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Alabama v. Mississippi State
November 15, 2008
Final Stats: Alabama Wins 32-7
Some final stats from Alabama's 32-7 win over Mississippi State tonight:
First Downs
MSU: 9
UA: 17
Rushing Yardage
MSU: 22 carries, 35 yards
UA: 48 carries, 198 yards
Passing Yardage
MSU: 11-of-28, 132 yards
UA: 12-of-19, 166 yards
Total Offense
MSU: 50 plays, 167 yards
UA: 67 plays, 364 yards
Individual Numbers for Alabama
Rushing:
Ingram: 13 carries, 78 yards, TD
Coffee: 17 carries, 71 yards
Griffin: 5 carries, 27 yards
Wilson: 11 carries, 19 yards, TD
Passing:
Wilson: 10-of-17, 148 yards
McElroy: 2-of-2, 18 yards
Receiving:
Jones: 3 for 53
Smelley: 2 for 46
Hanks: 2 for 24
Defense:
McClain: 11 tackles
Johnson: 6 tackles
Final Score: Alabama 32, Mississippi State 7 -- 9:49 p.m.
Final score tonight from Tuscaloosa: Alabama wins it over Mississippi State, 32-7. Alabama got a pair of 1-yard touchdown runs on offense and 18 points off special teams, including a blocked punt for safety, three field goals and a punt return for touchdown by Javier Arenas. The win takes Alabama to 11-0, 7-0 on the season, while Mississippi State drops to 3-7, 1-5 in SEC play.
Alabama now goes into a bye week before hosting Auburn (5-6) at Bryant-Denny Stadium two weeks from tonight.
McElroy Under Center -- 9:36 p.m.
Call it a night for John Parker Wilson. Alabama's first-team offense is now out of the game, and the second-team has taken over, which includes Greg McElroy at quarterback with 7:09 to play and the ball at the Alabama 17. Wilson finishes the night 10-of-17 for 148 yards with a rushing touchdown.
In the backfield for Alabama is redshirt freshman Jeramie Griffin, who just picked up seven yards. This is Griffin's first appearance for Alabama.
Long Passes Lead to Score, 32-7 Alabama -- 9:28 p.m.
Watching Alabama's last offensive drive, you wouldn't know the Tide had only 71 passing yards and one offensive score on the night.
Two long passes from John Parker Wilson put Alabama in position at the 1-yard line, and Mark Ingram was able to punch it in to put Alabama up 32-7. On the first pass, receiver Marquis Maze lined up in the backfield and took off on a wheel route down the right sideline. When Wilson couldn't get the ball to him, Brad Smelley was wide open about 30 yards down field and easily made the catch for a 37-yard gain.
On the next play, Julio Jones broke wide open in the middle of the field and caught the ball at the 5, dragging defenders to the 1. One play later, Ingram found the end zone.
Alabama's 25-point lead comes with 7:58 to play in the game.
Alabama Defense Stepping Up -- 9:23 p.m.
The Alabama defense has been playing solid on every drive since Mississippi State's lone first-quarter touchdown. Since then, the Bulldogs haven't even crossed into field goal range and are still under 200 yards of total offense on the night. The Tide just forced another punt that gives the offense another chance to put a drive together. With 8:56 to go in the game, Alabama still leads 25-7.
Tiffin Boots His Third, 25-7 Alabama -- 9:15 p.m.
Tack on three more points for the Alabama special teams tonight, as Leigh Tiffin just kicked a 34-yard field goal to put Alabama up 25-7 with 11:14 to play in the game. The Alabama offense drove it 70 yards in 10 plays but, as it has all night, had trouble finishing the drive and Tiffin was successful with his conversion.
Ingram Breaks a Long One -- 9:05 p.m.
Alabama still leads Mississippi State 22-7 here in Tuscaloosa, but a lackluster Tide offense has been sparked by the running of freshman Mark Ingram. Ingram just broke Alabama's longest play of the night with a 40-yard sprint down the right sideline. As we head to the fourth quarter, Alabama has the ball, first-and-10 at Mississippi State's 38.
