Tide Survive, Top Feisty Florida, 31-29
Alabama escapes the Swamp with a victory in a classis SEC battle.
By: Dave in Tuscaloosa
Jahleel Billingsley hauls in a touchdown pass in the Swamp. Photo by Gary Cosby, USA TODAY Sports
So...that little tussle between the Tide and the Gators? Oh my goodness, that was fun. If anything was learned on Saturday in Gainesville, it could be this...don’t give Bama that Dr. Pepper championship trophy quite yet.
Top ranked Alabama survived in a thriller at the Swamp, topping 11th ranked Florida, 31-29, stopping the Gators on a game-tying 2 point conversion with 3:10 left in the contest. It was the Tide’s 8th straight win over the Gators, it’s 32nd straight over an SEC East opponent, and it’s 17th consecutive victory overall with only 2 of those wins by single digits, both at the hands of Florida. Dan Mullen's Gators came oh-so-close to knocking off the Tide machine (or Evil Empire, depending on how you look at it) as Florida outplayed Alabama for the last three quarters. The Gator offense pushed around their vaunted Crimson Tide counterparts to the tune of 440 total yards (245 on the ground) compared to 331 total yards for the Tide.
Sophomore Alabama quarterback Bryce Young showed terrific moxy in his first true road test, going 22 for 35 for 240 yards and three touchdown passes, all in the first quarter. For the season, Young has thrown for 10 touchdowns and zero interceptions, and the rookie gunslinger and the offense made plays when most needed to get the victory. However, there were concerns for the Crimson side. The running game, along with the offensive line, struggled all day long, gaining a total of 91 yards on the ground. Furthermore, the Tide offense spent much of the second quarter on the bench as they gained a total of 10 yards in the quarter, which included three straight three and outs, and led at halftime 21-9. Florida scored on a field goal and a touchdown, yet the Gators missed the extra point, which would prove to be the difference in the contest. After spending close to 10 minutes on the field in the second quarter, Bama’s defense was gassed by half and they were never able to recover.
Dan Mullen explaining that football really is a game of inches. Photo by Doug Engle, Imagn Content Services, LLC
Defensively, Bama was pushed around for much of the day as the Gators gradually wore down the Tide defense. Dan Mullen’s offense was brilliant and Pete Golding’s defense had no answers, especially in the second half when the Gators scored on every possession except for the last one, when Florida got the ball with 4 seconds to play on their own 24. The heat and humidity also wore down the Tide, and once again, the secondary was guilty of numerous costly holds and pass interference calls that extended Gator drives. In addition, tackling was spotty and the Tide looked a step slow all day. However, the D stepped up on the most important play of the game and stuffed Florida’s two point conversion attempt, a read option up the middle where junior quarterback Emory Jones held onto the ball a second too long, to tie the game.
Luckily, Alabama could not have gotten off to a better start, scoring on its first three possessions to take a commanding 21-3 lead after the first quarter. Young was once again calm and cool in the pocket, connecting on touchdown strikes of 7 yards to Jace McClellan, a beautiful 26 yarder to Jahleel Billingsley, and Brian Robinson who took a screen pass, made a nifty move and crossed the goal line from 7 yards out. The Florida defense stiffened in the second quarter, forcing the Tide offense into three straight three and outs while their offense cut the Tide lead to 21-9 going into half with a 6 play, 79 yard drive culminating with a 26 yard touchdown run from senior tailback Malik Davis.
The Gators opened the third quarter with a 10 play, 75 yard drive capped off by a Damien Pierce three yard touchdown run on 4th and 1. The Tide answered with a 13 play, 75 yard drive that was aided by a questionable pass interference call on a third and 12 that extended the Tide drive. Robinson would score on a 3 yard run on a 4th and 1 late in the quarter to extend the lead to 28-16. The ensuing kickoff was fumbled out of bounds by Florida at the one yard line. The Bama D forced a 3rd and 10 from the 1 yard line, and a stop could have helped to put the game away. As he did for most of the game, Gator quarterback Emory Jones, who on the day completed 18 for 28 passes for 195 yards and one interception, made a big play, completing a pass to sophomore back Nay’Quan Wright, who turned the short pass into an 18 yard gain and a key first down. Eight plays later, Jones would complete the 99 yard drive with a 5 yard touchdown run that cut the lead to 28-23 and essentially broke the spirit of the Alabama defense.
Young and Bama would respond with a nice 14 play, 64 yard drive that was bogged down at the Gator 2 and was hampered at the one with a false start penalty on 4th and 1 that forced the Tide into a field goal attempt. Ultra reliable junior Will Reichard hit a 24 yarder to extend the lead to 31-23 with 9:25 left to play. Florida continued its dominance of the Tide D by marching 75 yards on 12 plays. Dameon Pierce scored his second touchdown of the day by getting to the outside and took it 17 yards to cut the lead to 31-29. Florida’s two point conversion failed, Bama picked up one first down on the ground before punting to Florida’s 23, leaving them with 4 seconds to attempt a miracle finish. The game ended on a Jones scramble for a one yard game and Tide fans, not used to being pushed into the 4th quarter, could breathe once again.
Emory Jones played his guts out. Photo by Doug Engle, USA TODAY Sports
This result could be exactly what the Tide needs if they are on track for a second straight SEC and national championship, yet the road will be a challenging one. After the first quarter, the Tide was outplayed by the feisty Gators and was outgained overall by over 100 yards. There were miscues, costly penalties, and several drops in key situations, none more than junior Slay Bolden’s drop in the endzone in the third quarter where he was so open, he was lonely (Robinson would bail Bolden out with his touchdown run two plays later). Some said this win was an ugly one for the Tide...perhaps. Others in Alabama stated it felt like a loss, and I absolutely disagree with that statement. Tide fans have grown so accustomed to winning, and winning by a lot, that we have forgotten the thrill of a close, hard fought win. After the game, Coach Nick Saban stressed how pleased he was with the conference win in a tough environment on the road, and he stated the defense got tired, lost intensity, and missed too many assignments.
On the positive side, this game felt a lot like the infamous “Kick-Six” slugfest against Auburn in 2013 when Alabama had numerous opportunities to put the game away against the Tigers before falling 34-28 on the contest’s last play. This time around, Bama was able to hold on for the win, Young performed well in his first true road test, and Saban and company were given a huge reminder that they will not be just given the title without earning it. Expect Alabama, who held firm onto the nation’s top ranking even after the scare in the Swamp, to come back stronger than ever, especially on defense, against Southern Mississippi next Saturday. Remember the third game of the season last year? Bama gave up a program-worst 647 total yards in a win at Ole Miss, and the season ended just fine. In addition, give Florida credit, as they are better than most expected and could challenge Georgia for SEC East supremacy.
Bama fans, let’s appreciate the effort put forth by our boys and celebrate the huge win. Get the oxygen tanks ready, as contests against solid Texas A&M, Ole Miss, and Auburn squads await. Arkansas looks strong enough to push the Tide, and we aren’t even talking about a possible trip to the SEC title game against Georgia (who may be the best team in the country right now) or a rematch with the Gators. What Saturday showed is that Alabama is mortal, can be beat, and just like the fans in Happy Valley, Norman, Ann Arbor, and Athens understand well, every win is a reason to celebrate.