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FORCING THE ISSUE Defense forces four turnovers, No. 2 Crimson Tide cruises past MTSU By Cecil Hurt Sports Editor
Middle Tennessee State didn’t have a great shot on Saturday in the fi rst place, and couldn’t overcome fumbling away the chances they did have. The No. 2-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide defense forced four turnovers and the special teams added a blocked kick as UA rolled to a 37-10 victory over MTSU. The win pushed Alabama to 2-0 on the season heading into next Saturday’s SEC opener against Ole Miss. The Crimson Tide made mistakes of its own, including two interceptions, one by Jake Coker in the fi rst half and another by Cooper Bateman, who played most of the second half. There were also two missed field goals, but UA had more than enough fi repower to overcome the errors. “When you play a game like this, if you don’t have the the right intensity about things, you’re going to get exposed,” Alabama head coach Nick Saban said. “These teams are good enough to expose you. We have great respect for Middle Tennessee, for their coaches and SEE DEFENSE | 6C
Everything always comes back to the QB “We started to establish an offensive identity against Wisconsin. I don’t think we had much of one today.” — Nick Saban
I
f you’re looking for quarterback answers, that’s where you look. Alabama did some good things against Middle Tennessee State in Saturday’s 37-10 win at Bryant-Denny Stadium. When the Crimson Tide found a way to get the ball in the hands of its playmakers, they made big plays. Derrick Henry wasn’t quite as explosive as he was against Wisconsin, but he was still like a water buffalo running through fawns, especially on the thirdquarter drive when Alabama chose to feature him. Kenyan Drake was as electric as ever. The receivers, as a group, had a good day: Robert Foster, Richard CECIL Mullaney and Calvin Ridley all had HURT their moments. O.J. Howard, once the Sasquatch of college football, a giant that many people thought was a myth, is suddenly being sighted fairly regularly. STAFF PHOTO | ROBERT SUTTON But it all comes back — it always comes back — to Alabama defensive back Cyrus Jones (5) intercepts a pass intended for Middle Tennessee State wide receiver Ed’Marques the quarterbacks. Batties in the second quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday. Alabama’s defense held the Blue Raiders to 86 rushing SEE HURT | 8C yards and 189 passing yards in a 37-10 victory.
PAGE 6C STILL SEARCHING Tide offense trying to figure out offensive identity
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NO DECISION YET Nick Saban not ready to name a starting quarterback
ANALYSIS Tide defense makes the right adjustments against MTSU’s no-huddle offense
NOTEBOOK Tide defense surpases goal of getting three turnovers
FOUR DOWNS How the Crimson Tide answered questions against MTSU
WORK IN PROGRESS Tide special teams has up-and-down day
HOMECOMING MTSU’s Grammer, Howard enjoy return trip to Tuscaloosa
ONLINE
For video and a photo gallery of Alabama’s game against Middle Tennessee State, go to www.tidesports.com
No. 6 Auburn avoids biggest upset in history
Auburn defensive back Johnathan Ford (23) wrestles the ball away from Jacksonville State receiver Ruben Gonzalez for an interception in the end zone during the second half.
By Charles Odum The Associated Press
INSIDE SEC ROUNDUP:
AUBURN | It’s difficult to imagine any win over Jacksonville State ranking with the most memorable in Auburn’s history. Then again, No. 6 Auburn’s ability to dodge a major upset could prove to be just as important to its championship hopes as the program’s biggest landmark wins in recent years. Auburn avoided a defeat that would have ranked with the biggest upsets in college
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tennessee falls in double-overtime to Oklahoma | 9C
football history, riding a dramatic touchdown catch in the fi nal minute and Peyton Barber’s overtime touchdown run to a 2720 win over the Gamecocks on Saturday. Barber, making his fi rst start at tailback, ran for 125 yards. The most important
came on his 4-yard scoring run to cap Auburn’s fi rst possession in overtime. Barber said he never stopped believing Auburn would win, even when the Tigers trailed 20-13 with less than 6 minutes remaining in regulation. “That’s one thing I was always saying, was that we cannot lose to this team,” Barber said. Jacksonville State (1-1) is the fi rst Football Championship Subdivision team to take a ranked FBS team to overtime, but SEE AUBURN | 9C
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