Mark Barron earns two interceptions

Sophomore strong safety Mark Barron took the SEC interceptions leads Saturday night with two picks.

And it could have been three.

Barron ended a Mississippi State drive at the Alabama 12 with a leaping interception of an overthrown pass by Tyson Lee.

It was Barron’s fifth pick of the season, making him the SEC’s leader in that category.

Barron’s pick extended Alabama’s streak to seven straight games with an interception.

In the fourth quarter, Barron’s interception at the 30-yard line came one play before Mark Ingram’s 70-yard touchdown run.

And in the final minutes, teammate Marquis Johnson cut in front of Barron and snared an interception at the Alabama 2.

“I kept getting passes defended and my safeties kept getting the ball. I told Mark, ‘No, I needed this one,’ ” Johnson laughed. “‘Man, you took it.’ I was like, ‘I got you one earlier. Can I get one?’ ”

Scoreless first quarter
Alabama has not allowed a touchdown in the first quarter since the second game of the season against Florida International. The Tide hasn’t given up a point in the first period in the last five games.

The Tide has now outscored opponents 56-20 in the first quarter and 156-53 in the first half this season.

Opening stretch
Mississippi State wasted little time testing the Alabama pass defense. O’Neal Wilder drew a pass interference from cornerback Marquis Johnson. Running back Anthony Dixon then put a charge into the crowd with an 18-yard run up the middle.

That drive ended with State going for it on fourth-and-3 from the Alabama 35, but a mix-up on the shotgun snap — it appeared to come early — gave the play no chance, and Alabama took over on downs.

Almost a runback
State’s apparent 88-yard touchdown on a kickoff return was nullified when return man Chad Bumphis was ruled to have stepped out bounds at the Alabama 38.

Mississippi State had six non-offensive touchdowns coming into the game. Last year, the Bulldogs had zero for the season. The school record for non-offensive TDs is eight in a season.

Sealing the deal
Alabama improved to 26-1 under coach Nick Saban when leading at halftime.

The lone loss came to LSU in 2007, when Alabama led 20-17 at halftime before losing 41-34 to the eventual national champion Tigers.

The Tide is 2-5 under Saban when trailing at halftime. Those wins came this season. Alabama trailed Virginia Tech and LSU before rallying in the second half.

Bama-State series
Alabama now holds a 73-18-3 lead in this rivalry, which dates back to 1896. The Tide has played more games and recorded more victories against the Bulldogs than any other opponent.

Alabama once won 22 consecutive games over State from 1958 to 1979. After a loss to State in 1980, the Tide won the next 15 meetings.

However, recent meetings have been much more competitive. State won three in a row from 1996-98.

Alabama snapped a two-game losing streak to State last season when the Crimson Tide won 32-7 in Tuscaloosa.

The Tide’s last trip to Starkville was a 17-12 State victory — Nick Saban’s only loss to the Bulldogs in seven meetings.

What’s next
Alabama plays its final home game this season against Tennessee-Chattanooga.

The Mocs are winless in 10 games in the series. The last meeting was a 42-13 victory for Alabama in Birmingham in 1994. Chattanooga’s last visit to Bryant-Denny Stadium was 50 years ago, when the Tide won 13-0.

Penalty free offense
Alabama committed only three penalties on the night. None of the penalties were assessed against the offense.

Marquise Johnson was flagged for a pass-interference in the first quarter, Javier Arenas was penalized for running with the ball after a fair catch signal, and another player jumped off sides.

By the numbers
0 — Number of first downs for State in the second quarter. Three straight three-and-outs by the defense helped Alabama build a two-touchdown lead after a scoreless first period.

58,103 — The largest crowd ever to see a game at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field left earlier than it wanted to Saturday night.

35 — Number of years since Alabama started 10-0 in consecutive seasons. The Tide last did it in 1973 and 1974.

30 — Number of 10-win seasons Alabama has recorded in 115 seasons on football. That is second all-time at college football’s top level, behind Oklahoma’s 31 10-win seasons.