T.J. Yeldon took a page out of Eddie Lacy’s playbook Saturday, lighting a spark under what had been a lackluster offense for much of the first half.

On the second play from scrimmage in the third quarter, the sophomore running back burst upfield and put a vicious spin move on Ole Miss safety Cody Prewitt, galloping 68 yards for the first touchdown of the game.

The spin looked familiar, as Lacy, a former Crimson Tide running back now with the Green Bay Packers, made the move famous the last two seasons.

“He taught me a little spin move back in his day, back when he was here,” Yeldon said. “The line opened the hole up, and I cut back, had to make a guy miss. We always leave one guy for the running backs to make miss, and we did it. I just used my speed to get to the end zone.”

The run was a catalyst for the second half, when Alabama rushed for 218 yards after running for just 36 in the first half. Yeldon finished the game with 121 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries. Backup Kenyan Drake gained 99 yards on 12 carries, including a 50-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter that sealed the win.

“When we’re running the ball good and passing the ball good, the team’s good,” Yeldon said. “We can’t be stopped.”

It was a welcomed sight for fans to see the ground game return to its dominant form after the lackluster first half and gaining only 66 yards total against Colorado State the week before.

Yeldon spent much of the first quarter on the trainer’s table with what head coach Nick Saban called a “butt bruise.” Drake, the speedier back of the two, filled in well in his place.

“I thought both backs really played well,” Saban said. “Both of those guys did a really good job. It’s going to be critical to see those guys play well.”

Saban, players praise crowd

Bryant-Denny Stadium was at a fever pitch for much of Saturday’s win, and the players and coaches took notice. Saban urged the crowd to stay loud to throw Ole Miss’ hurry-up offense out of rhythm, and he got what he wanted.

“Our fans were great in this game,” Saban said. “I asked for great enthusiasm out there, that it would have an effect on the game. I think our fans had a huge effect on the game. And I know our players, as well as myself and all of the coaches, really appreciate that.”

Cornerback Deion Belue called the crowd “ground-shaking.”

“It’s The University of Alabama, Bryant-Denny. The best crowd in the nation,” Belue said. “The crowd just kept getting louder and louder when [Ole Miss] was checking.”

Kelly out for at least two weeks

Center Ryan Kelly left Saturday’s game in the first quarter and didn’t return. Saban said Kelly stretched his MCL and would miss “a couple weeks, maybe even three.”

Ryan Lindsay replaced Kelly and held his own for much of the game in his first significant amount of playing time for the Crimson Tide.

“I wouldn’t call it nerves,” Lindsay said. “I would just call it excitement, just getting the chance to get out there and do some things.”