Tuscaloosa, AL– A temperature of 67 degrees and sunny skies set the scene for Senior Day as the Crimson Tide (9-1) played their last home game of the season against the Chattanooga Mocs (7-3).
67 is also the number of yards the Tide went to score on their first drive, jumping out to a 7-0 lead just under two minutes into the game, by way of a five yard pass from Jalen Milroe to Jermaine Burton.
Head coach Nick Saban praised the passing attack of the Mocs during the week, (Mocs quarterback Chase Artopoeus is the ninth best passer in the FCS division, averaging 273 yards per game) but it was a 56-yard bomb from Milroe to Jermaine Burton on the very first play from scrimmage to blow the game open.
(NOTE: Backup QB Luke Schomburg started in place of Chase Artopoeus. He rehabbed an upper body injury all week but was determined unable to play early this morning by Chattanooga.)
Burton made his presence felt early after missing last week’s game against Kentucky due to illness, piling up 100 yards and a score in just over five minutes.
From there the Tide would have their way, scoring on the first three opening drives.
Milroe’s day ended at the half, completing 13 of 16 passes for 197 yards and three scores.
Freshman Quarterback Ty Simpson finished the game completing 4 of 6 passes for 50 yards.
Oh, and one “rookie mistake” that will live in eternal infamy in Alabama in Football lore. Simpson dropped the ball just short of crossing the goal line, erasing the history-making run (79 yards) by an Alabama quarterback. Luckily for him, Alabama scored on the very next play.
When asked his thoughts on blunder in the post-game presser Saban responded, “I mean do I really have to comment on that? It’s a learning opportunity. Caleb Downs didn’t secure the ball and was just flailing his arms on one play so yeah; we have to go back and fix that.”
Alabama’s defense was mostly solid, although it did give up 104 yards and a score to Chattanooga running back Gino Appleberry, including a long run of 40-yards. Caleb Downs also returned a punt for a touchdown.
The Mocs were outgained 234-13 in the first quarter but generated a couple of big plays to get closer on the stat sheet. They were still outgained 574-233.
UP NEXT:
Chattanooga awaits word on whether it made the FCS playoffs.
Alabama visits Auburn in the Iron Bowl.
