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NOTEBOOK: Defense scores for Bama once again ... and again
Aaron Suttles | Beat Writer
Alabama linebacker Tim Williams (56) returns a fumble for a touchdown against Arkansas during the first half of the game in Fayetteville on Saturday.
Gary Cosby Jr.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. | The University of Alabama coaching staff canāt count on its defensive and special teams to chip in with touchdowns every week. Then again, maybe it can.
For the eighth consecutive game dating back to last seasonās College Football Playoff in the Cotton Bowl, and for the eight time this season, the Crimson Tide put six points on the board with a non-offensive touchdown.
Tim Williams cashed the latest one early in the second quarter when he scooped an Austin Allen fumble and returned it 23 yards for a touchdown. It was the sixth defensive touchdown of the season.
Minkah Fitzpatrick added a second defensive score when he returned an interception 100 yards for a touchdown in the second half.
Alabama leads the nation in non-offensive touchdowns, with Ohio State second with four defensive scores on the year.
In 2015, the UA defense scored 10 non-offensive touchdowns in 15 games.
No. 2 goes for 2
Jalen Hurtsā two rushing touchdowns in the first half matched his two scores on the ground in the season-opener against Southern Cal.
Uncharacteristic
Itās not often that an Alabama team allows a two-minute touchdown, but thatās exactly what happened when Arkansas went 79 yards in four plays and 56 seconds to score a touchdown with just 29 seconds remaining in the first half.
The score left UA coach Nick Saban in a sour mood going into the half.
"We're not playing very good fundamental football right now,ā he said.
Winning streak
Entering Saturdayās games, Alabama had the nationās longest FBS winning streak at 17 in a row, dating back to a 2015 victory over Louisiana-Monroe.
Tennessee entered with 11 straight wins before falling to Texas A&M on Saturday in double overtime. Houston had an eight-game winning streak but was downed by Navy.
Washington entered the day with an eight-game winning streak.
Third-and-long
Two long third-down conversions on Arkansasā second offensive drive of the game helped give the home team its first touchdown of the game.
The first came on a third-and-19 when Razorbacksā quarterback Allen lofted a perfectly-thrown ball to Jared Cornelius for 20 yards.
The second came on a third-and-nine as Allen again connected with Cornelius, this time for 16 yards.
The Razorbacks made it pay off with a 24-yard touchdown pass from Allen to tight end Jeremy Sprinkle.
Overall in the first half, Arkansas converted on 4 of 7 third-down attempts.
Flagged
Arkansas coach Bret Bielema was flagged during the commercial break after the Razorbacks kicked a 25-yard field goal late in the first half.
Bielema walked out near the hash mark and chewed out multiple officials, drawing multiple flags for his words. Arkansas was flagged 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct and Arkansas kicked off from its 20.
Bielema was upset that officials flagged one of his offensive lineman for holding on a play in which Allen threw what appeared to be an 8-yard touchdown with 3:50 remaining in the first half. The flag wiped off the score, Arkansas settled for a field goal and Bielema lost his cool.
A little history
A win over the Razorbacks would not only extend Alabamaās winning streak over the Hogs to 10 consecutive games, it would also give the Crimson Tide 899 on-the-field wins with a record of 899-31-44, a .729 winner percentage. That includes a 78-10 record this decade.
A win would also give Alabama its 400th SEC win.
Tidebits
Before the game, the Arkansas student section revealed a large sign that spanned a section that read āBe Louder! Beat āBama!āā¦ Eddie Jackson, Cam Robinson and Jonathan Allen served as game captains. ā¦ The Chicago Bears, Kansas City Chiefs, Jacksonville Jaguars and Carolina Panthers all had scouts in attendance. ā¦ Arkansas won the toss and deferred. ā¦ True freshman running back Joshua Jacobs tallied his career-long rush on the first series with a 55-yarder. ā¦ Hootie Jones created a Arkansas turnover when he stripped Deon Stewart on a kickoff return and freshman Mack Wilson recovered.
