No. 1 Alabama throws for more than 400 yards in blowout win

Photo by Hannah Saad

Cody Estremera and James Ogletree
September 22, 2018

No. 1 Alabama continued to dominate, as it took care of the No. 22 Texas A&M 45-23. The Crimson Tide threw for 415 yards and four touchdowns.

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CW/ Grant Nicholls

Play of the game:

Tua Tagovailoa threw a 23-yard pass to a wide-open Hale Hentges, who ran the rest of the way to the end zone for his second catch and first touchdown of the year. The score put Alabama up 21-10.

Offensive Player of the game

Cody Estremera – Tua Tagovailoa

James Ogletree – Tua Tagovailoa

Defensive Player of the game

Cody Estremera – Isaiah Buggs

James Ogletree – Isaiah Buggs

Fan players of the game:

Offensive: Tua Tagovailoa

Defensive: Isaiah Buggs

Notes:

  • True freshman Patrick Surtain II started the game at left cornerback, his first career start. He becomes the 13th player this season to make his first career start at Alabama.
  • Mack Wilson intercepted Kellen Mond on the second play of the game at the A&M 30-yard line. Tua Tagovailoa threw a perfect ball to DeVonta Smith in the end zone on the next play and Smith dove to haul it in. Alabama led 7-0 just 50 seconds into the game.
  • Kellen Mond scrambled for a gain of 55 yards midway through the first quarter, then hit a wide-open Jace Sternberger for a 15-yard touchdown that tied the game at 7-7. The 99-yard drive was the longest allowed in Alabama history.
  • Tagovailoa capped a 75-yard drive with an easy 1-yard rushing touchdown, the fourth of his career, in the final minute of the opening quarter.
  • After the Aggies had drawn within four points, Alabama drove 75 yards in six plays, scoring on a 24-yard pass to tight end Hale Hentges, his second catch of the season.
  • On Alabama’s next drive, Damien Harris took a short pass from Tagovailoa 52 yards into Aggie territory. Three plays later, Hentges scored his second touchdown of the game, a 6-yard strike from Tagovailoa. It was the first multi-touchdown game of Hentges’ career.
  • Joseph Bulovas made a career-long 47-yard field goal to end the half to extend the Crimson Tide’s lead to 31-13. It prompted the loudest cheer of the game to that point.
  • Tagovailoa finished 22-of-30 for a career-high 387 yards and five total touchdowns, four of which were passing.
  • Alabama’s offense topped 500 yards for the fourth straight game, the first time it’s done so since Sept. 2014.