Offense hot, defense not in blowout win for Alabama
30-Days Free | Game Recap | Saban Presser | Hurts on victory | Forristall Update
Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts hit wide receiver Calvin Ridley in stride 15 yards downfield with his second pass of the game. Ridley took the reception the rest of the way for the 78-yard score seconds later, and all that was left for Hurts to do was smile.
Almost.
Criticism built up around Hurts’ passing abilities during the offseason and talk of his struggles has continued in recent weeks. He couldn’t help but acknowledge his first touchdown pass (a new career-long) in Alabama’s 41-23 victory over Colorado State.
Forming a pair of guns with his hands, he put them up to his mouth and blew.
“That was just a little something I thought about when I’m laying in bed today,” Hurts said of the celebration. “I figured I’d do that when I threw a touchdown.”
Read: INSTANT ANALYSIS: Alabama storms past Colorado State 41-23
Alabama’s sophomore quarterback finished the day completing 12 of 17 passes for 248 yards and two touchdowns. He added a game-high 103 rushing yards and one touchdown on 11 carries to finish the day accounting for 72 percent of the Crimson Tide’s offense.
He wasn’t the only player on the offense with a reason to celebrate. Running back Bo Scarbrough scored his first touchdown since he left the national championship game early with an injury. Wide receiver Robert Foster also rediscovered the end zone for the first time since he suffered a season-ending injury against Ole Miss in 2015.
“It was really nice to see,” Hurts said of Foster's score. “I know he had the injury before I came and coming back from that took some mental strength to get through it and I’m happy he’s back in the end zone.”
After the game, Alabama head coach Nick Saban praised Hurts’ performance. Unfortunately for the defense, Saban recognized their efforts as well.
Don't miss: Pappanastos beginning to make a name for himself | Tight end could be out for the season
“We didn’t execute very well defensively," Saban said. "Not stopping the run; not getting off the field on the third down; didn’t play great in the red zone, so we have a lot of work to do.”
Colorado State’s offense finished with 144 rushing yards (3.6 yards per carry), converted on third down on 10 of 17 attempts and came away with points all four times the Rams entered the red zone.
Alabama’s defense actually held Colorado State’s offense to 14 yards on the Rams’ first three drives. Then the floodgates opened.
The Rams’ next two drives combined for 140 total yards over 23 plays and resulted in 10 points for the visitors.
“We gotta get back to the drawing board because I mean that (showing by the defense) was just pathetic,” Alabama linebacker Shaun Dion Hamilton said.
The Crimson Tide’s defense was finally able to reassert itself in the third quarter when safety Ronnie Harrison intercepted a pass tipped up by Alabama cornerback Levi Wallace.
Seconds later, Harrison was colliding with fellow defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick in midair, but that wasn’t the most memorable play Alabama’s secondary would celebrate on Saturday.
On the very next drive, defensive back Hootie Jones took the first interception of his career 65 yards the other way.
“It was really nice to go out there and get something with my defense,” Jones said. “I was very humbled by it, and I love my boys celebrating with me.”
The defense didn’t have long to cheer. Colorado State’s offense hit its stride once again and dominated time of possession in the final quarter to score 13 unanswered points to close out the contest.
“We were just on the field just entirely too long so we gotta get back and work hard,” Hamilton said. “We’re gonna get into SEC play (next week at Vanderbilt) so I mean we’re going to have a come to Jesus meeting on Monday.”