Kelly Ward
Special to TideSports.com
The University of Alabama's defense allowed two rushing touchdowns prior to Saturday's 25-20 win over No. 1 Mississippi State. It didn't allow one against the Bulldogs, who featured quarterback Dak Prescott and running back Josh Robinson, both with 11 rushing touchdowns a piece.
For the second straight week, Alabama's defense spent more time on the field than the offense.
"I was really proud of the way our players competed in the game," Alabama coach Nick Saban said. "The defense did a fantastic job. Turnovers were huge to have three interceptions, three turnovers, all sorts of drive stoppers."
Alabama's defense came up with three interceptions off Heisman-
hopeful Prescott. Senior defensive back Nick Perry intercepted the ball early in the second quarter on Alabama's 21-yard line. Junior cornerback Cyrus Jones picked off a pass in the end zone late in the third quarter.
"They went empty and spread out wide with five wide receivers in the game," Jones said. "I just tried to get my guy cut off, and I turned around and the ball was coming. I was just trying to make a play."
Junior defensive back Landon Collins intercepted Prescott's pass with about five minutes left in the game in the red zone for the third and final turnover of the game.
"This is a really good football team that we played today, and really, really hard to stop, and I think our defense did a fantastic job of holding them to what we were able to - 13 points until, you know, 15 seconds to go in the game," Saban said.
Mississippi State was in the red zone six times and scored on four of its visits. Two trips ended in field goals after goal-line stands by Alabama's defense, while two ended in turnovers. In the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs put up two touchdowns, both in the air.
"This is a really good offensive football team," Saban said. "I think one of the probably best offensive teams, the best offensive team in our conference statistically, but probably one of the best in the country and definitely one of the most difficult to defend."
Alabama's defense allowed 428 yards and 26 first downs in the win. Prescott accounted for 372 yards, with 82 coming on the ground. Robinson netted 37 yards, including a loss of five yards on a safety in the first quarter by senior linebacker Trey DePriest.
"(Junior defensive back) Geno (Smith) came off the edge - and he actually got blocked, but he made it tick outside, and I just scraped over the top and made that tackle," DePriest said.
Alabama had one sack, courtesy of sophomore defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson. The Crimson Tide recorded 98 tackles, five tackles for loss, six pass break ups and six quarterback hurries.
"I wasn't (surprised about the defense's performance)," Jones said. "I have the utmost confidence in our defense. Every player that we have out there goes about his preparation the right way, and I think that's why we're always in a position to make plays and kind of stop high-powered offenses." https://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1704917
Special to TideSports.com
The University of Alabama's defense allowed two rushing touchdowns prior to Saturday's 25-20 win over No. 1 Mississippi State. It didn't allow one against the Bulldogs, who featured quarterback Dak Prescott and running back Josh Robinson, both with 11 rushing touchdowns a piece.
For the second straight week, Alabama's defense spent more time on the field than the offense.
"I was really proud of the way our players competed in the game," Alabama coach Nick Saban said. "The defense did a fantastic job. Turnovers were huge to have three interceptions, three turnovers, all sorts of drive stoppers."
Alabama's defense came up with three interceptions off Heisman-
hopeful Prescott. Senior defensive back Nick Perry intercepted the ball early in the second quarter on Alabama's 21-yard line. Junior cornerback Cyrus Jones picked off a pass in the end zone late in the third quarter.
"They went empty and spread out wide with five wide receivers in the game," Jones said. "I just tried to get my guy cut off, and I turned around and the ball was coming. I was just trying to make a play."
Junior defensive back Landon Collins intercepted Prescott's pass with about five minutes left in the game in the red zone for the third and final turnover of the game.
"This is a really good football team that we played today, and really, really hard to stop, and I think our defense did a fantastic job of holding them to what we were able to - 13 points until, you know, 15 seconds to go in the game," Saban said.
Mississippi State was in the red zone six times and scored on four of its visits. Two trips ended in field goals after goal-line stands by Alabama's defense, while two ended in turnovers. In the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs put up two touchdowns, both in the air.
"This is a really good offensive football team," Saban said. "I think one of the probably best offensive teams, the best offensive team in our conference statistically, but probably one of the best in the country and definitely one of the most difficult to defend."
Alabama's defense allowed 428 yards and 26 first downs in the win. Prescott accounted for 372 yards, with 82 coming on the ground. Robinson netted 37 yards, including a loss of five yards on a safety in the first quarter by senior linebacker Trey DePriest.
"(Junior defensive back) Geno (Smith) came off the edge - and he actually got blocked, but he made it tick outside, and I just scraped over the top and made that tackle," DePriest said.
Alabama had one sack, courtesy of sophomore defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson. The Crimson Tide recorded 98 tackles, five tackles for loss, six pass break ups and six quarterback hurries.
"I wasn't (surprised about the defense's performance)," Jones said. "I have the utmost confidence in our defense. Every player that we have out there goes about his preparation the right way, and I think that's why we're always in a position to make plays and kind of stop high-powered offenses." https://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1704917
