Alabama Crimson Tide Vs Mississippi State 2009
Number 2 Bama Remains Unbeaten in Domination of Miss St Bulldogs
The Alabama Crimson Tide had a near perfect game in their victory over Mississippi State. Alabama’s defense completely overwhelmed the Bulldogs, especially in the second half, allowing only one field goal during the entire game. The offense improved greatly after a shaky mid-season, scoring four touchdowns. Number 2 (BCS) Alabama improved its record to 10 – 0.
Crimson Tide’s (10 – 0, 7 – 0 SEC) stifling defense, fourth in the nation, held Miss State (4 – 6, 2 – 4 SEC) to 113 yards rushing and 99 yards receiving for a total of 212 yards. The Alabama Crimson Tide rushed for 252 yards and 192 yards receiving for a total of 444 yards. Bama won the turn over battle by intercepting the Bulldogs three times, while not turning the ball over.
Alabama’s Greg McElroy completed 13 of 18 passes for 192 yards during the game. So far this season, his totals are 153 – 254 – 4 for 1913 yards and 13 touchdowns. Crimson Tide’s Mark Ingram rushed 19 times for 149 yards and two touchdowns, giving him a total of 194 rushes for 1297 yards, 6.7 yard rushing average, and 13 touchdowns so far this season.
Julio Jones was the Crimson Tide’s leading receiver with four receptions for 66 yards and one touchdown. Darius Hanks was second with three receptions for 59 yards and one touchdown.
Leigh Tiffin (24 – 27) continued his hot streak by kicking another field goal and four point after kicks during the game. This field goal and extra points extends his lead as Alabama’s all time scoring leader to 354 points. Of note: Tiffin’s father, Van Tiffin (1983 – 86), is fourth all time scoring leader with 312 points.
Alabama leads the Mississippi State series 73 – 18 – 3, along with a current two game winning streak over the Bulldogs.
Crimson Tide Football: First Half Action
The first quarter was a defensive struggle resulting in both Bama and Miss St attempting fourth down conversions that failed. Alabama’s Mark Barron intercepted a pass by Mississippi State’s Tyson Lee on the Crimson Tide’s 37 yard line. The ensuing drive resulted in a punt by Bama’s P. J. Fitzgerald, his first of five for the game. The score at the end of the first quarter was 0 – 0.
Alabama’s first drive of the second quarter lasted for six plays and 80 yards that ended in a touchdown pass from Greg McElroy to Darius Hanks for 45 yards. Bama’s second drive of the quarter was for 11 plays and 72 yards, capped by one yard touchdown run by Mark Ingram.
The Crimson Tide’s defense thoroughly shut down Mississippi State during the second quarter. Miss St had three drives with each resulting in three and outs for a total of nine plays, followed by three punts by Heath Hutchins. The first half ended with the Crimson Tide leading 14 – 0.
Bama Football: Second Half Action
Alabama’s first drive of the third quarter resulted in Tiffin’s only field goal of the game for 39 yards. Mississippi State’s first drive of the quarter ended in a missed 36 yard field goal attempt by Derek Depasquale.
The remainder of the third quarter was a defensive struggle resulting in two punts by the Crimson Tide and one by the Bulldogs. The third quarter ended with Bama leading 17 – 0.
Mississippi State’s first drive of the fourth quarter resulted in their only points of the game, a 34 yard field goal by Depasquale. The Bulldogs other three possessions of the quarter produced a turnover on downs and two interceptions, one each by the Crimson Tide’s Marquis Johnson and Mark Barron (second of the game).
Alabama had two one-play possessions resulting in touchdowns in the fourth quarter. The first was a 48 yard touchdown pass to Julio Jones from McElroy and the second was a 70 yard run by Mark Ingram. The time of both possessions totaled 18 seconds, which broke the back of the Mississippi State Bulldogs. The game ended with the Crimson Tide winning 31 – 3.
Alabama Football: Wrap Up and Future Schedule
Alabama football continues to roll over its opponents this season. Offensively, McElroy was perfect passing for two touchdowns and no interceptions. Ingram scored two rushing touchdowns, including one for 70 yards, to remain in the Heisman Trophy hunt. Defensively, McClain gathered 10 tackles including three for a loss, while Mark Barron hauled in a pair of interceptions and broke up three passes including one in the end zone late in the game.
Winning seasons are a result of Alabama football player’s talents. Notably Mark Ingram who is being considered for the Heisman Trophy and is a semi-finalist for the Maxwell Award, Rolando McClain who is a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award, and Javier Arenas who is a semi-finalist for the Jim Thorp Award.
The Alabama Crimson Tide’s next game is at home versus Tennessee – Chattanooga (6 – 4, 4 – 4 SoCon) on Saturday November 21st. Alabama leads the series 10 – 0. The teams last met in 1994, with Bama winning 42 – 13.
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