Traditional running teams often play an offense described as three yards and a cloud of dust. Saturday night, Alabama running backs Trent Richardson and Eddie Lacy’s play could be described as three yards or a cloud of dust, a cloud of dust the dynamic duo left defenders in.

The two running backs took turns breaking electrifying touchdown runs, scoring on four 40-plus yard touchdowns en route to a combined 328 yards on 20 carries.

“I’ve never seen anything like that,” Lacy said. “When we broke it was 30 or 40 plus yards, but when we ran short plays it seemed we only got a few yards.”

Lacy and Richardson both had career days. Lacy rushed for 163 yards on nine carries. Lacy racked up most of his runs on just two plays, 43 and 67-yard touchdown runs. The 67-yard scamper was the longest in Lacy’s career.

“That is one of the best feelings as a running back,” Lacy said. “You don’t have to worry about anybody touching you or hitting you. The offensive line did what they are supposed to do and the wide receivers blocked down field, just scoring a touchdown is one of the best feelings ever.”

For Richardson, it was much of the same story. The Heisman hopeful had just 23 yards on six carries in the first quarter. Richardson, however, turned on the jets late, scoring on 58-yard and 71-yard touchdown runs en route to 169 yards on 11 carries.

“It is always a relief (to get a big gain),” Richardson said. “You pound them and pound them for so long, and you are sitting there waiting. You know you are going to pop off sooner or later, and we did.”

Alabama’s 347 rushing yards are the most the team has rushed for all season. Both running backs credited the performance of the offensive line to create big holes to run through.

“The offensive line looked great,” Lacy said. “I love them. They are only getting better every week, and I am behind them 100 percent.”

Alabama center, William Vlachos, said the big runs indicated that everybody on the line was doing his job.

“It is a sign of everybody knowing who they are responsible for,” Vlachos said. “When we do it right, that is the kind of stuff that happens.”

With the Tide losing several running backs to transfers and injuries this off-season, many questioned the team’s depth at running back. However, Richardson and the offense were never concerned.

“A lot of people questioned it,” Richardson said. “We weren’t worried about it, because we knew we had a lot of people that could step in. Jalston Fowler, Eddie Lacy and Blake Sims, those boys bring a lot to the table. I know that when I am out, I am secure with them in the game.”

As the Tide move past North Texas, it will now have to focus on SEC defenses, as the team begins SEC play Saturday against Arkansas.

“Now that we are in SEC play everybody is good,” Lacy said. “It comes down to whoever wants it more. It is going to be a hard fought game from here on out.”

Last game’s performance should give the Razorbacks plenty of things to focus on. Richardson said that due to the weapons Alabama has on offense, it is a very hard offense to plan for.

“They are going to have to watch a lot of film on us,” Richardson said. “Like I said, we are not just a one player team. We have Marquis Maze, Darius Hanks, Kenny Bell, and then we got the run game with Eddie Lacy, Jalston Fowler and me. We are moving the ball and our quarterbacks are good.”

Now that the Tide has received a sneak peek of how good its running game can be, the trick will be maintaining the success on offense for the remainder of the season.

“It seems like this offense is really starting to click and gel together,” Richardson said. “The chemistry is starting to get together and the offensive line did pretty well the second half so we just need to keep moving on.”