Alabama defensive back Deion Belue (13) intercepts a pass intended for Mississippi wide receiver Donte Moncrief (12) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012, in Tuscaloosa, Ala.TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Amari Cooper caught two touchdown passes from AJ McCarron and Christion Jones returned a kickoff 99 yards for another score, leading No. 1 Alabama to a 33-14 victory over Mississippi Saturday night.
The Crimson Tide (5-0, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) trailed briefly, 7-6, for the first time in regulation since last year’s Tennessee game, a span of nine-plus games. The Rebels (3-2, 0-1) put up a fight against a team that had been walloping opponents by nearly 37 points on average, but still lost their ninth straight SEC opener.
McCarron completed 22 of 30 passes for 180 yards and Eddie Lacy gained much of his 82 yards in the fourth quarter when Alabama put it away with Jeremy Shelley’s third and fourth field goals of the game.
The Tide’s defense bailed out an offense that sputtered at times with three interceptions.
Alabama totalled 305 yards against a defense that gave up 66 points and 676 yards to Texas two weeks ago. The Rebels gained 218 yards in a game that was largely controlled by the defenses after days when SEC teams like Texas A&M and Georgia rolled up 50-plus points.