UTC Scrimmage: How Bad Was It?
Sure, the schedule lists games against FCS opponents as "games" but if you're backup or a walk-on at an SEC program, they're scrimmages. Such was he case at a less than full Bryant-Denny Stadium Saturday as No.8 Alabama lambasted the Mocs of Chattanooga 6610. The Crimson Tide is now 10-1 on the season.
To no surprise, Alabama got on the board first when Jalen Mllroe hit Jermaine Burton for 56 yards. Three plays later the same pair connected for a 5-yard touchdown and Bama led 7-0 with still 13:04 left in the quarter.
Milroe converted a third down by hitting Amari Niblack for 19 and Burton for 44 more to set up Jase McCellan's 2-yard TD rush. Bama led 14-0 with 9:27 left in the opening period.
Jalen Hale's 29-yard grab set up an 11-yard Roydell Williams run to cap a 90-yard drive. That gave the Tide a 21-0 lead with 90 seconds left in the quarter.
Bama opened the second quarter with a 26-yard McCellan burst but had to punt for the first time after Milroe was sacked.
On the next possession, a 45-yard Jam Miller run led to a 7-yard Milroe TD pass to Robbie Ouzts and Bama went up 28-0 with 10:42 left in the half.
Kristian Story's first career interception set Bama up at the Mocs 38. Three plays later Will Reichard kicked a 50-yard field goal to put the Tide up 31-0 with 7:07 left in the half.
The Mocs got on the board when Gino Appleberry raced 40 yards with 3:30 left in the half to make it 31-7.
McClellan ran 28 yards to the 'Nooga 32 and with 63 seconds left in the half Milroe fired 20 yards to Malik Benson. At intermission, Alabama led 38-7.
A goal line stand of sorts on Chattanooga's first drive in the second half resulted in a field goal to cut the score to 38-10 with 10:46 to go in the quarter.
Milroe exited early and finished 13/16 for 197 yards and three touchdowns in one half of action. He was replaced by Ty Simpson, who promptly fired 31 yards to Kendrick Law to the 1, and Justice Hayes took it in from there for a TD and a 45-7 Tide lead with 8:39 left in the third.
Downs took a punt 85 yards to the house to give UA a 52-10 lead with 4:59 left in the third.
The Tide's top tackler before Saban cleared the bench was linebacker Jihaad Campbell with 10 stops.
Freshman running back Justice Haynes added a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns for Bama.
Next up for the Crimson Tide is the annual Iron Bowl at Auburn. Kick time at Jordan-Hare is set for 2:30 p.m. CT and CBS will televise. You can turn Gary and Brad down and listen on Tide 100,9, 95.3 The Bear, 1230 AM WTBC and their apps.
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Gallery Credit: Meg Summers