Bama overcomes first quarter blues in rout of Wildcats
Bama nation panics as the Tide punts in the first quarter...yet routs Kentucky anyway, 63-3
By: Dave in Tuscaloosa
Photo: UA Athletics/Collegiate Images/Getty Images
To get inside an Alabama fan’s mind in 2020, let’s take a look at the first quarter of the Tide’s game against Kentucky:
The Crimson Tide led by the slim margin of 7-3. Kentucky’s first two possessions resulted in impressive drives inside Alabama’s red zone with relative ease, and as the quarter ended, the ‘Cats stood poised at the Tide 8 yard line, ready to possibly take the lead against the top ranked team in the nation. Alabama scored on its first possession, yet had to punt...yes, punt, on its second possession.
The statistics read as follows:
Total Yards: Kentucky - 121 Alabama - 79
First Downs: Kentucky - 8 Alabama - 3
Kentucky quarterback Terry Wilson was 5 for 6 for 77 yards, while Alabama’s Mac Jones stood at 3-4 and 74 yards
Kentucky tailback Asim Rose had 5 carries for 31 yards while Alabama back Najee Harris stood at 6 carries for 5 yards
Photo: SEC Digital Media
Terry Wilson had more passing yards at the end of Q1 than Mac Jones…who woulda thought?
And now, for a Biscuits & SEC exclusive: Hot off the presses, here are the top four comments made by Tide fans as the first quarter against Kentucky ended:
“What the hell is going on?”
“We have to punt? Wait...we have a punter?”
“Remember the Seinfeld episode ‘The Bizarro World?’ Yup, that’s where we’re at”
“Where’s the bourbon?”
To add to Tide fan’s utter misery and confusion in the first quarter, Kentucky was playing without ten of its players, including their leading rusher, Chris Rodriguez Jr., their top defensive player, linebacker Jamin Davis, a starting lineman, guard Luke Fortner, and two of their tight ends. Oh, the misery of Kentucky sticking around for a quarter...and what is going on with having to punt in the first quarter? It is highly doubtful that most Alabama fans even know the name of the punter (FYI: his name is Charlie Scott, he’s a senior from Colorado, his jersey number is 85, and no doubt his family and friends love him very much).
The song that blared on the speakers in Tuscaloosa when the Tide heard that Jamin Davis was out.
However, that second Kentucky drive stalled at the Tide 6 yard line and they lined up for a 24 yard field goal to cut the deficit to 7-6. An errant (more like a missile) snap that ended up all the way back at the Bama 42 yard line negated the attempt, the Tide offense made up for the inexcusable use of it’s punter, senior Charlie Scott, #85 from Colorado, on the drive before by marching 58 yards in 4 plays, culminating in DaVonta Smith’s record breaking 10-yard reception in the end zone. Smith passed Bama legend Amari Cooper and Florida’s Chris Doering for the SEC’s most touchdown receptions in a season with 32. Still, Kentucky moved the ball well again on its third possession, driving 41 yards on 10 plays, yet the drive ended with a missed 42-yard field goal. Bama would answer with Najee Harris’ beautiful 42 yard touchdown run, a career long, which extended the lead to 21-3. The Bama D stiffened again and the offense would end the half with Jones hitting John “Oh Canada” Metchie on an 18-yard strike. The Tide waltzed into halftime up 28-3, and that was that.
Photo: Kent Gidley, Crimson Tide Photos/UA Athletics
Charlie Scott, #85, senior, from Colorado, who IS on the Alabama roster.
Bama’s defense was impressive in the second half, shutting out the ‘Cats and limiting them to 58 total yards after the first quarter. Kentucky’s three quarterbacks failed to complete a
pass in the second half, going a collective 0 for 9. In addition, Alabama sophomore corner Jordan Battle intercepted one of those nine passes and returned it 45 yards for a pick six.
Offensively, Bama piled it on and finished with 509 total yards, 29 first downs, and four different players had rushing touchdowns. Mac “Daddy” Jones had, for him, a pedestrian day, going 16/24 for 230 yards and 2 touchdowns. With Kentucky playing mostly zone, downfield opportunities were limited, yet Jones tried to force several longballs to no avail. He was picked off in the third quarter when he tried to force a deep ball to DaVonta Smith, and he forced another deep ball in the second quarter that should have been intercepted, but was dropped by two Wildcat defenders. With the result determined, Jones gave way to super frosh quarterback Bryce Young. The slinger from California would complete both of his pass attempts for 53 yards, including his first touchdown pass as a member of the Crimson Tide, a nifty 18-yard strike to DaVonta Smith in the third quarter. Bama emptied the bench and added two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter, an 18-yard scamper from freshman tailback Jace McClennan (who led all rushers with 99 yards on 10 carries), and a 2-yard touchdown run from fellow newcomer Roydell Williams. Senior tailback Najee Harris would finish with 83 yards on 13 carries and 2 touchdowns. And possibly most important of all, Charlie Scott, (his number is 85 and he is a senior from Colorado) only had to punt one more time in the game.
“Hey Charlie, get in there, we have to punt.”
For Kentucky, Terry Wilson finished 10/19 for 120 yards and one interception while tailback Asim Rose Jr. touted the ball 10 times for 68 yards. Kentucky deserves a lot of credit, as they went toe to toe with the Tide for a quarter, causing, as mentioned earlier, the Tide faithful to have a minor conniption. Hats off as well for playing the game, even without five starters.
I would love to write more about this game...to analyze what Charlie Scott (#85, senior, Colorado) was thinking as he strutted onto the field in the first quarter for that punt (did anyone interview him after the game? Probably not, as he was probably in the hot tub recovering from overexertion)…and how Alabama fans went from sorrow to adulation early in the second quarter. Yet I cannot because it is now officially Auburn week, and as a Tide fan, all of my attention and energy must be on the Tigers and our need for revenge.
The Tide now heads into their annual post-Thanksgiving tussle with #22 Auburn, who added to Tennessee’s 2020 misery with a 30-17 victory over the Volunteers. Bama has revenge on their minds, after falling last season to the Tigers 48-45, which officially ended their hope of making the College Football Playoffs.
Iron Bowl, here we come…and hopefully #85 in Crimson won’t need to exert himself like he had to against the Wildcats. After the workout he got last Saturday, senior Charlie Scott from Colorado deserves a day off.