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Alabama’s Anemic Third Down Offense Against Missouri: What I Noticed In the Crimson Tide’s Homecoming Victory

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Alabama’s Anemic Third Down Offense Against Missouri: What I Noticed In the Crimson Tide’s Homecoming Victory


TUSCALOOSA, Ala — The No. 15 Alabama defeated No. 21 Missouri 34-0 in Bryant-Denny Stadium to allow the home crowd to celebrate Homecoming without stress. The Alabama offense mustered 486 yards of offense but still left some to be desired as the Crimson Tide converted on just two of its nine third down attempts on Saturday afternoon.

Two Alabama drives stalled out near the red zone, resulting in field goals, and while the Missouri offense battled its own struggles with Brady Cook leaving the game, finding more consistency offensively has been a theme throughout the season.

Two Alabama drives were killed due to second down penalties putting the Crimson Tide behind the sticks. Two others drives were ended by Missouri sacks, four incompletions with three going off the hands of Alabama wide receivers ended others as Alabama’s passing game still has room for improvement.

Let’s take each third down attempt and look at the processes to determine why the Alabama offense struggled on the money down on Saturday.

1. 1st Quarter, 9:42, Third-and-Five

Alabama calls a toss to running back Justice Haynes on its first third down of the game but the play is blown up in the backfield for a two-yard loss.

The play call is strong for the situation when looking at the down and distance and Missouri’s alignment. Both Tigers’ safeties and their slot corner are aligned inside Alabama’s slot receiver Kendrick Law, giving the Tide the leverage advantage on the snap.

Unfortunately, two blocks aren’t executed well, throwing off Alabama’s blocking pattern and resulting in the tackle for loss. Tight end CJ Dippre stalemates the Missouri defender on the edge, but the penetration forces the pulling Jaeden Roberts and Parker Brailsford to run the hump, junking up Haynes’ path to the edge. Alabama’s Kendrick Law is known as one of the best blockers on the team but he appears to take a strange approach to his assignment, going to his assignment’s inside shoulder instead of outside, allowing his defender to easily get outside and add to the negative play.

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2. 1st Quarter, 7:03, Third-and-Nine

Alabama wide receiver Kobe Prentice had a challenging day as he couldn’t catch any of his four targets in Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday. Prentice motions from one into three from the Crimson Tide’s trips right set and runs an out route right at the first down marker. Unfortunately, he can’t haul in the pass as it goes off his outstretched hands.

The Alabama offense line handled a unique pressure look well, but Milroe still had to make an adjustment in the pocket based on the rush. The pass falls incomplete but Milroe put it in the only position he could to allow Prentice to make a play on in. A little further would be out of bounds, and a little more inside may have resulted in a disastrous interception.

3. 1st Quarter, 1:37, Third-and-Six

Missouri’s Johnny Walker Jr. blows up Alabama’s chances at staying on the field by dipping underneath Kadyn Proctor for a sack on third down.

Missouri only rushes three and leaves a spy for a potential scramble but Proctor is beaten before Milroe can get to his second read as Walker Jr. gets to Milroe in 2.6 seconds.

4. 2nd Quarter, 11:25, Third-and-16

Missouri rushes three with two linebackers sitting on the line of scrimmage as a spy in case Jalen Milroe escapes. Unfortunately for Alabama, three is all it took as Johnny Walker Jr. pulls off almost the same exact pass rush move, this time against Elijah Pritchett, for his second sack on consecutive third downs.

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Alabama is behind the chains due to a holding call. The route concept reflects the down and distance as three Crimson Tide receivers are running verticals, while the fourth one sits down right at the sticks.

These routes never get a chance as Walker Jr. sacks Milroe three seconds after the snap.

5. 2nd Quarter, 4:48, Third-and-19

The Crimson Tide got down to the 11-yard line but a holding penalty backed them up.

The penalty forced Alabama into another long yardage situation where the percentages to convert are much lower.

Missouri rushes four with a fifth caught in between rushing and covering Jam Miller. Jalen Milroe gets good protection, sets his feet and delivers a ball down field to Germie Bernard. Unfortunately, the pass is a little long for Bernard as it goes off his outstretched hand. While the pass falls incomplete and Alabama has to try a field goal, Milroe’s placement is in the only place that gives Bernard a chance to make a play.

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6. 3rd Quarter, 8:27, Third-and-10

The Crimson Tide go back to the well and dial up the same play as #2 above just to the opposite side of the field. It’s nearly the same result as well.

