The early stages of Thursday night’s Sugar Bowl mirrored the early stages of November’s Iron Bowl in that Alabama allowed a lot of yards but not a lot of touchdowns.
Ohio State had to settle for short field goals during the first quarter after lengthy drives, using a 22-yard kick by Sean Nuernberger to cap its opening drive for a 3-0 lead. The Buckeyes fumbled away their second possession, which Alabama converted with a 25-yard Derrick Henry touchdown, and had to settle for a 21-yard Nuerenberger kick late in the first quarter after having a first-and-goal from the 1.
Nuerenberger’s second kick pulled Ohio State within 7-6, though the Buckeyes were outgaining the Crimson Tide 168 to 45.
In Alabama’s victory over Auburn, the Tigers were forced to settle on four first-half field goals from within 24 yards. Auburn did score two second-quarter touchdowns to take a 26-21 halftime lead in its eventual 55-44 loss, and the Buckeyes score a pair of touchdowns late in the half to pull within 21-20 after Alabama had built a 21-6 lead.
Ohio State allowed 630 yards against Auburn and yielded 348 in the first half Thursday night.
“We’re just not executing very well on defense,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said at halftime. “We can’t get off the field on third down, and that’s a critical part of the game. We’re making mental errors. We’re letting guys go. We’re making mistakes on pressures and on quarterback runs.
“We just have to execute and do what we do. Our players aren’t playing with the mentality and energy we need to play with right now, especially on defense.”
The Buckeyes regained the lead at 27-21 and were outgaining the Tide by more than 300 yards midway through the third quarter.
Henry’s Dome home
Henry, the 6-foot-3, 241-pound sophomore from Yulee, Fla., has no problem making himself at home in the Louisiana Superdome.
In last January’s Sugar Bowl, which the Tide lost 45-31 to Oklahoma, Henry had eight carries for 100 yards and a 61-yard touchdown reception.
Henry picked up Thursday night where he left off, rushing seven times in the first half for 56 yards, including the 25-yard score. He got to start for only the second time this season, with the first being the rout of Western Carolina when T.J. Yeldon was held out.
Super Cooper
Alabama junior receiver Amari Cooper collected his 15th touchdown catch of the season with 2:06 left in the first quarter on a 15-yard pass from Blake Sims.
Cooper extended Alabama’s single-season program record and moved into a tie for third in Southeastern Conference history behind two Florida Gators. Reidel Anthony had 18 touchdowns on Florida’s 1996 national championship team, and Chris Doering had 17 scores for the 1995 Gators, who finished No. 2 behind Nebraska.
Tide tidbits
Junior safety Landon Collins had nine first-half tackles despite briefly having to leave the field in the second quarter with a shoulder injury. … Ezekial Elliott’s 54-yard run on Ohio State’s opening possession was the longest run allowed by Alabama this season, topping the 44-yarder that Tennessee’s Marlin Lane had Oct. 25. … Freshman JK Scott kicked a 73-yard punt in the first quarter, topping the 70-yarder he had against Auburn.