Alabama bounces back from rare loss, blows out Mississippi State

AP photo by Rogelio V. Solis / Alabama running back Brian Robinson Jr. (4) is upended by Mississippi State defenders after a short run during the first half of Saturday night's game in Starkville, Miss.
AP photo by Rogelio V. Solis / Alabama running back Brian Robinson Jr. (4) is upended by Mississippi State defenders after a short run during the first half of Saturday night's game in Starkville, Miss.

STARKVILLE, Miss. - The University of Alabama football program had a long week: Seven days filled with doubt, disgust and uncharacteristic angst.

But a week after the Crimson Tide lost at Texas A&M, knocking the reigning national champions from the No. 1 ranking, Bryce Young threw for 348 yards and four touchdowns as No. 5 Alabama rebounded to rout Mississippi State 49-9 on Saturday night.

The Tide (6-1, 3-1 Southeastern Conference) had 543 yards of total offense and converted 12 of 16 third-down opportunities, and their defense had seven sacks.

"I was really, really proud of the way our players competed," Alabama coach Nick Saban said. "We played a 60-minute game, and sort of dominated in the game. That's the way we like to play, and it's the way you want to play on the road."

Mississippi State (3-3, 1-2) had 24 first downs but managed only 299 total yards and had three turnovers. Coach Mike Leach's team finished with minus-1 rushing yards.

Alabama scored first against the Bulldogs and never trailed, leading 21-6 at halftime. On the opening play of the third quarter, Young hit Jameson Williams for a 75-yard touchdown strike and the rout was on.

"This is really the first time all year that we really have done this the way we'd like to do it," Saban said.

Roydell Williams ran for 78 yards, while Brian Robinson Jr. rushed for 73 and two touchdowns and caught five passes for 68 yards and another touchdown. John Metchie had seven catches for 117 yards and a touchdown, and Traseshon Holden also caught a touchdown pass.

"We have some dynamic guys," Young said. "My job is just to find a way to get them the ball, and to try to get them the ball in a place where they can run and be special after (the catch). I think all of them did that tonight."

Alabama safety Jordan Battle had two of the team's three interceptions.

"We practiced their route concepts all week, and that helped me create some turnovers today," Battle said. "It's really all about the film and the executing."

For Mississippi State, Will Rogers was 35-of-55 for 300 yards and three interceptions. Makai Polk had seven catches for 59 yards, Jaden Walley added six for 64 and Jo'Quavious Marks caught seven passes out of the backfield.

"My problem is we didn't play as well as we can, and that comes back to us as coaches," Leach said. "As players, too. As coaches we have to find a way to reach them, but players have to be tough enough to be reached."

After the game, Saban was candid about the soul-searching the loss at Texas A&M - which was unranked at the time and coming off back-to-back losses to Arkansas and Mississippi State after high preseason expectations - forced his team to grapple with.

"Ever get humbled?" Saban said. "I think humility is a great thing for all of us to have. I think sometimes when you have success, it's human nature to think you don't have to continue to do things the right way, create the right habits. You get sloppy, and then the redemption is not good, which we learned last week."

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