Ad Disclosure
Rapid Reaction: Alabama explodes in second half to blast Citadel, reach 50 points for 7th time
By Marq Burnett
Published:
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Maybe Nick Saban wanted to rub it in the face of everyone who suggested he rest starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Maybe the head coach wanted to find a new way to keep fans engaged through halftime.
Whatever it was, Alabama football let The Citadel hang around for 30 minutes on Saturday. The game was tied at halftime and many on Twitter were overreacting. Things looked even more bleak when Alabama fumbled the opening kickoff of the second half.
But after the Crimson Tide’s defense forced a missed field goal, the game was essentially over. Alabama scored 14 points in a 12-second span to put away The Citadel en route to a 50-17 victory on Saturday afternoon. It was the seventh time the Tide reached 50 points this season.
What was supposed to be an uneventful game provided some excitement for a few moments. The Citadel ran an option play to perfection on its first half touchdown.
Whatever Saban said in the locker room during the break worked as Alabama was a completely different team over the final 30 minutes. Alabama’s defense stifled The Citadel in the second half, and the offense found a nice groove.
Tagovailoa returned to his efficient ways, completing 18-of-22 passes for 340 yards and 3 touchdowns to zero interceptions. With a 68-yard touchdown pass to tight end Irv Smith Jr. in the third quarter, Tagovailoa became Alabama’s single-season record holder for touchdown passes with 31. Tagovailoa has a chance to rewrite nearly every quarterback statistic in program history.
Tagovailoa also added a rushing touchdown on a 1-yard quarterback sneak. For as much talk as there was about his knee injury, Tagovailoa showed no signs of being limited. He took off running multiple times and didn’t shy away from contact.
Damien Harris was Alabama’s top rusher (7 carries, 83 yards), but the senior tailback was knocked out of the game in the fourth quarter. After breaking down the sideline toward Alabama’s student section for a 73-yard run, Harris was tackled from behind and landed hard on his left side. He was on the ground for a few minutes as trainers looked at him. Saban even jogged over and checked on Harris, putting his arm around Harris.
There was a big cheer as Harris jogged off to the sideline before entering the medical tent and eventually being taken to the locker room.
In his first game action since Tennessee in late October, Jalen Hurts threw a touchdown to DeVonta Smith who has also been limited with a hamstring injury.
Sophomore Henry Ruggs III led Alabama with 6 catches for 114 yards. Fellow sophomore Jerry Jeudy caught 6 passes for 77 yards. Freshman Jaylen Waddle had 6 receptions for 90 yards and 2 scores.
Alabama enters the Iron Bowl 11-0 with a shot at its fourth undefeated regular season under Saban. Win or lose, Alabama will face Georgia in the SEC Championship Game two weeks from Saturday.
Veteran Alabama beat reporter Marq Burnett covers the Crimson Tide for Saturday Down South.
