Lane Train derailed: Bama routs Ole Miss 42-21
Lane ends up getting run over on the tracks by a potent Bama rushing attack and pure defensive domination.
By: Dave in Tuscaloosa
Brian Robinson Jr. carried the Tide to victory with 171 yards and 4 TDs on Saturday. (Photo: Gary Cosby, USA TODAY Sports)
Bama fans, remember the days in the ’90s under Gene “Bebes” Stallings when the Tide would slug out 17-13 victories on a weekly basis? Remember how our quarterbacks would throw 15 passes the entire game and our ground game would pound out first down after first down and our defense would come up with a key stop to secure the win? How good it was to see a bit of the former “glory days” reemerge once again.
The Crimson Tide went old school as the running game came alive, the defense made several key fourth-down stops and the offense converted on a few of their own to throttle previously unbeaten and 12th ranked Ole Miss Rebels, 42-21. It was a thoroughly dominant performance by the Tide, especially by the defense. They held offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby’s potent unit, who had averaged 635 yards and 53 points per game, to a total of 291 yards (the lowest in Kiffen’s Ole Miss tenure) and Heisman Trophy frontrunner Matt Corral to 213 yards passing. Meanwhile, the Bama offense continued to roll, piling up 451 yards, with 171 and 4 short touchdowns coming from senior Brian Robinson Jr. Sophomore Bryce Young continues to impress, passing for 241 yards (20 completions on 26 attempts) and two touchdowns. Saturday marked the 31st straight game where Alabama has scored 30 points or more, which ties a national record.
Ole Miss came out of the gate strong, converting two fourth downs on a 59 yard, 16 play opening drive that stalled on the Bama 6. Ole Miss failed on a 4th and 1, which set the tone for the day. Young and company responded with a methodic 13 play, 94-yard drive culminating in a Young to John Metchie 16 yard touchdown strike. The sophomore gunslinger was perfect on the drive, completing all six of his passes. On their next drive, Ole Miss would fail on another 4th down, this time at their own 47, and Bama took advantage of a short field and marched 47 yards on 10 plays to take a 14-0 lead as Brian Robinson converted a 4th and goal from the one. After the teams traded rare punts, Kiffin rolled the dice again and went for it on 4th and 1 from the Rebel 31 only to have back Jerrion Ealy stuffed for a four-yard loss on an option play by Tide linebacker Henry To’o To’o. The Tide once again took advantage of a short field and would convert another 4th and 1, this time from the Ole Miss 3 yard line as Young found junior tight end Cameron Latu open off of play action to push the Bama lead to 21-0 with 2:55 left in the 2nd quarter. On the next play, impact defensive lineman Phidarian Mathis forced a Corral fumble and four plays later, Robinson would score his second touchdown of the day from one yard out and Alabama went into halftime leading 28-0. Bama piled up 201 yards and limited the high-powered Rebel offense to 0 points and only 101 yards.
So far this season, Alabama had come out of the tunnel in the second half sleepwalking. Not on Saturday, as Young led the Tide offense on a 6 play, 77-yard drive that ended with yet another Robinson 1-yard touchdown to stretch the lead to 35-0. Ole Miss would finally break through with a 10 play, 75-yard drive. Corral would run it in from 10 yards to ruin the shutout. On the next drive, Bama marched to the Ole Miss 20 when Young threw an ill-advised pass that was picked off at the goal line. After the Bama defense forced a three and out, Robinson would close the Tide scoring with his fourth touchdown of the day, scoring from 2 yards out to make it 42-7 with 10:47 remaining in the game. Ole Miss would add two late touchdowns to make the final score look a bit closer than it really was.
This was a breakout performance by the Bama defense. Led by linebackers Will Anderson, Christian Harris, and Henry To’o To’o, the boys in Crimson and White dominated, limiting the Rebel ground game, which had been averaging 298 rushing yards per game, to just 78. The defense was a swarming, life-sucking force that reminded Tide fans of the defensive glory days of old. In addition, the secondary was solid all day long, getting flagged only twice for pass interference calls while limiting big plays from a solid Rebel receiving corps. Without question, the Tide’s early 4th down stops set the tone for the day and should give the defense great confidence as the Tide heads into College Station for a showdown with Texas A&M next Saturday. In addition, the running game was solid as Robinson and company ran with authority behind a line that had its best performance to date.
It was a terrific day in Tuscaloosa, but as Sir Nick will remind us all, far from perfect. The defense gave up two late touchdowns and lost their edge in the 4th quarter. At one point in the fourth, Young was sacked numerous times and his third quarter interception was not pretty. In the fourth quarter, Bama attempted to run out the clock but was stopped on a 4th and 1 on their own 49, which led to the final Ole Miss touchdown of the day. Sophomore tailback Jase McClellan, who has really come into his own the last few weeks, left the game with a knee injury in the third quarter and Coach Saban said the outlook is “not good.” Long story short, there still is plenty of work to do as Bama continues to move through a challenging schedule.
Bama fans have a degree of satisfaction beating Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss, as Coach Saban improved his record against former Alabama assistants to 24-0. Yet, at the same time, Kiffin gets the credit for transforming the Tide offense years ago into the juggernaut that it is today, and for that, Bama nation is thankful. However, another win over the Lane Train and his brilliance is always a welcomed accomplishment indeed.
Onto the next challenge and another brilliant coach...Jimbo Fisher and the Aggies!