Kobe Prentice motions from one into three in Alabama’s trips right formation. Prentice runs an out route and beats his man but can’t haul in quarterback Jalen Milroe’s pass as it goes off both hands this time.

Alabama’s pocket gave Milroe nice protection and he delivered a solid, catchable pass, unfortunately, Prentice can’t reel it in and the Crimson Tide has to punt again.

7. 3rd Quarter, :18, Third-and-11

This play looks like one of one of Jalen Milroe’s worst throws of the day, but further context will inform you that Ryan Williams ran the wrong route on the play.

“We can’t have someone substitute in a route you run. And sometimes he doesn’t make the throw that you want or he wants. But then there’s other times too where guys just got to make sure they stay the course and run the routes the way they need to be run,” Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer said after the game.

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The TV broadcast clearly shows DeBoer on the sidelines frustrated with the route that was run.

Alabama’s in a two-by-two set and Missouri is rushing five. The Crimson Tide holds up decently on the rush, but a linebacker flashes in front of Milroe’s face just before the throw.

Williams was open on his route, but the communication is critical and Milroe expected the freshman to run a different pattern.

8. 4th Quarter, 12:09, Third-and-four

The Alabama starters converted just a singular third down on the day and it came when the Crimson Tide was already up 27-0.

Missouri rushes five and Alabama’s protection holds up well, allowing the pass routes to develop. Jalen Milroe finds Ryan Williams underneath who’s helped off the line of scrimmage with the releases of Germie Bernard and Kendrick Law.

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Williams takes the reception nearly 25 yards as he shows he’s one of the most electric players in college football.

9. 4th Quarter, 1:37, Third-and-three

The Crimson Tide backups converted their only third down attempt on what was the game’s final live play as Alabama took two knees after to melt the clock.

Ty Simpson finds himself in the shadow of the end zone with an RPO call on his hands. Roq Montgomery blows his block and Simpson wisely pulls the ball looking for a screen to Ty Lockwood. Missouri’s defender jump into the passing lane preventing Simpson from pulling the trigger and instead he wisely pulls the ball down to follow running back Daniel Hill through the rushing lane to barely get the first down.

Alabama’s third down numbers were not good on Saturday as the Crimson Tide converted just two of its nine attempts and the starters converted just one of eight. Kalen DeBoer’s offense averaged needing 9.2 yards on third down against Missouri creating difficult down and distances to overcome throughout the day.

The Crimson Tide has two weeks until its road trip to Baton Rouge in what will virtually be a College Football Playoff eliminator game. If Alabama wants to give itself a chance at postseason success it must focus on creating more manageable down and distances to give itself a better chance at converting and keeping the offense on the field more consistently.

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Alabama’s Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Spanish Fort recognized as one of the best | WKRG.com

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Alabama’s Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Spanish Fort recognized as one of the best | WKRG.com


SPANISH FORT, Ala. (WKRG) — Beneath thousands of headstones, a life of service and sacrifice is honored at the Alabama State Veterans Cemetery in Spanish Fort.

“It is pretty profound the sense of pride in the work,” said cemetery director Joe Buschell.

“The beauty is just overwhelming, and there is so much honor here for our veterans for the community,” said Commissioner of Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs Jeff Newton. “It’s just a solemn place.”

Buschell accepted the Excellence in Veterans Cemetery Operations recognition, but he says it is a team effort.

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“We’re going to do whatever it takes. When the day starts, our obligation is to honor that veteran and their family,” Buschell said.

The only state veterans cemetery in Alabama is the final resting place for almost 5,000 veterans and their spouses.

“They truly care for the veterans of the state of Alabama,” said Glenn Powers, Deputy Under Secretary of Cemetery Operations for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs that sets the standards for all 124 state veterans cemeteries across the U.S. “They do exactly what we want them to do, what the American citizens want them to do, take care of our veterans, honor them in perpetuity.”

Established in 2013, the 130-acre property off Highway 225 has room to expand for generations to come.

“They gifted everybody at least a part of their life, said Buschell. “At this cemetery, we have at least a couple that gifted the whole thing, so that means a lot.”

A debt of gratitude that can never fully be repaid.



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Alabama elections 2026: Who is running for U.S. Senate and House?

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Alabama elections 2026: Who is running for U.S. Senate and House?


Alabama residents will make their choice for U.S. Congress during the May 19 primary, and officials are urging people to vote despite an ever-evolving situation surrounding the state’s congressional maps.

