Alabama blasts Arkansas

TUSCALOOSA — Alabama didn’t just shut down Arkansas’ game plan; the Crimson Tide executed it on offense.

Unable to grind out its customary yardage on the ground against the Razorbacks, Alabama peppered Arkansas with big plays in pounding the Hogs 35-7 in its Southeastern Conference opener at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Alabama already owned a 28-7 lead, staked by three touchdown plays of 50 yards or longer, before it executed a back-breaking, 99-yard, 13-play drive. That march, which ended in the fourth quarter, resembled the dominance up front that many in the crowd of 92,l012 had expected.

Junior quarterback Greg McElroy completed 17 of 24 passes for a career-high 291 yards — including an 80-yard touchdown pass to Marquis Maze that tied for seventh-longest in school history.

“The one thing that we’ve done this year way different than last year is we’ve had a lot more explosive plays,” Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban said as his third-ranked team ran its record to 4-0, 1-0 in the SEC.

“I think it’s because we’re doing more things, there’s more people involved and as long as you make good decisions about where you’re going with the ball, I
think all that stuff is great. Greg has done a really good job of that so far.”

Alabama receiver Julio Jones and running back Roy Upchurch returned to the lineup after suffering injuries. However, sophomore linebacker Dont’a Hightower left the game late in the first quarter with a knee injury. An MRI is scheduled today, but Saban said the initial prognosis “is not good.”

While the offense made big plays, the defense turned in a complete performance against Arkansas and sophomore quarterback Ryan Mallett.
Mallett and backup Tyler Wilson averaged 428 yards per game passing. They combined to finish 16-for-41 for 191 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

“To hold those guys to seven points is really good, and it was a team effort,” Saban said. “Everybody covered who they were supposed to, the front people had some sacks, making the quarterback move in the pocket.

“Making him feel uncomfortable was probably a key to it. They have a very good offensive scheme. This is one of the most difficult offensive systems that we’ve had to defend. Bobby (Petrino) does a great job, and he’s got an outstanding quarterback.”

Mallett was 12-for-35 for 160 yards.

On this afternoon, McElroy was the more efficient quarterback. He also had better players around him.

“Our defense showed how committed we are,” McElroy said. “They really played their assignments, and when they do that we can really shut down an explosive offense like that. A lot of credit is due to the defense. We struggled at first, and they kept us in it.”

When Alabama wasn’t able to simply shove the Razorbacks around, McElroy and the Crimson Tide went to the air. Consecutive completions to tight end Colin Peek — who uncharacteristically dropped two passes in a scoreless first quarter — got the Crimson Tide near midfield.

Trent Richardson then provided the first lightning bolt on a gray day that had seen plenty of rain. Richardson took a handoff off right tackle on a play that looked doomed as the Arkansas defense was slanting to that side.

But Richardson shook off two tackles behind the line and two more as he turned the corner up the right sideline. Arkansas safety Tramain Thomas missed Richardson, who shook off Jerry Franklin and burst up the sideline 52 yards for a touchdown.

Richardson finished the day with 65 yards rushing on nine carries.

Arkansas got one first down before punting the ball back to Alabama. Javier Arenas returned it 18 yards to the 50.

On first down, Alabama lined up in the Wildcat formation as McElroy lined up split wide right and Mark Ingram took the direct snap. Ingram handed to Terry Grant on a speed sweep to the right. Grant then flipped the ball back to McElroy, who had Jones wide open beyond the secondary.

His pass was actually underthrown, but Jones was so alone he came back to the ball, made the catch, and shook off Thomas’ tackle near the 10 and strode into the end zone.

“I just kept my poise,” Jones said of the play. “Be patient. Looked the ball in, turned around and scored.”

It was Jones’ first touchdown catch of the season and — hard to believe — his first in 12 games dating back to the Georgia game last season.

The big plays weren’t over. Arkansas scored on its first possession of the third quarter to pull within 14-7. But Alabama answered quickly.

McElroy hit Maze on a deep route up the right sideline for 80 yards. Maze and Rudell Crim tangled feet, and Crim went down. Elton Ford had little chance of catching the speedster.

“The passing game has been going great. We have guys who are hounding for the ball,” Maze said. “Greg has done a great job on finding the open guy and making plays.”

Lorenzo Washington blocked a rugby-style punt by Dylan Breeding, setting up Alabama on the Arkansas 35. McElroy’s 14-yard touchdown pass to Ingram on third-and-5 gave the Tide a 28-7 lead.

Breeding’s next punt pinned Alabama on its 1-yard line. The Tide then embarked on its 99-yard march that removed any doubt about the outcome. The drive took 6:28 and 13 plays as Ingram followed Terrence Cody into the end zone on a 2-yard run with 13:12 left.

Second quarter
9:30 Alabama 7, Arkansas 0: Trent Richardson 52-yard run (Leigh Tiffin PAT). 6 plays, 86 yards, 3:14. Key play: Besides the touchdown run, in which four Razorbacks got their hands on Richardson, consecutive passes to Colin Peek from Greg McElroy seemed to give life to the offense. The first one went for 14 yards near the right sideline, the second was for five yards and came before the freshman’s touchdown burst.

6:55 Alabama 14, Arkansas 0: Julio Jones 50-yard reception from Greg McElroy (Tiffin PAT). 1 play, 50 yards, 0:10. Key play: The touchdown came on the first play of the drive, after Javier Arenas gave the Crimson Tide the ball at midfield with a 18-yard punt return.

Third quarter
10:45 Alabama 14, Arkansas 7: Greg Childs 18-yard reception from Ryan Mallett (Alex Tejada PAT). 5 plays, 55 yards, 2:17. Key play: Mallett’s touchdown pass over Kareem Jackson on a fade route in the left side of the end zone was a nice throw. He had to be less precise with a 23-yard pass to tight end D.J. Williams, who was wide open in the right flat for 23 yards and a first down at the Tide 20.

10:25 Alabama 21, Arkansas 7: Marquis Maze 80-yard reception from McElroy (Tiffin PAT). 1 play, 80 yards, 0:20. Key play: Alabama answered Arkansas’ score by testing the Razorbacks secondary.

5:53 Alabama 28, Arkansas 7: Mark Ingram 14-yard reception from McElroy (Tiffin PAT). 5 plays, 35 yards, 2:28. Key play: Alabama started with a short field after Lorenzo Washington blocked a rugby-style punt by Arkansas’ Dylan Breeding with the Hogs facing fourth-and-1 at the 49. After a scramble for the ball, Alabama took over on the 35.

Fourth quarter
13:12 Alabama 35, Arkansas 7: Mark Ingram 2-yard run (Tiffin PAT). 13 plays, 99 yards, 6:28. Key play: The extended march started with two key third-down conversions. Ingram gained six yards on third-and-3 at the 8, then McElroy found Roy Upchurch on a hot route for 13 yards on third-and-nine at the 15.