Alabama's running game is now up to 135 yards on 31 carries. Also, Rolando McClain has 11 total tackles through the first three quarters.
Tiffin Adds Three More, 22-7 Alabama -- 8:57 p.m.
The Alabama offense just put together one of its most sustained drives of the night but was still unable to finish it off with a touchdown. Leigh Tiffin, however, converted his second field goal on the night, a 34-yarder, to put Alabama up 22-7 over Mississippi State.
For the first time this game, the Alabama running game seemed to resemble the power rushing attack it has shown all year for the Tide. Alabama consistently got four or five yards on every first down on the last drive, putting the Tide in managable second and third down situations. The drive stalled when a would-be first-down catch by Nick Walker was ruled out of bounds.
Lee Back in for Dogs -- 8:49 p.m.
Alabama's offensive struggles continue, as John Parker Wilson hasn't even hit the 70-yard mark in the passing game yet, though his receivers didn't do him many favors on Alabama's last drive. After Mike McCoy dropped a deep pass that might have gone for a touchdown, Julio Jones dropped a screen pass.
For MSU, Tyson Lee is back in at quarterback.
Carroll in at QB for Mississippi State -- 8:40 p.m.
Tyson Lee has been effective in moving the ball for Mississippi State tonight, but Sylvester Croom must be looking for a little more consistency out of the position, as Wesley Carroll -- who started the season at QB for the Bulldogs before being yanked for Lee -- is now under center for State.
On his first possession, Carroll ran the ball once and handed it off twice for a quick three-and-out, and MSU must punt again to Arenas.
Another quick note...Arenas' last punt return for touchdown makes him Alabama's all-time leader in that category with five. Arenas passes former Tide return man David Palmer for first all-time.
Arenas Does it Again...and Finishes, 19-7 Alabama -- 8:34 p.m.
It's been a few weeks since Alabama fans have seen Javier Arenas have a performance like he is tonight. After nearly breaking a punt return for a touchdown in the first half, Arenas had no problem taking the last one to the house, following a huge wall of blockers 60 yards into the end zone without being touched. The return puts Alabama up 19-7 with 12:14 to go in the third quarter.
How about Alabama's special teams tonight? An outstanding performance for the group so far tonight after being much-maligned during Alabama's season. So far, the group is responsible for two downed punts inside the 2-yard line, two long punt returns (one of which was taken for a touchdown), a field goal and a blocked punt. In total, the special teams is responsible for 12 of Alabama's 19 points -- all 19, if you take into account Arenas' first return, which gave Alabama possession at the MSU 3.
Halftime Notes: Alabama Leads 12-7 -- 8:09 p.m.
Alabama leads Mississippi State 12-7 on a safety, a field goal and a touchdown -- its first offensive score against the Bulldogs in three years. Here are some quick first-half stats:
First Downs
MSU: 6
UA: 5
Rushing Yards
MSU: 13 yards
UA: 57 yards
Passing Numbers
MSU: 8-of-14, 121 yards
UA: 6-of-8, 53 yards
Total Offense
MSU: 134 yards
UA: 110 yards
Glen Coffee has 11 carries for 43 yards.
Tide Defense Stiffens -- 8:05 p.m.
A nice job by the Alabama defense on the last drive prevented Mississippi State from putting any more points on the board before half time. After State took the opening kickoff to the 47, the defense allowed a first down and then more, but ended up forcing the Bulldogs into third-and-long, which they were unable to convert. Alabama then took the punt and ran the clock out, and will take a 12-7 lead to the half.
Arenas' Return Sparks Tide, 12-7 Alabama -- 7:51 p.m.
