The Alabama football defeated North Texas 41-0, posting its first shutout in nearly two years. The last time the Crimson Tide shutout an opponent was November 21, 2009, when they dominated Tennessee-Chattanooga 45-0.
The shutout looked to be in jeopardy late in the fourth quarter, when a Tide turnover gave North Texas great field position. The Mean Green drove the ball all the way down to the two yard line and was threatening to score before the Tide’s second team defense made a goal line stand.
“We had a couple of chances to get a shutout last year but we didn’t,” linebacker C.J. Mosley said. “It shows how our defense came together. Our two (second-string) came in on a great goal line stand. Everybody on the sideline was really pumped for that.”
The Alabama defense played a near perfect game. The Tide held the Mean Green to a total of 169 yards on 62 plays. Those numbers average out to less than three yards a play. Alabama put constant pressure on North Texas quarterback Derek Thompson and never let him get into a rhythm. Thompson finished the game 11-of-22 with only 80 yards.
North Texas came into this match up hoping their star running back Lance Dunbar could carry them against the stiff Alabama defense. The Tide clogged all of the running lanes and their perimeter speed never allowed Dunbar to get to the outside. Dunbar finished the game with 16 yards on 17 carries, with his longest run totaling only nine yards.
The Mean Green noticeably wore down as the game went on. Like most teams, they could not match the physical play of Alabama’s defense.
“With the physicality we play with on defense it’s kind of hard to stay with us for a whole four quarters,” defensive lineman Damion Square said. “We want to see the looks on their faces in the fourth quarter like we are wearing them down.”
This Alabama defense is being hyped as one of the best to ever play at the University. Mosley said the team’s focus is solely on getting better.
“We just try to stay focused and zone in on what we are trying to do,” Mosley said. “We just try to stick together and add on to the tradition that the Alabama defenses have.”
The schedule starts to get tougher for the Tide as they begin conference play against the Arkansas Razorbacks next week.
“SEC play is different from anything else,” Square said. “In the SEC, games are never over no matter what the score is. You always have to give it your all. We will be ready next week”
