For the 2018 University of Alabama football season, TideSports.com’s Terrin Waack will provide select stellar stats, obscure facts and notable quotes from the most recent game to show how the Crimson Tide uses “The Process” against its opponents.
No. 1 Alabama defeated Arkansas State 57-7 at Bryant-Denny Stadium last Saturday in front of 100,495 people for the Crimson Tide’s home opener.
Stellar stats
- Fifty-seven points signified a home-opener high for Alabama under Nick Saban. Even without him, that was the most since the Crimson Tide put up 63 in its 1969 home opener.
- Speaking of points, Alabama hasn’t posted two consecutive 50-plus performances at the start of a season since 1925 until now. That’s 93 years. (Alabama scored 51 against Louisville two weeks ago in its season debut.)
- Six touchdowns passes – four from Tua Tagovailoa, two from Jalen Hurts – ties for second-most in program history, and the two matched their own mark from last season against Mercer. The record is seven and has remained that way since Nov. 11, 1950.
- For the second time in a row, the Crimson Tide has totaled more than 500 yards of offense. It had 519 in its season opener and 599 in its home opener. The last time Alabama didn’t have a set of back-to-back games with 500-plus offensive yards in a season was 2011.
- Running back Najee Harris, a sophomore, had his first career 100-yard rushing performance. He went 35 yards beyond that milestone and scored Alabama’s sole rushing touchdown against Arkansas State.
Obscure facts
- From 2013-17, Alabama only missed three PATs – one in 2016, two in 2014. Austin Jones botched two against Arkansas State, hitting both uprights, before being switched out with Joseph Bulovas. Jones also had a misfire in the season opener, so that’s three this season already for the Crimson Tide.
- Twelve players have already made their first career starts this season, even though Alabama has only had two games.
- Alabama has won 17 straight games after scoring a touchdown on its first offensive drive. Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy had a 58-yard reception to score within the first two minutes of play.
- The song “Dixieland Delight” by the band Alabama did not return in Bryant-Denny Stadium.
- Quarterback Mac Jones’ passing stat line looked like this: 0-1-0. That’s the same as against Louisville. He played in the fourth quarter of both games.
The spread
OddSharks.com had Alabama as a 36.5-point favorite. The Crimson Tide easily covered, winning by 50 points.
Quoting Nick Saban
On kicking game errors and how there were two missed PATs:
“I think it had a lot to do with confidence, and sometimes when you lose your confidence things don’t go right.”
Quoting the Crimson Tide
Defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs on Alabama’s quick start:
“It’s all about the Bama standard and the Bama way, and that’s what we played up to (Saturday). We took care of business the Bama way.”
Quoting the opponent
Arkansas State coach Blake Anderson on overall impressions about Alabama:
“They were as good, or better, than expected, so no surprise there. Considerably the best team I’ve seen in pads or on film in a long time. I talked to Coach Saban before the game, asked him if he knew of any weaknesses, but he didn’t share any with me.”
GAME LEADERS
Top 3 rushers
- UA: Najee Harris, 13 carries for 135 yards and a touchdown
- UA: Damien Harris, 12 carries for 61 yards
- AS: Warren Wand, 11 carries for 60 yards
Top 3 receivers
- UA: Jerry Jeudy, four receptions for 87 yards and two touchdowns
- UA: DeVonta Smith, three receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown
- UA: Henry Ruggs III, three receptions for 56 yards and a touchdown
Top 3 passers
- UA: Tua Tagovailoa, 13-19-0 for 228 yards and four touchdowns (sacked once)
- AS: Justice Hansen, 15-36-1 for 140 yards and a touchdown (sacked twice)
- UA: Jalen Hurts, 7-9-0 for 93 yards and two touchdowns
Top 3 defenders
- AS: Darreon Jackson, 10 total tackles (a forced fumble)
- AS: Justin Clifton, eight total tackles (a fumble recovery)
- AS: Derrick Bean, eight total tackles
NEXT UP
Alabama (2-0) hits the road to play Ole Miss (2-0) on Saturday at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, marking the start of the Crimson Tide’s SEC play. Ole Miss is coming off a 76-41 win over Southern Illinois. The game will kickoff at 6 p.m. and air on ESPN.
Reach Terrin Waack at twaack@tuscaloosanews.com or at 205-722-0229.
