Greg McElroy sounded as surprised as anybody after Alabama pounded Mississippi State 31-3 in Starkville, Miss., on Saturday night.

AUBURN — For the first time in a long time, linebacker Craig Stevens doesn’t have any plans for Saturday.

Troy quarterback Levi Brown was six passes away from setting an NCAA record.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The large gap between a middle-of-the-pack Southeastern Conference team and the Sun Belt’s best was evident Saturday night.

Is there a position Demond Washington can’t play?

ATHENS, Ga. — For conceivably every situation that can hit an offense in a game, Gus Malzahn has a play — all the way down to specific times in the game, yard-lines and even hashmarks.

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

STARKVILLE, Miss. — Alabama didn’t really win the game in the second half.

Dothan defeated Charles Henderson 46-41 to improve to 1-1 on the season.

SELMA — The defending AISA Class AAA state champions are heading back to the title game.

Ben Tate and the rest of Auburn’s seniors will have to do something they’ve yet to do in their careers: Beat Georgia. Saturday’s kickoff at Sanford Stadium is slated for 6 p.m. The game can be seen on ESPN2.

Elba saw its season end at 11-1, the best record at the school since the 1992 state championship team went 13-1. The Tigers played the season in memory of teammate and classmate Keith Rogers, who passed away from cancer last April.

LEROY — Andrew Williams ran for 160 yards on eight carries with two scores to lead the Leroy Bears (10-2) to a 29-0 rout over Houston Academy.

Alabama opens its basketball season today with a new coach, a new system and all eyes focused on … well, the football game 83 miles away in Starkville.

The Trojans put a scare into the defending SEC Champions on Friday, holding leads and hanging within striking distance all the way to the end of the Tigers’ 70-65 season-opening victory at Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum.

AUBURN — DeWayne Reed ended Auburn’s 2008-09 season with two missed free throws and tears in the post-game press conference. He took a big step forward Friday night toward erasing those memories with a performance fitting of his new title as a senior leader.

Two years and one coaching staff from the last time Troy played at Arkansas, the Razorbacks (5-4) are still locked and loaded on offense, but with 6-foot-7 quarterback Ryan Mallett and several receiving threats, led by Jeremy Childs, Joe Adams and tight end D.J. Williams.

Third-ranked and undefeated Alabama visits Mississippi State at Davis Wade Stadium, which holds 55,082 and about that many cowbells.

Game scores for high school football games played Friday, Nov. 13, 2009.

Dothan Eagle sports staff picks for college football games played Friday, Nov. 13 and Saturday, Nov. 14.

Troy men’s basketball coach Don Maestri is hoping the injury bug won’t bite the Trojans for too long.

Mark Ingram is the Heisman Trophy candidate, but the most prolific running back on the field when Alabama visits Mississippi State on Saturday night will be State’s Anthony Dixon.

AUBURN — Lucas Hargrove might not be able to find Niagara University on a map, or even a conference-by-conference listing of college basketball teams for that matter, but he’s well aware of the challenge its veteran basketball team presents.

Northview tennis coach Josh Parrish said Emily Newton is the “hardest working athlete” he has seen in his days of coaching.

TROY — Troy quarterback Levi Brown has gotten plenty of attention this year with his arm, but his best highlight in Troy’s 40-20 win over Western Kentucky came with his feet.

Will Andre, Houston Academy’s placekicker who booted through a school-record 51-yarder last week, called it a redemption kick.

It didn’t take long for Elba head football coach Scott Rials to see what made Washington County such a success this year.

AUBURN — There’s a different DeAngelo Benton walking through the Auburn Athletic Complex these days.

AUBURN — Any hopes of making a run at their respective divisions were lost long ago for Auburn and Georgia, but whoever comes away victorious in the 113th meeting of the oldest rivalry in the Deep South will see its respective bowl stock soar.

OZARK — Janasky Fleming gave a simple thumbs up sign and a gentle smile to the fans as he passed the scorer’s table following Northview’s 65-60 comeback victory over Carroll on Thursday night.