TideSports.com - NOTEBOOK: Defense scores for Bama once again ... and again
Aaron Suttles | Beat Writer
Alabama linebacker Tim Williams (56) returns a fumble for a touchdown against Arkansas during the first half of the game in Fayetteville on Saturday.
Gary Cosby Jr.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. | The University of Alabama coaching staff canāt count on its defensive and special teams to chip in with touchdowns every week. Then again, maybe it can.
For the eighth consecutive game dating back to last seasonās College Football Playoff in the Cotton Bowl, and for the eight time this season, the Crimson Tide put six points on the board with a non-offensive touchdown.
Tim Williams cashed the latest one early in the second quarter when he scooped an Austin Allen fumble and returned it 23 yards for a touchdown. It was the sixth defensive touchdown of the season.
Minkah Fitzpatrick added a second defensive score when he returned an interception 100 yards for a touchdown in the second half.
Alabama leads the nation in non-offensive touchdowns, with Ohio State second with four defensive scores on the year.
In 2015, the UA defense scored 10 non-offensive touchdowns in 15 games.
No. 2 goes for 2
Jalen Hurtsā two rushing touchdowns in the first half matched his two scores on the ground in the season-opener against Southern Cal.
Uncharacteristic
Itās not often that an Alabama team allows a two-minute touchdown, but thatās exactly what happened when Arkansas went 79 yards in four plays and 56 seconds to score a touchdown with just 29 seconds remaining in the first half.
The score left UA coach Nick Saban in a sour mood going into the half.
"We're not playing very good fundamental football right now,ā he said.
Winning streak
Entering Saturdayās games, Alabama had the nationās longest FBS winning streak at 17 in a row, dating back to a 2015 victory over Louisiana-Monroe.
Tennessee entered with 11 straight wins before falling to Texas A&M on Saturday in double overtime. Houston had an eight-game winning streak but was downed by Navy.
Washington entered the day with an eight-game winning streak.
Third-and-long
Two long third-down conversions on Arkansasā second offensive drive of the game helped give the home team its first touchdown of the game.
The first came on a third-and-19 when Razorbacksā quarterback Allen lofted a perfectly-thrown ball to Jared Cornelius for 20 yards.
The second came on a third-and-nine as Allen again connected with Cornelius, this time for 16 yards.
The Razorbacks made it pay off with a 24-yard touchdown pass from Allen to tight end Jeremy Sprinkle.
Overall in the first half, Arkansas converted on 4 of 7 third-down attempts.
Flagged
Arkansas coach Bret Bielema was flagged during the commercial break after the Razorbacks kicked a 25-yard field goal late in the first half.
Bielema walked out near the hash mark and chewed out multiple officials, drawing multiple flags for his words. Arkansas was flagged 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct and Arkansas kicked off from its 20.
Bielema was upset that officials flagged one of his offensive lineman for holding on a play in which Allen threw what appeared to be an 8-yard touchdown with 3:50 remaining in the first half. The flag wiped off the score, Arkansas settled for a field goal and Bielema lost his cool.
A little history
A win over the Razorbacks would not only extend Alabamaās winning streak over the Hogs to 10 consecutive games, it would also give the Crimson Tide 899 on-the-field wins with a record of 899-31-44, a .729 winner percentage. That includes a 78-10 record this decade.
A win would also give Alabama its 400th SEC win.
Tidebits
Before the game, the Arkansas student section revealed a large sign that spanned a section that read āBe Louder! Beat āBama!āā¦ Eddie Jackson, Cam Robinson and Jonathan Allen served as game captains. ā¦ The Chicago Bears, Kansas City Chiefs, Jacksonville Jaguars and Carolina Panthers all had scouts in attendance. ā¦ Arkansas won the toss and deferred. ā¦ True freshman running back Joshua Jacobs tallied his career-long rush on the first series with a 55-yarder. ā¦ Hootie Jones created a Arkansas turnover when he stripped Deon Stewart on a kickoff return and freshman Mack Wilson recovered.
TideSports.com - NOTEBOOK: Defense scores for Bama once again ... and again
