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NOTEBOOK: Several first-time starters for Crimson Tide
Aaron Suttles | Beat Writer
Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts runs through the USC defense during Alabama's season opening game with the University of Southern California Saturday, September 3, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.
Aside from redshirt freshman quarterback Blake Barnett making his first career collegiate start (it was also his first career game action), the Crimson Tide had a number for first-time starters in the season-opening game against Southern Cal.
True freshman Jonah Williams got the start at right tackle with sophomore running back Damien Harris getting the nod at running back over Bo Scarbrough.
On defense, Anthony Averett made his first start at cornerback while senior defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson made his first start.
On special teams Trevon Diggs returned a kickoff in the first quarter.
True freshman tight end Miller Forristall was also in on the first offensive series.
Opening with a score
When Southern Cal opened the game with a six-play 46-yard drive that resulted in a field goal to put the Trojans up 3-0, it was the first opening-series scoring drive Alabama had given up since last yearās Ole Miss game, a streak of 12 games.
Special teams
JK Scottās 54-yard punt with less than five minutes remaining in the first quarter not only flipped the field for UA, it also wrested away momentum from USC, who had two good offensive possessions before the punt.
The Trojans went three-and-out and managed just one first down the rest of the half.
In the second half, USC punter Chris Tilbey fumbled the punt on the first series of the second half to hand Alabama the ball at the Trojansā 13.
Ejection
USCās Jabari Ruffin, a defensive end, was hit with a personal foul and an ejection after stomping on Minkah Fitzpatrick late in the second quarter.
The stomp, which occurred after a kickoff, was directly to Fitzpatrickās groin.
Humphreys
Sophomore cornerback Marlon Humphrey joined his former Crimson Tide standout father, Bobby Humphrey, in playing against USC. The elder Humphrey played against the Trojans in the 1985 Aloha Bowl.
Humphrey rushed for 55 yards that day. His son made a memory when he returned an interception 18 yards for a score in the second quarter.
Halftime dominance
Alabamaās 17-3 halftime was a positive sign. Since Nick Saban arrived in Tuscaloosa, the team is 96-6, including the win over the Trojans.
The team led at the half in 11 of its 15 games in 2015, culminating in a national championship.
Scoring streak continues
ArDarius Stewartās 39-yard touchdown grab from quarterback Jalen Hurts extended Alabamaās consecutive-game scoring streak, which neared 200 games after Saturdayās win.
It was the 199th straight game the team has scored, the longest streak in program history.
Non-offensive TDs
Humphreyās 18-yard interception returned for a touchdown was the first non-offensive touchdown of the season for the team. It was also the 47th of the Saban era.
Alabama had 10 non-offensive touchdowns last season, including four interceptions, four punt returns, one kickoff return and one blocked punt return.
Tidebits
The Crimson Tideās defense came out in a nickel packageā¦Southern Cal scored on its first drive of the game on a 46-yard field goal that hit the cross bar and bounced acrossā¦Southern Cal registered the gameās first sack on UAās first drive of the gameā¦Outside linebacker Ryan Anderson registered UAās first sack of the season on a fourth-and-seven playā¦Reuben Foster and Ronnie Harrison got into a shouting match on the sideline just before the halfā¦Saturdayās attendance was 81,359.
TideSports.com - NOTEBOOK: Several first-time starters for Crimson Tide
Aaron Suttles | Beat Writer
Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts runs through the USC defense during Alabama's season opening game with the University of Southern California Saturday, September 3, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.
Aside from redshirt freshman quarterback Blake Barnett making his first career collegiate start (it was also his first career game action), the Crimson Tide had a number for first-time starters in the season-opening game against Southern Cal.
True freshman Jonah Williams got the start at right tackle with sophomore running back Damien Harris getting the nod at running back over Bo Scarbrough.
On defense, Anthony Averett made his first start at cornerback while senior defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson made his first start.
On special teams Trevon Diggs returned a kickoff in the first quarter.
True freshman tight end Miller Forristall was also in on the first offensive series.
Opening with a score
When Southern Cal opened the game with a six-play 46-yard drive that resulted in a field goal to put the Trojans up 3-0, it was the first opening-series scoring drive Alabama had given up since last yearās Ole Miss game, a streak of 12 games.
Special teams
JK Scottās 54-yard punt with less than five minutes remaining in the first quarter not only flipped the field for UA, it also wrested away momentum from USC, who had two good offensive possessions before the punt.
The Trojans went three-and-out and managed just one first down the rest of the half.
In the second half, USC punter Chris Tilbey fumbled the punt on the first series of the second half to hand Alabama the ball at the Trojansā 13.
Ejection
USCās Jabari Ruffin, a defensive end, was hit with a personal foul and an ejection after stomping on Minkah Fitzpatrick late in the second quarter.
The stomp, which occurred after a kickoff, was directly to Fitzpatrickās groin.
Humphreys
Sophomore cornerback Marlon Humphrey joined his former Crimson Tide standout father, Bobby Humphrey, in playing against USC. The elder Humphrey played against the Trojans in the 1985 Aloha Bowl.
Humphrey rushed for 55 yards that day. His son made a memory when he returned an interception 18 yards for a score in the second quarter.
Halftime dominance
Alabamaās 17-3 halftime was a positive sign. Since Nick Saban arrived in Tuscaloosa, the team is 96-6, including the win over the Trojans.
The team led at the half in 11 of its 15 games in 2015, culminating in a national championship.
Scoring streak continues
ArDarius Stewartās 39-yard touchdown grab from quarterback Jalen Hurts extended Alabamaās consecutive-game scoring streak, which neared 200 games after Saturdayās win.
It was the 199th straight game the team has scored, the longest streak in program history.
Non-offensive TDs
Humphreyās 18-yard interception returned for a touchdown was the first non-offensive touchdown of the season for the team. It was also the 47th of the Saban era.
Alabama had 10 non-offensive touchdowns last season, including four interceptions, four punt returns, one kickoff return and one blocked punt return.
Tidebits
The Crimson Tideās defense came out in a nickel packageā¦Southern Cal scored on its first drive of the game on a 46-yard field goal that hit the cross bar and bounced acrossā¦Southern Cal registered the gameās first sack on UAās first drive of the gameā¦Outside linebacker Ryan Anderson registered UAās first sack of the season on a fourth-and-seven playā¦Reuben Foster and Ronnie Harrison got into a shouting match on the sideline just before the halfā¦Saturdayās attendance was 81,359.
TideSports.com - NOTEBOOK: Several first-time starters for Crimson Tide
