Alabama’s Yhonzae Pierre gets pick-6 to pull away from East Carolina
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Alabama isn’t having much trouble with East Carolina in its season opener.
After a field goal on their first drive, the Crimson Tide have scored touchdowns on their next four offensive possessions. True freshman running back EJ Crowell made it 10-0 with his first career score. Daniel Hill added a four-yard carry to make it 17-0, then added his second rushing TD of the game as the lead grew to 24-7.
The defense has been getting in on the act, too.
With the Pirates looking to cut into the Tide’s lead, Mitch Griffis instead saw one of his passes go the other way. He was intercepted by senior Yhonzae Pierre, who ran it back 27 yards to make it a 31-7 ballgame.
Here’s video of the play:
Alabama went on to add another touchdown on a Keelon Russell three-yard run to go into the locker room up 38-7. The Tide are well on their way to a 1-0 start.
Russell, starting for the first time in his college career, finished the half 11-of-17 for 182 yards. He also ran nine times for 58 yards and a TD. Ryan Coleman-Williams has four catches for 104 yards.
Meanwhile, Griffis, in his seventh collegiate season and his first with East Carolina, is 5-of-7 for 108 yards. That’s on top of the pick-six he threw to Pierre.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