Most of his electric returns have been thanks to some clever improvisation, and Javier Arenas' last one was no different. After a short punt took two bounces to get to him, Arenas picked up the ball and took off down the right sideline, dancing to stay in-bounds before heading clear across the field all the way to Mississippi State's 3-yard line. The play held up after review and Alabama had the ball, first-and-10 at the MSU 3. Two plays later, Wilson snuck the ball over the goal line for a touchdown.
The score puts Alabama up 12-7, and give Rashad Johnson at least partial credit for nine of those points. His work on special teams tonight has been incredible -- Johnson has downed two punts inside the two and drilled MSU's Derek Pegues on another return. Each of the downed punts, additionally, led to Alabama points. By pinning State deep, Johnson's work has led to a safety and a short punt, which Arenas nearly took to the house.
With 4:47 left to go in the first half, Alabama leads again, 12-7.
Hanks Makes a Nice Grab -- 7:41 p.m.
Although Julio Jones has been having an outstanding freshman season, it's no secret that Alabama has been looking for a reliable second option to open up in the receiving corps in addition to Jones. One option, perhaps, may be Darius Hanks, who has had a quiet year but just made a nice catch for a first down, holding on to the ball while getting hit in the air.
Alabama continues to look to the passing game on first down, and State's defense is unwilling to relent. Except for a third down pass rush that just forced a fumble, Wilson is getting adequate time to throw but the options downfield haven't been there.
Rashad Johnson, by the way, just did it again. After a 43-yard punt by PJ Fitzgerald, Johnson downed the ball inside Mississippi State's 2-yard line.
State Hits a Long Pass, 7-5 MSU -- 7:35 p.m.
Mississippi State just got a 31-yard touchdown pass from Tyson Lee to Amil Stallworth to cap a long drive for the Bulldogs and put them up 7-5. After two false start penalties, the extra point turned into a 30-yard field goal attempt, but Adam Carlson was able to put it through to put the Bulldogs up two. With 10:19 to go in the first half, Alabama trails Mississippi State 7-5.
Johnson Makes Another Great Play -- 7:25 p.m.
Rashad Johnson just showed why he is one of the most dynamic safeties in college football -- on Alabama's third punt of the night, he lined up as the Tide's gunner and sprinted past his man downfield, drilling MSU's Derek Pegues right as he caught the punt.
The play brought the Alabama faithful to its feet, but something that might not is the chilling rain that is now pouring down into Bryant-Denny Stadium. The wind is gusting and the rain is falling in sheets, as MSU now faces 2nd-and-10 at its own 22.
Tide Takes 5-0 Lead to Second Quarter -- 7:19 p.m.
End of the first quarter here, and Alabama leads Mississippi State 5-0 after a safety and a field goal have put the Tide up early. Kareem Jackson blocked a punt in MSU's end zone on State's first drive, and after a Bulldog fumble gave Alabama possession near mid-field, which led to a field goal. Alabama had 69 yards of total offense in the first period and faces 2nd-and-16 at its own 30 as we start the second.
Dareus' Impact Continues to Grow -- 7:16 p.m.
Freshman defensive lineman Marcel Dareus is getting more impressive as Alabama's season rolls on. After seeing the field only sparingly in the first half of the year, Dareus is now a major factor in the Tide's defensive line rotation. He's in the game now, rotating with Brandon Deaderick when State shows pass.
The Alabama defense, meanwhile, has gotten the ball back again for the Tide. After State fumbled the kickoff yet got it back, the defense forced a quick three-and-out, and Alabama has the ball at the 30.
Tiffin Field Goal Gives Alabama 5-0 Lead -- 7:12 p.m.
After taking the ball at the 47 off a Mississippi State fumble, the Alabama offense was able to get the ball near the MSU red zone on a pair of first downs before a personal foul penalty backed the Tide up and stalled the drive. Leigh Tiffin, however, was able to boot a 35-yard field goal through the uprights, and with 1:42 remaining in the first quarter, Alabama leads State 5-0.
Miscue Gives Alabama the Ball -- 7:05 p.m.
