TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Knee surgery couldn’t stop Alabama tailback Mark Ingram. The Florida Gators couldn’t keep him from the end zone.
Ingram, the Crimson Tide’s first Heisman Trophy winner, continued his rapid return from arthroscopic surgery with two first-half touchdowns Saturday night during Alabama’s 31-6 cakewalk at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The rushing scores were the 34th and 35th for the 5-foot-10, 215-pound junior from Flint, Mich., who passed Johnny Musso and in behind only Shaun Alexander (41 in 1996-99) in school history.
“I don’t think I have ever been in shock, because I have never doubted what he can do,” Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy said. “He has great ability, and he does a great job with the ball in his hands. We all thought he was going to have a great season this year.”
The top-ranked Tide scored on their first four possessions to take a 24-0 lead. Chas Henry made two field goals to briefly keep the No. 7 Gators on life support, but C.J. Mosley’s 35-yard interception return for a touchdown with 6:10 left in the third quarter sealed the outcome at 31-6.
Florida had four turnovers, four more than Alabama.