Calvin Ridley isn’t a man of many words. Like many players before him, including All-American wide receiver Amari Cooper, Ridley prefers to let his play do the talking.
It’s perhaps fitting that those players share a commonality, and that it goes beyond words. Both are at the top at Alabama’s career receptions list. With eight catches Saturdayagainst Tennessee, Ridley now has 202 career receptions behind only Cooper’s 228 from 2012-14.
“I’m pretty happy about that, to be in the books, to have my name in there,” Ridley said.
He has now recorded a catch in all 38 of his career games, which ranks No. 3 in consecutive games with a reception among active players in the FBS.
Quarterly scoring report
When Bo Scarbrough dove into the end zone for an Alabama touchdown with 8:21 to go in the first quarter of Saturday’s game against Tennessee, it marked the 34th consecutive quarter in which the Crimson Tide has scored. That established a new school record, according to PrideOfTheTide.com, a website devoted to UA football statistical history.
It’s not over yet: Alabama also scored in the second, third and fourth quarters against the Volunteers to extend the streak to 37 quarters.
The streak dates back to the fourth quarter of last year’s College Football Playoff semifinal against Washington, and also encompassed a stretch that has seen Alabama score now in every quarter of nine consecutive games, dating back to the CFP National Championship Game vs. Clemson in Tampa – another first in Crimson Tide history.
The previous record scoring streak of 33 consecutive quarters began in the second quarter of the 2011 Mississippi State game and continued through the second quarter of UA’s 2012 game against Ole Miss.
The touchdown also ran Alabama’s school-record streak to 221 games in which Alabama has scored. Alabama was last shut out on Nov.18, 2000, versus Auburn.
Perfect on fourth down
Alabama has converted all 11 of its fourth-down attempts this season. It knocked out two against Tennessee. Both happened in the first half, split between the quarters, and both ended in the end zone.
Facing fourth down at the end of the Crimson Tide’s first drive, running back Bo Scarbrough scored on a 1-yard run. Alabama brought out its offensive jumbo package to pull that off. The same exact thing happened in the second quarter.
The most Alabama has gone for it in a single game was three times against Ole Miss.
Entering Saturday’s game, Alabama was tied for No. 1 in the nation with Michigan and Miami. They all held a 100-percent conversion rate. Michigan had five fourth-down conversions. Miami had two.
Special teams mistakes
After last week’s Arkansas game that saw three punt returners put the ball on the ground, two more punts hit the ground with one being lost to turnover against Tennessee.
Xavian Marks handled punt return duties the entire game Saturday, a week after Henry Ruggs III and Trevon Diggs put a combined three on the ground. Marks mishandled one punt but was able to corral it and get a few return yards. On another return, he was hit from behind and he fumbled, allowing Tennessee to recover.
Tidebits
Former players Thomas Rayam and Roger Schultz served as honorary captains … Da’Ron Payne, Calvin Ridley and Hale Hentges served as game captains … Alabama won the toss and deferred to the second half …Alabama won its 20th consecutive game over an SEC East team, a streak dating back to 2010 when the Crimson Tide lost to South Carolina … Senior cornerback Levi Wallace recorded two sacks … Alabama added another four sacks to its season total, which is now 22.
Reach Aaron Suttles at aaron@tidesports.com or at 205-722-0229.
