STARKVILLE, Miss. | The University of Alabama's offense hadn't done anything, and the defense hadn't given up anything.

But with just one first down - that coming on a penalty - in nearly 20 minutes of play against Mississippi State on Saturday, Alabama needed a spark.

Cyrus Jones provided it. The Crimson Tide's senior cornerback returned a punt 69 yards for the game's first score with 10:44 to go in the first half. Two more big-play touchdowns followed before intermission, and UA was on its way to a 31-6 victory at Davis Wade Stadium.

Alabama's intent was actually to block the MSU punt.

The punt-block scheme, ironically, is for when opponents use what UA calls "Bulldog punt," because it was first against Alabama by Georgia some years ago. Earlier this season against those Georgia Bulldogs, it resulted in a blocked punt for a touchdown.

This time Alabama didn't get the block, but Saban knew the return potential was there.

"Our punt return has been very productive the last few games," Saban said. "A couple of them have been nullified by penalties that were very positive returns. ... Sometimes when you rush, you distort the coverage more than when you try to hold them up (for a return), because when you try to hold them up they read you and they all just take off running. It becomes like a kickoff.

"We were rushing on that play, it was block (attempt), and it really got their coverage distorted and Cyrus made one guy miss and they all were in a bunch."

Jones fielded the ball outside the right hashmark and immediately set out across the field, working his way toward the left hash. Maurice Smith shielded gunner Jamoral Graham and Jones made Cedric Jiles miss, sidestepping his tackle attempt with a slight stiff-arm. Snapper Hunter Bradley had an angle, but couldn't close in fast enough.

As Jones kept weaving in the direction of the left sideline, he saw a seam. He cut it up and accelerated to full speed, racing past the rest of the Mississippi State coverage unit all the way to the end zone.

"He just was out the gate," Saban said.

Jones had intended to try to get all the way across the field before cutting it up. He made the sudden decision when he saw the opportunity.

"Everybody just got on their man and I just tried to make a play," Jones said. "It wasn't nothing special, I just saw daylight and I cut upfield.

"I just saw them over-pursuing so I cut back inside. I just turned on the jets from there."

Jones knew the timing was crucial. With an offense that was slow to start, he wanted to make something happen.

"I just tried to get out there and make a spark for the team," he said, "just try to get out there and make a play. That's what they've got me back there for and I just wanted to do the job. I think I did it.

"We knew in practice that we just keep getting better. It was going to come eventually."