wins in the regular season for the first time.
Vanderbilt (3-8, 0-7) had three turnovers in the first half. The Commodores finished with 228 total yards.
Prescott completed 16 of 21 passes for 193 yards.
NO. 14 AUBURN 31, SAMFORD 7
AUBURN, Ala. — Cameron Artisran for 129 yards and a touchdown, quarterback Nick Marshall passed for 171 yards and a score, and No. 14 Auburn (8-3) ended a two-game skid with a victory over Samford (7-4).
Auburn used the game against an FCS opponent to tune up for next week’s Iron Bowl showdown at No. 1 Alabama.
Samford (7-4), coached by former Auburn quarterback and 1971 Heisman Trophy winner Pat Sullivan, had its fourgame winning streak snapped