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 Mississippi State, 51-3, at home in Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday.
Stellar stats
Jalen Hurts has scored more touchdowns with his own two feet than any other Alabama quarterback coached by Nick Saban has during their career, and Hurts is just a true freshman with only 10 games of experience. His 4-yard scramble during the second quarter went down in the book as rushing touchdown No. 11. Here’s a look at the former players:
John Parker Wilson: 10 (Really 11, but one wasn’t during the Saban era.)Greg McElroy: 2AJ McCarron: 3Blake Sims: 9Jake Coker: 2Also, Hurts’ 100 yards picked up on the ground bring him to 735 rushing yards this season. He is the second quarterback in Alabama history to rush for more than 700 yards in a season. He’s 56 yards short of the sing-season record.There’s more: All of Hurts’ passing statistics are career highs. He completed 28 of 37 passes for 347 yards and four touchdowns. Each category – completions, attempts, yardage and scores – are brand new highs. Alabama has kept an opponent under 10 points 64 times now. Saturday was the seventh time in 2016, too.The Crimson Tide put up more points than it has all season with 51. The last time Alabama scored more than 50 points was on Nov. 21, 2015 against Charleston Southern.
Obscure facts
The LSU Hangover is no more. With wide receiver Calvin Ridley’s 4-yard touchdown reception became the first time since 2001 that Alabama has scored in the first quarter in its game post LSU. Field goals didn’t count.Mississippi State’s Dan Mullen has now officially coached 100 games with the Bulldogs. Therefore, he and Saban have something in common: They’re the only current SEC coaches to reach the century mark. Although Mississippi State’s Aeris Williams tallied just 56 rushing yards, that’s the most by any Bulldog running back against the Crimson Tide since 2010 (Vick Ballard with 80).Alabama did not score a non-offensive touchdown – again. After the game, defensive back Marlon Humphrey said the defense is eager to get back in the end zone. What Mississippi State wide receiver Donald Gray had to say about Alabama: “The best man wins, and they obviously won.” Mullen said something similar: “There’s a reason they’re No. 1 in the country. They play like it.”
Best Nick Saban quote
On sitting down with Hurts to discuss what he was missing in the passing game…
“You guys, I didn’t say stuff he was missing in the passing game. We just took some plays and looked what we’re supposed to do and what do we do. … That’s what we talked about. Just like I never said I didn’t vote, which now is like a big news story all over the country. I said I got an absentee ballot. Tuesday is our biggest workday and game plan day, and I forgot it was Election Day until I got at 11 p.m. that night. So I don’t know how all these things get sort of twisted around. I guess it makes a better story.”
Best player quote
Linebacker Reuben Foster
On keeping the Bulldogs out of the end zone…
“Everybody is hungry. Everybody is stingy. We come together as a team and play lights-out. We’re ball hogs. See ball, get ball.”
“It was amazing to see everybody playing together with one accord, one heartbeat.”
Wide receiver ArDarius Stewart
On scoring three touchdowns…
“I’m just grateful we got the ‘W.’ It’s not all about me.”
Game leaders
Top 3 rushers
1. UA: Jalen Hurts, 11 carries for 100 yards and a touchdown 2. UA: Josh Jacobs, nine carries for 89 yards3. MS: Aeris Williams, 11 carries for 56 yards
Top 3 receivers (based on receptions)
1. UA: ArDarius Stewart, eight receptions for 156 yards and three touchdowns2. UA: O.J. Howard, six receptions for 77 yards3. UA: Calvin Ridley, four receptions for 26 yards and a touchdown
Top 3 passers
1. UA: Jalen Hurts, 28-37-1 for 347 yards and four touchdowns (sacked once)2. MS: Nick Fitzgerald, 10-33-1 for 145 yards (sacked twice)3. UA: Cooper Bateman, 3-4-0 for 50 yards and a touchdown
Top 3 defenders (based on total tackles)
1. MS: DeAndre Ward, seven total tackles (0.5 sack, 1.5 tackles for loss)2. UA: Reuben Foster, six total tackles (a tackle for loss)3. UA: Minkah Fitzpatrick, six total tackles (a tackle for loss)Note: UA’s Rashaan Evans and Dalvin Tomlinson also had six total tackles. Mississippi State’s Richie Brown did, too.)
Alabama is 10-0 and remains home to host Chattanooga next Saturday at 6 p.m. in Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Source:: The Crimson White Sports
