Crimson Tide Rolls over Catamounts on Senior Day
The Alabama Crimson Tide defeated Western Carolina 66-3 on a rainy Senior Day in Tuscaloosa. On a day where 18 players were honored, the Crimson Tide started out quickly, scoring on the offense’s opening two drives and defensively forcing two Xavier McKinney interceptions, one of which he returned for an 81-yard touchdown. Alabama jumped out to a 38-0 halftime lead and cruised to victory in the final game at Bryant-Denny Stadium this season.
Mac Jones led the Alabama offense in his second start of the season due to the hip injury that Tua Tagovailoa suffered a week ago at Mississippi State. Jones completed 10/12 passes on the day for 275 yards and three touchdowns and was pulled from the game early in the third quarter. Jones was replaced by freshman Taulia Tagovailoa who completed 2/3 passes for 35 yards and a touchdown.
Sophomore Jaylen Waddle led the Tide in receiving today catching three passes for 101 yards and a touchdown; he also was dynamic in the punt return game amassing 67 yards on two returns. His longest return was 49 yards set the Crimson Tide offense up at the one yard line.
Alabama had 42 rushing attempts for 231 yards and four touchdowns in the game, with freshman Keilan Robinson leading the effort with 92 yards and a touchdown. Each of the Tide’s top four running backs, Najee Harris, Brian Robinson Jr., Jerome Ford and Robinson visited the end zone against the Catamounts.
Both Alabama safeties, McKinney and Jared Mayden, recorded two interceptions on the day; McKinney also forced a fumble in the first half. The Tide defense recorded four sacks in the game with senior Anfernee Jennings leading the pass rush with one and a half sacks and two quarterback pressures.
The victory moves Alabama’s record on the season to 10-1 and drops Western Carolina to 3-9. Alabama will get one more opportunity to impress the College Football Playoff Committee next week when they travel to Auburn. Alabama vs. Auburn will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday November 30 on CBS. You can hear Eli Gold’s call of the game on Tide100.9 fm or tide1009.com/listen-live.