Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts (2) receives a hug from a teammate following their 48-43 win over MS in an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016 in Oxford, Miss.
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“It was an unbelievable game for fans to watch”, said Alabama coach Nick Saban. Alabama defensive lineman Da’Ron Payne (94) celebrates his 3-yard fumble recovery with linebacker Reuben Foster (10) in the second half of an NCAA college football game against Mississippi, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016, in Oxfo. AP material published by LongIsland.com, is done so with explicit permission.
(Bruce Newman/The Oxford Eagle via AP).
“I just knew the type of player [Hurts] is, the type of competitor he is as well as everybody on the team, we’re all a bunch of fighters”, running back Damien Harris said. “But the old fella doesn’t need an IV”. Saban and Kiffin want to use his feet when needed to make plays, but they do not want him taking a lot of hits by the defense.
Saban and the Crimson Tide were exhausted after a 48-43 victory over No. 19 MS, which included a stunning comeback after falling into a 24-3 hole late in the second quarter.
It’s only three weeks into the regular season, but Alabama already has two impressive wins. Trayveon Williams weaved through Auburn defenders for an icing-on-the-cake 89-yard touchdown run with 6:52 left and gained 127 yards on eight carries. 20 Southern California. The other was Saturday’s hard-fought road win over the Rebels. Kent State is 11-23 against the spread in their last 34 non-conference games, 3-9 against the spread in their last 12 games, and 1-4 against the spread against the SEC.
A number of miscues led to an early deficit, but Saban appreciated his team’s mental toughness and hard work to dig deep for the run that ultimately earned them the win.
Things got a bit more real this weekend, with virtually everyone having played at least one quality opponent by now.
So now that we have a few more conference games under our belt, what can we say definitively about the SEC?
“Yeah, he was tough then”, Anderson said. But we made it.
This higher chance of winning the next game than winning another game that season could be the product of many factors. So many opportunities to teach. He has played off the bench behind Conner each game and is fifth on the team with 14 tackles.
MS took a 24-3 lead with 2:47 remaining in the first half after defensive end Marquis Haynes’ big hit on Hurts, forcing a fumble that fellow defensive lineman John Youngblood scooped up and ran 44 yards for a touchdown.
Saban said he expects Jackson, Hurts and cornerback Minkah Fitzpatrick to be ready for the game this week.
Two losses to top-five teams are losses nonetheless. The freshman finished 8-of-12 for 122 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Penniston with 7:25 left to give the Badgers the lead for good, 20-17.
Kelly led the Rebels right back down the field and answered with a lovely pass between two defenders to Stringfellow down to the Alabama one-yard line. Ole Miss showed plenty of spirit after succumbing to 45-6 run and, by scoring two touchdowns during the closing stages of the fourth quarter, ensured a frenzied finish at the Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
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Jackson was slotted into the returner role for the first time at Alabama and took the first punt of his career 85 yards for a late second-quarter touchdown that helped bring the Crimson Tide within seven heading into halftime. And if you look at them on the film, if we would have blocked them correctly – again, attention to detail and execution – they would have been better plays. “I never dreamed it would be like it was, but it turned out to be a very timely message, and the players really responded to it”.
