TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — For a second straight week No. 1 Alabama rolled out to a hot start before choking out an inferior opponent in the second half. The Crimson Tide stormed past Colorado State 41-23 Saturday, gaining 487 yards in a balanced offensive performance. Here’s how Alabama was able to pull off the win:
Another fast start for HurtsÂ
Jalen Hurts made a gun symbol with hands, blowing off the barrels before tucking them back into their imaginary holsters. However, there was nothing imaginary about the Alabama quarterback’s start to Saturday’s game.
Hurts set the tone early, breaking a 14-yard gain on a draw on Alabama’s first play from scrimmage. Five plays later, he busted his second outgaining run of the game, rushing 27-yards up the middle for a touchdown to put Alabama 7-0. On the Tide’s next possession, the sophomore quarterback hit Calvin Ridley on a slant, allowing the receiver to jet down the field for a 78-yard touchdown pass.
Read: Offense hot, defense not in blowout win for Alabama
With Alabama sputtering late in the half, Hurts once again had an answer. Getting the ball at his own 24-yard line with 2:18 left in the second quarter, the reigning SEC Offensive Player of the Year led the Tide on a five-play, 76-yard drive, capped off by a 52-yard touchdown pass to Robert Foster to help Alabama head into the break up 24-10.
Watch: Nick Saban's Press Conference following Colorado State
Hurts finished the half 8 of 11 for 187 yards and two touchdowns through the air while rushing for 64 yards and another score on the ground. He finished the game 12 of 17 for 248 yards and two touchdowns and led the team in rushing with 103 yards and another score on the ground.
Jalen Hurts’ three touchdowns give him 43 in his Alabama career and bring him into a tie with former Tide running back Trent Richardson for seventh place on the school’s all-time touchdowns list. Former Alabama running back Derrick Henry is sixth on the list with 45 touchdowns, while former quarterback AJ McCarron is the record holder with a combined 80 touchdowns.
