During the 2016 Alabama football season, The Crimson White’s Terrin Waack will provide select stellar stats, obscure facts and notable quotes from the most recent game to take readers Behind the Process.
No. 1 Alabama defeated Kentucky, 34-6, for its homecoming game in Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday.
Stellar stats
- Alabama running back Joshua Jacobs dominated on the ground. He led both teams in rushing yards with 100, and he was never responsible for a loss of yards – only forward progress. It was also his first career start.
- The Crimson Tide has never lost a homecoming game under coach Nick Saban. The last time it did lose one was in 2001 against LSU, 35-21.
- Alabama quarterback Cooper Bateman completed all of his passes once he entered at the start of the fourth quarter. Granted, he only threw the ball five times.
- Tim Williams was on fire during the half he played on Saturday. The Alabama linebacker recorded three tackles for a loss of 14 yards, one of which was a sack for nine yards. He also forced a fumble and put pressure on Kentucky’s quarterback twice.
- The Crimson Tide is now leading the nation in defensive touchdowns this season with five. It bumped Ohio State out of the spotlight with its four scores.
Obscure facts
- Adam Griffith has surpassed Heisman winners Derrick Henry and Mark Ingram in the Alabama career-scoring list. Griffith is now tied for seventh with 278 points, 10 of which he scored against Kentucky.
- Alabama holds the sixth-best home winning percentage in the FBS at .821 since Bryant-Denny Stadium opened in 1929. There are 128 teams in the FBS.
- Damien Harris was announced as the Crimson Tide’s starting running back, but Jacobs, and not Harris, left the sidelines to line up in the backfield for Alabama’s opening drive.
- Saban is now second in SEC history for all-time winning percentage at .818 (153-34).
- The Wildcats held the Crimson Tide to a season-low 34 points.
Best Nick Saban quotes
On the overall game against Kentucky…
“I knew this would be a tough game, as I said to many people all week. Kentucky has got a much better team than what everybody gives them credit for, especially in the last couple of weeks.”
On if the one-half suspension was the extent of linebacker Tim Williams’ punishment…
“Yeah.”
Best player quotes
Wide receiver Calvin Ridley
On what fellow wide receiver ArDarius Stewart’s axe means…
“It’s assassins. We try to play tough and chop your head off at the receiver position.”
On having a career-high game…
“I’m pretty sore tonight, but it’s good. I mean, it’s just stats. We got the win, so I’m very happy.”
Defensive lineman Jonathan Allen
On the overall game against Kentucky…
“That’s probably one of the most physical games I’ve played since I’ve been in college.”
Game leaders
Top 3 rushers
- 1. UA: Joshua Jacobs, 16 carries for 100 yards and a touchdown
- 2. UK: Jojo Kemp, 10 carries for 39 yards
- 3. UA: Jalen Hurts, nine carries for 25 yards
Top 3 receivers (based on receptions)
- 1. UA: Calvin Ridley, 11 receptions for 147 yards and two touchdowns
- 2. UK: Garrett Johnson, four receptions for 27 yards
- 3. UA: Joshua Jacobs, three receptions for 44 yards
Top 3 passers
- 1. UA: Jalen Hurts, 2-33-0 for 262 yards and two touchdowns (sacked twice)
- 2. UK: Stephen Johnson, 13-22-0 for 89 yards (sacked four times)
- 3. UA: Cooper Bateman, 5-5-0 for 53 yards
Top 3 defenders (based on total tackles)
- 1. UK: Mike Edwards, 12 total tackles (two pass breakups)
- 2. UA: Jonathan Allen, eight total tackles (one sack)
- 3. UA: Shaun Dion Hamilton, eight total tackles
Alabama is 5-0 and plays Arkansas on the road next Saturday at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.
