By the Numbers
1 | Tight end Brian Vogler recorded his first career touchdown reception.
4 | Alabama turned the ball over four times Saturday night, with two interceptions and two fumbles.
5 | Kevin Norwood pulled in his fifth touchdown catch this season. He leads all Alabama receivers in touchdown receptions and receiving yards (409).
55 | Cody Mandell averaged 55 yards per punt, with his longest sailing 63 yards.
1,022 | Number of rushing yards for T.J. Yeldon this season. It is his second consecutive season with more than 1,000 yards rushing.
Position Grades
Quarterbacks: C-
AJ McCarron had his worst outing of the season, completing just 18 of 32 passes for 187 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions as the offense struggled to find consistent rhythm. The first interception came on a questionable call, but the second one he threw off of his back foot into coverage.
Running backs: B-
T.J. Yeldon went for a career-high 169 yards, surpassing the 1,000-yard mark for the second time in his two season in Tuscaloosa. Kenyan Drake spelled him with 28 yards on four carries. The pair, however, lost a fumble each.
Wide receivers: B
Kevin Norwood once again proved to be McCarron’s go-to target, grabbing an 11-yard touchdown in the third quarter to answer a Mississippi State score. Amari Cooper looked explosive catching four passes for 45 yards.
Offensive line: C
Mississippi State’s defensive line got pressure all night, forcing a sack and seven tackles for a loss. Guard Anthony Steen called it “the most difficult game [he’s] played so far this season.”
Defensive line: A-
Freshman A’Shawn Robinson recorded his fifth sack of the season, extending his team lead. Adrian Hubbard recorded a sack in his second consecutive game.
Linebackers: A
C.J. Mosley continued to be the heart and soul of the defense, recording eight sacks and a forced fumble. Trey DePriest added six tackles, one for a loss and a pass break up.
Secondary: A+
Bulldogs quarterback Tyler Russell was held to just 144 yards passing an interception before leaving the game with an injury. Backup Damian Williams didn’t complete a pass on five attempts. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix recorded his second interception of the season.
Special teams: A+
Cody Mandell had his best day punting, averaging 55 yards on four attempts. Cade Foster hit field goals of 33 and 35 yards. Christion Jones forced a fumble on a kickoff return.
Notebook
On a night when Alabama’s offense struggled to score and move the ball, Crimson Tide punter Cody Mandell made sure the defense didn’t have to do much extra work.
Mandell had arguably his best day in an Alabama uniform, booming four punts for an average of 55 yards and giving Mississippi State poor field position in a 20-7 victory. The Bulldogs’ average starting field position was at their own 30, despite Alabama punting four times and committing four turnovers.
“I thought Cody did a fantastic job today, man. One time he did it against the wind,” coach Nick Saban said. “But Cody had a fabulous game today, fantastic. I thought it was huge.”
Mandell’s best effort came early in the second quarter. Alabama was sputtering on offense and couldn’t convert a third down on its own 35.
Mandell booted one 63 yards that rolled out of bounds at the Bulldogs’ 2 yard line. The punt was a career-long for Mandell, who has three punts of longer than 60 yards this season and 13 that have landed inside the opponents’ 20.
“That was a great punt,” linebacker C.J. Mosley. “Right before we went out there, coach told us, they came in trying to rush the ball, we’re going to call the same punt. Cody did a great job punting so props to him.”
Mandell, a semi-finalist for the Ray Guy Award, which is given to the top punter in the country, has been a sparingly used secret weapon this season for Alabama.
He averages 47.3 yards per punt, good for fourth in the country. But he has only punted 33 times in 10 games, which leaves him off many lists of the top punters.
Still, Mandell showed Saturday that when he is called upon, he can deliver in a big way.
Injury report
Alabama tight end Brian Vogler, who caught a touchdown in the win, left the field on crutches, and Saban said he sprained his ankle.
Running back T.J. Yeldon left the locker room with a boot on his right foot and a noticeable limp, but Saban did not address his status.
Saban is expected to give a more detailed injury report on Monday.
Iron Bowl will decide West
With Auburn and Alabama both winning on Saturday, the annual Iron Bowl on Nov. 30 will determine which team wins the SEC West and represents the division at the SEC Championship in Atlanta, Ga.
Alabama would have clinched the division with a win and an Auburn loss, but the Tigers completed a Hail Mary pass with 25 seconds left to stun Georgia.
McCarron’s interception ends streak
Quarterback AJ McCarron’s interception in the second quarter ended a streak of 138 pass attempts without an interception. Last season, McCarron had a stretch of 291 attempts without an interception, the second-longest streak in school history.
