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SPECIAL DELIVERY
Christion Jones sparks No. 1 Alabama with special teams scores as the Tide’s high-powered offense sputters in season opener By Cecil Hurt Sports Editor
ATLANTA | The Alabama Crimson Tide smuggled a secret weapon into the Georgia Dome on Saturday night — and needed it. Plagued by inconsistent blocking on a revamped offensive line, the No. 1 Crimson Tide got three touchdowns — on a punt return, kickoff return and reception — from junior Christion Jones and played solid defense to hold off Virginia Tech 35-10 and win the Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Game. Jones is the ďŹ rst Southeastern Conference player to score a touchdown three different ways in a game since Kentucky’s Derek Abney in 2002. “Christion had some opportunities last year, he learned from those and he had a great offseason,â€? Alabama coach Nick Saban said, adding that the Crimson Tide’s special teams play was “great, a huge advantage for us.â€? Jones started his explosive evening with the game’s ďŹ rst touchdown less than two minutes after kickoff, scoring on a 72-yard punt return to give Alabama a 7-0 lead. T.J. Yeldon added a 2-yard touchdown run later in the ďŹ rst quarter, although Virginia Tech answered the score immediately on a 77-yard touchdown run by Trey Edmunds, the longest run from scrimmage allowed by SEE A LABAMA | 3C
It will take more than skill players to make Tide’s offense work
ATLANTA labama’s offensive line needs to ďŹ nd itself. Not its old self, the components of which are currently employed in Nashville, San Diego, St. Louis and Detroit, earning an honest wage at the game of football. Those guys aren’t coming back to college. Forgetting them won’t be easy — but forget them. That isn’t to make the offensive line the collective whipping boy in a 35-10 Alabama victory over Virginia Tech. Why is a whipping boy required in a 35-10 victory? Only at Alabama, but that is another column for another day. CECIL Nick Saban was fast to point out an HURT offense that struggles — and it is fair to call 21 points and 206 total yards an evening of struggle — doesn’t do so individually, but collectively. A J McCarron didn’t have his greatest day, whether it had anything to do with a sore toe or not. A couple of catchable balls were dropped by the receivers. The Crimson Tide rarely got into a SEE HURT | 4C
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STAFF PHOTO | ROBERT SUTTON
Alabama’s Christion Jones returned a punt 72 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter against Virginia Tech on Saturday in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. Jones also returned a kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown and had a 38-yard reception for a touchdown in the Crimson Tide’s 35-10 win.
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PLAYMAKER:
QUARTER GLANCE:
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GOLD STAR:
ANALYSIS:
NOTEBOOK:
BREAKDOWN:
FOUR DOWNS:
Christion Jones a one-man wrecking crew for Tide
A statistical breakdown of each quarter
McCarron talks toe injury, performance against Hokies
Young Alabama secondary passes the test
Tide offensive line pushed around in opener
Several freshmen see action for Crimson Tide
A look at how Saban has fared in season openers at UA
Questions about the Tide’s performance answered
For video and a photo gallery of the game, go to www.tidesports.com
Auburn running back Corey Grant (20) dives for extra yards after being tripped up by Washington State’s Justin Sagote (10) in the first half Saturday in Auburn. Grant rushed for 146 yards in the Tigers’ 31-24 win.
AUBURN 31, WASHINGTON STATE 24
Run game paves way for Tigers’ victory By John Zenor The Associated Press
AUBURN | Tre Mason returned a kickoff 100 yards and Corey Grant scored on a 75-yard run to lead Auburn to a 31-24 victory over Washington State on Saturday night in Gus Malzahn’s debut as the Tigers coach. Robenson Therezie also picked off two passes, including one in the end zone with less than ďŹ ve minutes remaining, for the Tigers (1-0). They
INSIDE SEC FOOTBALL: No. 8 Clemson holds off No. 5 Georgia | 6C
had managed just two interceptions during last season’s 3-9 debacle. The Malzahn-versus-Mike Leach matchup of offensive innovators produced plent y of big plays and drama. T he Cougars (0 -1) had t wo
chances to tie it in the ďŹ nal ďŹ ve minutes, but Therezie’s interception and an incompletion on fourth down ended the threats. Junior college transfer Nick Marshall was 10 of 19 passing for 99 yards in his starting debut for Auburn. He also ran for 27 yards and made some plays after eluding the rush but didn’t appear altogether comfortable early after having only preseason camp to learn the offense and win a four-man competition. SEE AUBURN | 6C
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