Crimson Tide Dominates in All Facets of the Game
The University of Alabama Crimson Tide hosted the University of Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks Saturday afternoon in a non-conference matchup. Nick Saban's team played to the level expected of them against a Group of Five opponent and came out victorious with a final score of 63-7.
The Crimson Tide came out hot in the first quarter after receiving the opening kickoff. Last year's Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young showed why he is still a top candidate for the award this season.
Young completed a 29-yard strike across the middle of the field to Ja'Corey Brooks to set up the Tide in Warhawks territory. After a 17-yard Jahmyr Gibbs rush, Young found Traeshon Holden on a comeback route that Holden took to the house for a 33-yard touchdown reception.
The Crimson Tide stalled the Warhawks' first drive of the game and received the ball back after forcing a punt. However, on the first play of the drive, Young threw his first interception of the 2022 season to Warhawk linebacker Tristan Diggers on an under-thrown ball intended for Isaiah Bond.
The Crimson Tide defense responded to this turnover with an even bigger one. Will Anderson intercepted a pass from ULM quarterback Chandler Rogers and took it all the way to the house.
The next drive for the Warhawks also resulted in Crimson Tide points. Louisiana-Monroe was forced to punt after a quick three plays starting with a Brian Branch sack. Then, Brooks found his way to the punter and blocked the kick. Malachi Moore recovered the blocked punt and walked into the end-zone with the rest of the punt-block unit surrounding him.
The Warhawks sustained a little more offense on its next drive and picked up a first down before giving Alabama the ball back.
Young dotted up the ULM defense on two straight passes and got the unit down to the seven-yard line. The Tide dialed up another pass play, but Young called his own number and spun out a ULM defender before diving into the endzone for a touchdown.
ULM found success at the start of the second quarter. After stringing together a few first downs against the Alabama defense, ULM running back Malik Jackson scored on an 11-yard touchdown run through the middle of the defense.
Alabama went three-and-out the next drive and ULM got the ball back. ULM held possession of the ball for almost six minutes before punting the ball back to Alabama with a little under two minutes left in the first half.
Young executed the two-minute drill perfectly going 5-5 including a touchdown to freshman tight end Amari Niblack to put the Tide up 35-7 entering halftime.
The Crimson Tide got the ball for the first time in the second half after stopping ULM on downs. However, Young threw his second interception of the game to give the ball right back to the Warhawks.
The defense held firm and gave Young a chance to redeem his mistake. He took advantage of the opportunity and found Gibbs in the flat, who dodged multiple defenders before finding himself in the end zone.
Young finished the game 13-18 for 236 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions.
The Crimson Tide got the ball back soon after and pounded the ball inside with Roydell Williams. Williams carried the ball five straight times in a row and finished off the drive with a ten-yard score.
ULM began with the ball to start the fourth quarter but the drive was stifled. The Alabama special teams came up big once again when Brian Branch returned the punt 68 yards to give the team two special teams touchdowns on the day.
Alabama set a new single-game school record for punt return yards with 262 total yards.
Alabama regained possession after a quick three-play drive and began methodically driving down the field. Jalen Milroe and Trey Sanders led the team down the field and moved down to the six yard-line before Sanders punched the ball in for the final score of the game.
The Crimson Tide had its most successful rushing attack of the year and finished with 273 total yards. Roydell Williams led all rushers with 58 yards and one touchdown.