Dominating Bama rolls past Tennessee
Rivalry streak 11-0 as top-ranked Tide total 604 yards.
Alabama went into halftime up by three touchdowns and not particularly happy.
The top-ranked Crimson Tide was in a better mood after finishing off a 45-7 victory over Tennessee on Saturday, setting off the rivalry’s traditional lighting of celebratory cigars throughout Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Bo Scarbrough had two fourth-down touchdown runs and Alabama (8-0, 5-0 Southeastern Conference) improved to 11-0 in the Third Saturday in October game under coach Nick Saban. Being up “only” 21-0 at halftime didn’t cost the Tide.
“Yeah, we scored 21 points but it wasn’t our type of football,” quarterback Jalen Hurts said. “We kind of turned it up when we came back in the second half.”
The stat sheet indicated it was more of a wire-to-wire domination. Alabama outgained Tennessee 604-108 in yards even with reserves manning the offensive backfield most of the second half.
The result was another blow to the slumping Volunteers (3-4, 0-4) and embattled coach Butch Jones.
Alabama converted twice on fourth down from the 1 with defensive linemen Da’Ron Payne and Quinnen Williams serving as Scarbrough’s lead blockers.
“When the ball’s inside the 1-yard line, I don’t know that there’s ever been a time when we didn’t go for it,” Saban said.
Hurts capped the opening second-half drive with a 14-yard touchdown pass to tight end Irv Smith and then watched from the sideline the rest of the way.
The Vols did snap a streak of 12-plus quarters without a touchdown after that move. Linebacker Daniel Bituli intercepted Tua Tagovailoa’s pass and raced 97 yards for a touchdown.
After the play, defensive back Rashaan Gaulden was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct after flipping a double bird at Alabama’s student section. Gaulden apologized.
“Well that’s unacceptable,” Jones said. “But he knew that. We spoke about it, and he feels awful about it.”
Mississippi State 45, Kentucky 7: Nick Fitzgerald totaled 270 yards and three touchdowns as the Bulldogs dominated from the opening quarter in Starkville, Miss., to leave both teams 5-2 and 2-2 in the league. Mississippi State finished with 441 yards and averaged 5.9 per play.
Fitzgerald, a junior, led all rushers with 115 yards and became just the sixth SEC quarterback to rush for over 2,000 career yards. He was also 18 of 26 passing for 155 yards and a touchdown.
Kentucky managed just 260 yards and 14 first downs against one of the nation’s toughest defenses. The Wildcats trailed 17-7 at the half and crossed midfield on only three drives the entire game. Stephen Johnson was 13 of 28 for 117 yards but threw two interceptions, including an 84-yard picksix by Gerri Green.
Missouri 68, Idaho 21: Shaking off a five-game skid, Tigers unleashed their passing attack to torch the Vandals in Columbia, Mo., and leave both teams 2-5.
In a team meeting Monday, Missouri coach Barry Odom set ablaze scouting reports, game plans and other remnants of the season’s first half. “I think the display in the team meeting room Monday was perfect,” quarterback Drew Lock said. “I think we’re all buying into the whole second season.”
Lock completed 23 of 33 passes for 467 yards and six touchdowns. He fell one TD pass short of the school record he set in the season opener. J’Mon Moore caught 11 passes for 174 yards.