BAMANEWSBOT
Staff
The University of Alabama's Blake Sims set Crimson Tide records for completions and attempts by a quarterback in a starting debut game, running backs T.J. Yeldon and Derrick Henry rushed for more than 100 yards each, and receiver Amari Cooper eclipsed 100 yards receiving in the No. 2 Crimson Tide's 33-23 victory over West Virginia before a crowd of 70,502 (capacity: 71,228) at the Georgia Dome Saturday evening.
Sims completed 24 of 33 attempts for 250 yards with one interception and did not throw a touchdown pass. The completions and attempts are the most in Crimson Tide history by a quarterback in his first start. Yeldon finished with 126 yards on 23 carries and scored two touchdowns while Henry rushed for a career-best 113 yards and a touchdown on 17 attempts. Cooper had 12 catches for 130 yards, the second-most catches in a single game ever by a Tide receiver behind DJ Hall's 13 catches (185 yards) against Tennessee in 2007.
Defensively, the Tide was led in tackles by safety Landon Collins, who notched eight, followed by linebacker Ruben Foster and cornerback Cyrus Jones who both had seven, linebacker Reggie Ragland's six and end Jonathan Allen's five tackles, including two tackles for loss and one quarterback sack.
As a team, the Tide gained 538 yards of total offense (288 rushing, 250 passing), notched 30 first downs and averaged 6.6 yards per play (538 yards on 82 plays). West Virginia moved the ball for 393 yards (365 passing, 28 rushing), averaging 5.7 yards per play. Punter JK Scott had an impressive Crimson Tide debut, booming two kicks for a 50.5-yard average, including a 62-yarder.
Sims completed 24 of 33 attempts for 250 yards with one interception and did not throw a touchdown pass. The completions and attempts are the most in Crimson Tide history by a quarterback in his first start. Yeldon finished with 126 yards on 23 carries and scored two touchdowns while Henry rushed for a career-best 113 yards and a touchdown on 17 attempts. Cooper had 12 catches for 130 yards, the second-most catches in a single game ever by a Tide receiver behind DJ Hall's 13 catches (185 yards) against Tennessee in 2007.
Defensively, the Tide was led in tackles by safety Landon Collins, who notched eight, followed by linebacker Ruben Foster and cornerback Cyrus Jones who both had seven, linebacker Reggie Ragland's six and end Jonathan Allen's five tackles, including two tackles for loss and one quarterback sack.
As a team, the Tide gained 538 yards of total offense (288 rushing, 250 passing), notched 30 first downs and averaged 6.6 yards per play (538 yards on 82 plays). West Virginia moved the ball for 393 yards (365 passing, 28 rushing), averaging 5.7 yards per play. Punter JK Scott had an impressive Crimson Tide debut, booming two kicks for a 50.5-yard average, including a 62-yarder.
