TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) – Banged up in two straight wins over SEC West bruisers, No. 2 Alabama took a while to overwhelm a lower-division team that wasn’t supposed to be able to put up much of a fight.
Derrick Henry rushed for two touchdowns and scored a third on a catch, all in the first half, to lead the Crimson Tide to a 48-14 victory over Western Carolina on Saturday.
The Tide (10-1) recovered from a slow start to score the final 31 points in its first game since rising to No. 1 in the College Football Playoff rankings. FCS member Western Carolina (7-5) scored a touchdown on the opening drive and trailed just 17-14 early in the second quarter.
“We didn’t have much energy in the beginning of the game,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said. “We didn’t have much energy and enthusiasm as we came out in pregame. But as the game wore on, I thought our guys started playing better.”
Blake Sims was 17 of 25 passing for 222 yards and two touchdowns. He also threw an interception in the end zone to snap a 158-pass streak without one. Henry had touchdown runs of 10 and 23 yards and a 9-yard scoring reception.