The final tally was Blake Sims four, Jake Coker six.

By the time Coker took the field for his first game inside Bryant-Denny Stadium, a 21-point advantage was already in his back pocket.

It should be noted that 114th ranked Florida Atlantic defense gave up 620 yards Saturday afternoon and that that was an improvement from the 784 it allowed to Nebraska the week before.

The point being that the Owls are still searching for something resembling defense, so judge Alabama's elevated statistics, especially the passing numbers, accordingly.

In that environment Sims, in four offensive series, and Coker, in six series, combined to complete 26 of 37 passes (70 percent) for 416 yards and three touchdowns. It was the second-most passing yards in program history behind 484 in 1969 against Auburn.

Both made plays with their feet - Sims scoring the game's first points on a 7-yard scramble up the middle and Coker using his size to bruise his way down the sideline for 15 yards to the FAU 3 to stet up a touchdown on the next play.

Sims threw two touchdowns, Coker one.

Both also cost the team points - Sims' miscommunication inside the FAU 5 resulting in a botched handoff and lost fumble and Coker inside the FAU 5 taking a sack and letting the clock expire on the first half.

Ninety-one of Sims' passing yards and both of his touchdown passes came on stop screens, one to Amari Cooper for 52 yards and another to Kenyan Drake for 39.

Coker challenged the Owls defense deep, connecting once with Cooper for a 43-yard gain up the left sideline.

Coker's comfort level isn't on par with Sims' just yet, and it showed throughout the game.

He overthrew two stop screens on passes that sailed well over wide receivers' heads out of bounds and missed low to fullback Jalston Fowler in the left flat in the second quarter and again low to tight end Ty Flournoy-Smith in the right flat on a third-down pass that would have kept the drive alive in the fourth quarter.

Whille Saturday did nothing to change the quarterback competition that remains between both quarterbacks, it was the first look the public got at Coker.

Regardless, UA coach Nick Saban reminded everyone this isn't a popularity contest.

"I don't really care what side (the fans) take," Saban said. "The only side that matter is the side that we take. Which is me, our staff. I think we'll need both guys to play well for us at some point in time during the season.

"The decisions and judgments will be based on one thing and that's what's going to help our team have the best chance to be successful and win.

But to the Sims and Coker, the competition is overblown. When Coker threw his first career Alabama touchdown pass, the first person on the sideline to greet him was Sims.

"Blake has been really good to me," Coker said. "A lot of times it's tough to be in that position, especially with a transfer coming in. I couldn't have asked for more from Blake, he's been great to me and really helped me out with everything."

Reach Aaron Suttles at aaron@tidesports.com or at 205-722-0229.