On a scorching hot Saturday in September, the Alabama Crimson Tide were able to pull off another lop-sided victory over the Ole Miss Rebels 59-31.
Just like the temperature, the Alabama offense led by Tua Tagovailoa came into the game on fire and Ole Miss’ defense could not put them out. He seemed to have quite a special connection with wide receiver DeVonta Smith on the day as the two broke the will of Matt Luke’s team. And, a couple of school records as well.
In the first half, Tagovailoa and Smith connected on a 74-yard touchdown for the team’s first score of the game. But it was the next score from Tagovailoa that everyone will be talking about. In the early portion of the second quarter, the Heisman candidate scrambled and scored to give Alabama the lead. Once he crossed the plain, Tagovailoa surpassed A.J. McCarron for the most touchdowns in the history of the school. But the offensive onslaught didn’t stop there.
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Smith and Tagovailoa connected for scores a grand total of five times throughout the game. This led to a few more school records getting erased.
Smith’s five touchdowns are now the most by an Alabama receiver in a single game and in the meantime also claimed the record for receiving yards which were previously held by Amari Cooper.
He finished the game with eleven catches for 274 and five touchdowns.
In the fourth quarter, Tagovailoa remained in the game to break another long-standing passing record. On a 19-yard touchdown pass to tight end Miller Forristall, Tagovailoa broke Alabama’s record for passing touchdowns in a single game with six.
Despite the broken records, Tagovailoa put together one of the most impressive stat lines of his career completing 26 of 36 passes for 418 yards and six touchdowns.
Offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian got the running game going as well. With the return of Deonte Brown and the steady week to week improvement, Alabama is beginning to look like a more balanced team. Running backs Brian Robinson and Najee Harris each carried the ball well for the tide combining for a total of 131 yards, averaging 6.95 yards per carry.
The offense wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows as wide receiver Henry Ruggs sustained a lower-body injury in the first quarter. Although he was able to stay in the game it will definitely be something needed to be addressed during Nick Saban’s postgame press conference.
Ole Miss did show signs of life throughout the game offensively. The Rebels rushing attack gave Saban’s front seven trouble throughout the game. Led by quarterback John Rhys Plumlee, Alabama struggled to keep contain on several of his scrambles. Ole Miss put up more than 200 yards on the ground which is something Saban and defensive coordinator Pete Golding don’t want to see become the norm.
Despite the unit’s rush defense, the Rebels success through the air was limited, to say the least with cornerbacks Trevon Diggs and Patrick Surtain II not giving up much.
Some other notable players from the game were Xavier McKinney (13 tackles), Anfernee Jennings (9 tackles), Raekwon Davis (8 tackles) and Jared Mayden ( 4 tackles, 1 interception).
Kicker Joseph Bulovas who filled in for the injured Will Reichard did an adequate job in his absence. Bulovas finished the game 1/2 with a missed 28 yarder but did a nice job on kickoffs.
Alabama advances to 5-0 and will enjoy a bye week before traveling to College Station for a matchup against Texas A&M.
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Patrick Dowd is a Reporter for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter, via Pat_Dowd77
