NOTES: Non-offensive touchdown streak still alive
When Ronnie Harrison scooped up a fumble caused by Rahsaan Evans and dashed 55 yards for a touchdown, it extended Alabama’s streak of consecutive games with at least one non-offensive touchdown to seven.
On third-and-5 midway through the second quarter, Evans jarred the ball away from Kentucky quarterback Stephen Johnson at the Kentucky 49-yard line. The ball rolled 6 yards before Harrison picked it up and rambled 55 yards for the score.
Alabama’s non-offensive touchdown streak started in last year’s College Football Playoff semifinals with a 57-yard punt return by Cyrus Jones against Michigan State. In the championship game against Clemson, Kenyan Drake returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown.
This season Marlon Humphrey returned an interception for a touchdown against Southern Cal, Eddie Jackson returned an interception 55 yards against Western Kentucky and there were three non-offensive touchdowns against Ole Miss - Jackson returned a punt 85 yards, Da’Ron Payne returned a fumble 3 yards and Jonathan Allen returned a fumble 75 yards.
Last week against Kent State, Xavian Marks returned a punt 75 yards for a touchdown.
Brown is back
Tony Brown played in his first game since the SEC Championship Game after serving a four-game NCAA suspension to open the 2016 season.
Brown played on special teams in the first half.
As a gunner on the punt in the second quarter Brown had a chance to pin the Wildcats deep in their own territory but the ball slipped through his legs in the end zone for a touchback.
Williams returns
Tim Williams, who was arrested early Thursday morning on the charge of the illegal carrying of a pistol, served a first-half suspension but he entered the game in the second half.
Williams was a pass-rush specialist in 2015 and has played more snaps this season and has been an effective pass rusher for the Crimson Tide.
Status update
Redshirt junior wide receiver ArDarius Stewart sat out his second straight game after sustaining a knee sprain in the win over Ole Miss.
Robert Foster played in the game and caught one pass for 15 yards in the fist half.
Sacks
The Alabama defense got to the quarterback will consistency in the first half, registering three sacks of Kentucky quarterback Stephen Johnson.
Senior defensive end Jonathan Allen got asack as did outside linebacker Rashaan Evans.
Christian Miller and senior outside linebacker Ryan Anderson both recorded a half a sack, bringing Anderson’s season total to 3.5 (through the first half).
Captains
Senior defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson, senior tight end O.J. Howard, and senior linebacker Reuben Foster served as game captains.
Famous alumni
Former Alabama standouts Reggie Ragland, Kenyan Drake and Javier Arenas took in the game from the sideline and were announced to the crowd in the first quarter.
Ragland was drafted by the Buffalo Bills but suffered a knee injury in training camp and will be out for the season. Drake is a running back for the Miami Dolphins.
Reunion
The 1966 Alabama team celebrated its 50-year reunion and was recognized at halftime.
A total of 48 returned to celebrate their undefeated SEC championship season. Among those in attendance were Jerry Duncan, Jimmy Fuller, Dennis Homan, Richard Cole and Ray Perkins.
Tidebits
Members of the 1966 Alabama team, Richard Cole and Ray Perkins, served as honorary captains for the game. Alabama won the toss and elected to receive…Kentucky took a 3-0 lead in the first quarters on the Wildcats’ first offensive drive of the game…Adam Griffith knotted the game at 3 with a 44-yard field goal near the end of the first quarter…Griffith missed just his third attempt of the season toward the end of the first half on a 35-yard attempt.
Reach Aaron Suttles at aaron@tidesports.com or at 205-722-0229. Michael Southern contributed to this report.