For the 2018 University of Alabama football season, TideSports’ 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 Missouri 39-10 at Bryant-Denny Stadium last Saturday in front of 101,821 people.
Stellar stats
• For the seventh game in a row, Alabama scored on its opening drive. It took two plays and 23 seconds. The Crimson Tide has had 18 scoring drives this season that lasted less than a minute. Nine of those were less than 30 seconds, including two against the Tigers. UA leads the nation in scoring drives under a minute.
• The Crimson Tide has scored 90 points off 16 opponent turnovers this season. It had two post-turnover scoring drives in the first half against the Tigers, thanks to defensive back Saivion Smith’s interception in the first quarter and linebacker Anfernee Jennings’ recovered fumble in the second quarter.
• Of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s 52 drives at the helm this season, 34 of those resulted in a touchdown and five finished in field goals. He still has not taken a snap in the fourth quarter. He left Saturday’s game early with an injury, but Alabama coach Nick Saban said afterward he could have returned to the game but didn’t to be safe.
• Alabama has had 11 pass plays go for more than 50 yards in seven games this season. Against Missouri, Tagovailoa threw a 57-yarder to wide receiver DeVonta Smith and an 81-yard ball to wide receiver Jerry Jeudy.
Obscure facts
• In the first quarter, Tagovailoa completed a 7-yard pass to quarterback Jalen Hurts.
• Skyler DeLong has officially burned his redshirt. He punted for the first time since the Texas A&M game on Sept. 22. DeLong was sidelined for 29 drives, as Alabama just kept scoring and didn’t need to punt. He botched his return, though, booting it just 12 yards.
• Tight end Hale Hentges is the only Missouri native on Alabama’s roster. He caught what would have been a 14-yard touchdown in the second quarter, but a holding call against UA offensive lineman Jonah Williams ruined that for Hentges.
• Alabama had its first safety since the 2015 SEC Championship Game against Florida. UA defensive lineman Quinnen Williams sacked Drew Lock in the end zone during the third quarter.
The spread
OddSharks.com had Alabama as a 28-point favorite. The Crimson Tide did cover, ending a three-game run of not doing so. It won by 29 points.
Quoting Nick Saban
On having a packed house for all four quarters…
“If I’m going to get on people for not coming to the game, I should really tell them how with how pleased I am with what a great atmosphere we had in the stadium (Saturday). The students were great. The enthusiasm was great. ‘Dixieland Delight’ was great. It was really, really good. I’m really happy. That’s the way it should be at Alabama.”
Quoting the Crimson Tide
Linebacker Christian Miller on whether Missouri played through the whistle…
“It’s football. Things happen. Was there some dirty stuff out there? Yeah, there was. I felt like I was getting held this whole game. But again, it’s football. You’re not going to get those calls. Can’t make excuses, just got to find a way.”
Quoting the opponent
Missouri coach Barry Odom on what’s next for the Tigers…
“It doesn’t get any easier with the schedule and grind of our conference the way that it lays out. It’s unforgiving, and if you are not ready to go, it will expose you pretty quick.”
GAME LEADERS
Top 3 rushers
1. UA: Damien Harris, 14 carries for 62 yards and a touchdown
2. UA: Najee Harris, 13 carries for 57 yards
3. UA: Josh Jacobs, nine carries for 52 yards
Top 3 receivers
1. UA: Jerry Jeudy, three receptions for 147 yards and a touchdown
2. UA: DeVonta Smith, four receptions for 100 yards and a touchdown
3. UM: Jalen Knox, three receptions for 61 yards and a touchdown
Top 3 passers
1. UA: Tua Tagovailoa, 12-22-0 for 265 yards and three touchdowns (sacked once)
2. UM: Drew Lock, 13-26-2 for 142 yards and a touchdown (sacked four times)
3. UA: Jalen Hurts, 7-8-0 for 115 yards
Top 3 defenders
1. UM: Cale Garrett, 10 total tackles
2. UA: Mack Wilson, eight total tackles (a sack)
3. UA: Quinnen Williams, 6.5 total tackles (a sack and two quarterback hurries)
NEXT UP
Alabama (7-0) heads to Knoxville to play Tennessee (3-3) at Neyland Stadium on Saturday. The game will kickoff at 2:30 CT p.m. and air on CBS. Tennessee is coming off a big 30-24 upset over Auburn.