Just when Mississippi State was moving the ball on the Alabama defense, a bad snap that bounced off the chest of Tyson Lee, who wasn't ready for it, just gave Alabama the ball back at the 47-yard line. On the first play, Alabama looked to the air again but good pass coverage by State forced Wilson to tuck it and run for the third time tonight.
Both Teams Looking to the Air Early -- 7:03 p.m.
Alabama's two offensive possessions of the first quarter have each ended in punts, but both the Tide and Bulldogs are looking to the passing game early for production. John Parker Wilson has gotten good protection so far, but State's secondary has had good coverage on Alabama's receivers, and Wilson has only completed one pass. Tyson Lee, meanwhile, just completed a 15-yard pass over the middle of the field to get the ball across the 50.
Johnson's Tiptoe Stop Leads to Safety, 2-0 Alabama -- 6:51 p.m.
Alabama only got one first down off its opening drive before having to punt to Mississippi State, but senior safety Rashad Johnson made a great, athletic play to down the ball inside MSU's 1-yard line and flip the field on the Tide's punt. On its own, the play would have been great, but after State was unable to do anything with the ball on its first three plays, a high snap on its punt attempt allowed Kareem Jackson enough time to get in and smother the punt, knocking it out of the end zone for a safety. Five minutes into the game, Alabama leads 2-0 and is set to receive the ball again for its second drive of the night.
Coin Toss and Kick -- 6:41 p.m.
Captains for Alabama tonight are senior Antoine Caldwell, senior Rashad Johnson, and junior Marlon Davis. Alabama won the toss and, as it has done each time this year when doing so, elected to receive.
Pre-Game Notes -- 6:33 p.m.
Mississippi State, in recent years, has been known for possessing a wicked run defense, but this year it's been the Bulldogs' defense against the pass that has kept them in games. So if Alabama is to take advantage of one of State's biggest weaknesses, it may look to do so in the ground game: nationally, Alabama ranks 23rd in rushing offense, and Mississippi State ranks 67th in run defense. On the other side of the ball, the Tide ranks fourth nationally in run defense, while State ranks 100th in rushing offense.
Both teams, meanwhile, have stiff pass defenses: Alabama ranks seventh nationally in pass efficiency defense, while State ranks 11th. The Bulldogs are second nationally in overall pass defense.
Alabama Set to Host Bulldogs -- 6:30 p.m.
Welcome back to a chilly Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, where the No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide (10-0, 6-0) is set to host Mississippi State (3-6, 1-4). Alabama is coming off a 27-21 overtime win at No. 16 LSU, and Mississippi State was off last week. With the win over LSU in Baton Rouge, Alabama clinched the SEC's western division and will face Florida in the SEC Championship, held Dec. 6 in Atlanta's Georgia Dome.
Despite the disparities in their records, Mississippi State holds a two-game winning streak in the series, taking last year's game in Starkville, 17-12. The year before, State knocked off Alabama in Tuscaloosa, 24-16. Alabama has not scored an offensive touchdown against the Bulldogs in the team's last three meetings.
Alabama has a number of players who are looking to finish the season strong and make a name for themselves nationally; John Parker Wilson (Unitas), Andre Smith (Lombardi) and Glen Coffee (Doak Walker) have all been named finalists in the running for their respective national awards. Johnson had a career game for the Tide last week, picking off three LSU passes, one of which was returned for a touchdown and one that gave Alabama possession of the ball in overtime. In his last two games, Johnson has four interceptions and two touchdowns.
In addition, freshman receiver Julio Jones had one of his best games in his brief Alabama career last week, catching seven passes for 128 yards against the Tigers. Against the ranked teams Alabama has faced -- Clemson, Georgia and LSU -- Jones has caught 16 passes for 250 yards and two touchdowns.
Both teams are relatively healthy for tonight's game. Tide running back Roy Upchurch has practiced sparingly this week (neck) but is dressed out and on the field for pre-game warm ups.
