Alabama takes 2-score lead vs. Mizzou with clutch 4th-down TD pass

The 8^th-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide converted twice on 4^th down late in the fourth quarter Saturday against No. 14 Missouri, including a 4^th-and-goal at the 3 to go up by 10 over the unbeaten Tigers.

Heisman Trophy hopeful Ty Simpson, who earlier in the same drive converted on a 4^th-and-8 via a 29-yard pass to freshman Lotzeir Brooks, rushed the Tide to the line of scrimmage and calmly read an edge blitz to find Daniel Hill to go ahead 27-17 with 3:16 to play.

The touchdown pass was Simpson’s third of the game and put him over the 200-yard passing mark. Simpson completed 23-of-31 passes for 200 yards without an interception against the Tigers. The touchdown reception was Hill’s first catch of the day, as Simpson hit 9 different receivers in the game.

Here’s a look at Simpson’s pass to Hill:

Missouri entered the game on an 8-game winning streak, and Memorial Stadium was rocking all afternoon with its 18^th straight sellout.

David Wasson

An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. He also hosts Gulfshore Sports with David Wasson, weekdays from 3-5 pm across Southwest Florida and on FoxSportsFM.com. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.