By outreach@cw.ua.edu (Terrin Waack)
During the 2016 Alabama football season, The Crimson White’s Terrin Waack will provide select stellar stats, obscure facts and notable quotes from the most recent game to take readers Behind the Process.
No. 1 Alabama defeated No. 13 LSU, 10-0, at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Saturday.
(Note: The College Football Playoff rankings will be used from here on out.)
Stellar stats
This is the sixth consecutive year Alabama has recorded at least two shutouts in a season. Quarterback Jalen Hurts slid into ninth on the Alabama single-season scoring list with 22 scores (12 passing, 10 rushing). Keep in mind, he is a true freshman and has only nine games to his name. LSU running back Leonard Fournette was used to averaging 8.1 yards per carry, but the Alabama defense limited him to an average of 1.8 yards on Saturday. Big demotion. Last year, he was held to an average of 1.6 yards per carry.JK Scott had to punt for the Crimson Tide five times. He recorded a season-high 66-yarder and pinned two within the 20-yard line. The pressure was on Scott, though, as he had to punt twice practically in Alabama’s end zone. In total, the Crimson Tide notched five sacks for a loss of 22 yards. Defensive lineman Jonathan Allen had one of his own during the first quarter, which ties him for second on the Alabama all-time sack list at 25. Linebacker Tim Williams also had a sack to place him in a tie for eighth at 19.
Obscure facts
The game lasted 3 hours and 8 minutes, but 37 minutes and 56 seconds were dedicated to commercials. CBS aired 22 total commercials throughout the four quarters. For this first time since 2007, the Crimson Tide went into the locker room with no points on the scoreboard. Its 126-game streak of scoring in the first half was snapped. The last time Alabama was held scoreless through two quarters was against Florida State on Sept. 29, 2007. The last time Alabama scored 10 or less point was in the 2011 Game of the Century, which was also played against LSU. The Crimson Tide lost that one in overtime, 9-6. There was some excitement during the third quarter with a scuffle on the sideline. Alabama defensive lineman Da’Ron Payne went to made a tackle, but it didn’t end when the play did. There were three unsportsmanlike conduct penalties called against the Crimson Tide, but because the Tigers also received one, they all offset and nothing happened. Rules are rules, despite the uneven 3:1 ratio. The Crimson Tide did not score a non-offensive touchdown. Its 10-game run is over, dating back to last year’s shutout over Michigan State in the College Football Playoff.
Best Nick Saban quote
On preaching to never give up on a play…
“I use the example with them of LeBron James making the play in the playoffs, the championship game, from mid court. J.R. Smith guarding a guy. So [James] had to double pump it and him catching up to make that block, he said, ‘You never give up on a play.’ I asked our players, how do you compare that effort to your effort play in and play out? Because we say we’re giving 100 percent six seconds of play, but how does it compare to that? How good could you be if you did that?”
Best player quote
Defensive lineman Jonathan Allen
On the weight of the Alabama-LSU matchup…
“This is the reason I came to Alabama — LSU-Alabama. It feels good just to be a part of the rich history and long history of the rivalry.”
Linebacker Ryan Anderson
Here’s how it went down when Anderson was asked about any trash talk from LSU:
Reporter: Did you guys feel challenged with some of the talk off the field coming into this game?
RA: “You ever play sports before?”
Reporter: Yes, sir.
RA: “How would you feel if somebody said all that stuff? You know what I’m saying? Yeah, we felt disrespected by that. That’s all I’m leaving that at. We felt disrespected. We don’t do a lot of talking to media. We let our play talk. You know, they’re actually a good team. It was a four-quarter game, and hats off to them.”
Game leaders
Top 3 rushers
1. UA: Jalen Hurts, 20 carries for 114 yards and a touchdown 2. UA: Damien Harris, 12 carries for 53 yards3. UA: Bo Scarbrough, 11 carries for 52 yards
Top 3 receivers (based on receptions)
1. UA: ArDarius Stewart, three receptions for 55 yards2. LSU: DJ Chark, three receptions for 45 yards3. LSU: Malachi Dupre, three receptions for 17 yards
Top 3 passers
1. UA: Jalen Hurts, 10-19-1 for 107 yards (sacked once)2. LSU: Danny Etling, 11-24-1 for 92 yards (sacked five times)3. None.
Top 3 defenders (based on total tackles)
1. LSU: Kendell Beckwith, 16 total tackles (0.5 tackles for loss)2. UA: Reuben Foster, 11 total tackles (0.5 sack, 1.5 tackle for loss)3. LSU: Lewis Neal, 11 total tackles (a tackle for loss, two quarterback hurries)
Alabama is 9-0 and returns home to host Mississippi State on Saturday at 11 a.m. in Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Source:: The Crimson White Sports
