ATLANTA – Alabama has a new home away from home.
After racking up five Southeastern Conference championships, four Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game triumphs and a win in last December’s Peach Bowl national semifinal during the past decade inside the Georgia Dome, Nick Saban’s top-ranked Crimson Tide overwhelmed No. 3 Florida State 24-7 Saturday night inside the new and dazzling Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Saturday marked the first college game and the first sellout crowd in the $1.6 billion facility spearheaded by Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank and located across the street from the Georgia Dome.
Crimson Tide junior tailback Damien Harris rushed nine times for 73 yards and a touchdown, and his block of a Florida State punt with 4:17 to go in the third quarter set up a 25-yard Andy Pappanastos field goal that gave Alabama a 13-7 lead. On the ensuing kickoff, freshman Dylan Moses caused Keith Gavin to fumble, and Keith Holcombe recovered at the FSU 11.
Harris powered through the middle into the end zone on the next play, and a two-point-conversion pass from Jalen Hurts to Calvin Ridley gave the Crimson Tide a 21-7 with 1:41 remaining in the third. A 33-yard Pappanastos field goal with 6:25 left in the fourth quarter put the game away at 24-7.