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Ground game gets yards, but loses key player

Alabama running back Joshua Jacobs (25) carries the ball during the first half of a game against Kent State at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. (Erin Nelson | The Tuscaloosa News)

On the stat sheet, the University of Alabama's running game had encouraging returns from Saturday's 48-0 victory over Kent State.

The injury report was not so encouraging, but could have been a lot worse.

Starting running back Damien Harris was carted off after the game's fifth play with an ankle sprain and didn't return.

"He'll be day to day," head coach Nick Saban said. "I don't know what his status will be."

Harris finished with 18 yards on four rushes.

Harris' early exit gave extra work to Alabama's backup runners. Joshua Jacobs led the running back-by-committee effort with 97 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries. Quarterback Jalen Hurts gained 54 yards on seven attempts and B.J. Emmons rushed eight times for 51 yards.

All three are freshmen.

"Y'all saw them out there," center Bradley Bozeman said. "They're pretty good."

Said tight end O.J. Howard: "A lot of talent, they're doing a great job for us. We're happy with the way they're stepping in and handling the pressure."

Alabama gained 285 yards on the ground on 46 carries, an average of 6.2 yards per rush, with backups on the field for a substantial portion of the second half.

"We started fast and didn't stall any," Bozeman said.

By halftime, UA had rolled up 177 rushing yards on 27 carries. Jacobs gained 86 yards on just eight rushes with his two touchdowns coming before intermission. Bo Scarbrough gained 19 yards on three attempts and left the game with a thigh bruise. Saban said Scarbrough could have returned if had been needed.

Jacobs, Emmons and Scarbrough will prepare to take Harris' place next week against Kentucky.

"Those three guys will be the guys that have to get the reps if Damien is unable to go," Saban said. "They've all played a significant amount and I think they can do a good job for us."

Tackles Cam Robinson and Jonah Williams started along with guards Ross Pierschbacher and Alphonse Taylor, with Bozeman in the middle. Taylor was replaced by Lester Cotton for a portion of the first half after drawing a false start penalty, but returned later in the half.

As it did a week earlier against Ole Miss in a game that ended up being a shootout, UA used the quarterback under center and tried to establish a power running game from the start.

"I like it," Howard said. "We have to let the opponent know early that we're coming to play, just try to get the mind set to them that we're going to do this the entire game. Once you do that, you can open up and do other stuff. But you have to dominate at first and establish the mentality."

In the second half, UA inserted its second-unit line: Matt Womack at left tackle, Dallas Warmack at left guard, J.C. Hassenauer at center, Brandon Kennedy at right guard and Korren Kirven at right tackle.

Reach Tommy Deas at tommy@tidesports.com or at 205-722-0224.

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