’Bama unrivaled
3rd-ranked Tigers out of their league vs. unbeaten Tide
BATON ROUGE, La. — Tua Tagovailoa threw two touchdown passes and ran 44 yards for a score in his toughest test this season, Alabama’s defense stifled No. 3 LSU, and the topranked Crimson Tide remained unbeaten with a 29-0 victory Saturday night.
Tagovailoa took the field wearing a brace on his right knee, threw his first interception of the season late in the first half and played into the fourth quarter for the first time this season. None of those developments proved consequential. He was 25for-42 for 295 yards and moved as well as well as he needed to, particularly when he sprinted up the middle of the field or his long touchdown run in the third quarter to give Alabama (9-0, 6-0 SEC) a 22-0 lead.
Tagovailoa limped off the field after that play, went into the medical tent for some treatment and rode a stationary bike on the sideline, but he returned for the next series.
LSU (7-2, 4-2) entered with a chance to take control of the SEC Western Division with a victory, but that began to look decreasingly realistic with every possession.
Alabama led 16-0 by halftime and forced punts on the Tigers’ first nine possessions. LSU drove to the Alabama 15 on its 10th series early in the fourth quarter, only to miss a field goal with 10:45 to go.
Tigers quarterback Joe Burrow completed 18 of 35 passes for 184 yards. He was sacked five times and had a pass intercepted in the end zone by linebacker Mack Wilson. Nose guard Quinnen Williams finished with 21⁄ sacks. Lineback
2 ers Anfernee Jennings and Christian Miller each had one. The Tigers were helpless to relieve pressure on Burrow with the running game, held to 12 yards all game.
Defensively, the Crimson Tide rarely looked fooled and more often seemed to anticipate what was coming. Most LSU plays ended with crimson jerseys swarming to the ball at, near or behind the line of scrimmage.
Alabama finished with a 576-196 advantage in total yards.
Damien Harris rushed for 107 yards on 19 carries, including his 1-yard touchdown, and Najee Harris added 83 yards.