Currently, there are legal disputes surrounding the Congressional districts map in use in Alabama. Following the Supreme Court’s ruling in late April on a redistricting case in Louisiana, Alabama asked for the preliminary injunction which barred them from redrawing their maps until 2030 to be lifted, which the courts have granted as of May 11.

Though there’s been some confusion in the face of ongoing legal motions regarding the maps, what is certain is that primary elections will go on as planned despite Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey calling for a special election in August for the affected congressional districts — Districts 1, 2, 6 and 7.

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The Northern District Court of Alabama, which originally issued the injunction, still has to reconsider the case. The court asked state officials in a May 12 order to explain the plan for the 2026 elections and to explain how they plan to “ensure that all Alabamians may timely and efficaciously exercise their constitutional right to vote.”

There are two more elections after the primaries this month. On June 16, the state will hold primary runoff elections, and on Nov. 3, the state will host the general election. Additional candidates could come up after the primaries conclude, so once the names are finalized, the ballots may appear differently in November.

The special election in races affected by new congressional maps is currently planned for Aug. 11, though officials — including Ivey — have encouraged all voters to cast their ballots in the regular May 19 primary.

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Who’s running for U.S. Senate?

The seat currently held by U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville is up for election. Tuberville, who has thrown his hat in the governor’s race, will not be returning to the position, so all candidates listed would be new to the Senate. The other seat is held by U.S. Sen. Katie Britt and won’t be open until her term expires in 2028.

Republican candidates

  • Seth Burton
  • Dale Shelton Deas Jr.
  • Jared Hudson
  • Steve Marshall
  • Barry Moore
  • Rodney Walker

Some names on this list are already serving in federal and Alabama state government positions, with Marshall currently serving as the state’s Attorney General, and Moore currently representing Alabama’s 1st District in the House of Representatives and previously representing the 2nd District. Of the candidates, President Donald Trump has endorsed only one, which is Moore.

Hudson is the only candidate who has attempted to run for another position, albeit unsuccessfully — he ran for sheriff of Jefferson County in 2022, but lost to incumbent Sheriff Mark Pettway.

Democratic candidates

  • Dakarai Larriett
  • Kyle Sweetser
  • Everett Wess
  • Mark S. Wheeler II

Who’s running for House of Representatives?

U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell is running unopposed in District 7. Voters in every district have candidates from both sides of the aisle to consider.

Considering the special election that is now on the horizon, candidate names may appear differently on ballots in August if different maps are approved. For the May 19 primaries, the following is how candidate names will appear.

District 1 Republican Candidates

  • Jerry Carl
  • James (Jimmy) Dees
  • Rhett Marques
  • Joshua McKee
  • John Mills
  • James Richardson
  • Austin Sidwell

District 1 Democratic Candidates

Senate candidate Moore currently holds the District 1 position, so no candidates are incumbents. A few of the candidates in this race have previous political experience. Carl is a former member of the U.S. House and used to represent District 1, with his tenure in office lasting from 2021-25. Marques is a current Alabama State House representative.

District 2 Republican Candidates

District 2 Democratic Candidates

U.S. Rep. Figures currently holds the District 2 position.

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District 3 Republican Candidates

District 3 Democratic Candidates

U.S. Rep. Rogers currently holds the District 3 position.

District 4 Republican Candidates

  • Robert B. Aderholt
  • Tommy Barnes

District 4 Democratic Candidates

  • Amanda N. Pusczek
  • Shane Weaver

U.S. Rep. Aderholt currently holds the District 4 position. His one Republican opponent, Barnes, has a history in public service, serving as a Colbert County Commissioner.

District 5 Republican Candidates

District 5 Democratic Candidates

  • Jeremy Devito
  • Candice Dollar Duvieilh
  • Andrew Sneed

U.S. Rep. Strong currently holds the District 5 position.

District 6 Republican candidates

District 6 Democratic candidates

U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer currently holds the District 6 position.

How do I check my voter registration status?

To vote in the primary election, voters need to have been registered to vote in Alabama for 15 days before the election is scheduled to happen.

To check your registration status, visit vote.gov.

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Sarah Clifton covers business for the Montgomery Advertiser. You can reach her at sclifton@montgome.gannett.com or follow her on X @sarahgclifton and TikTok @sarahgcliftonTo support her work, please subscribe to the Montgomery Advertiser.



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‘Maverick Act’ aims to preserve three F-14 Tomcats with restoration in Alabama

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‘Maverick Act’ aims to preserve three F-14 Tomcats with restoration in Alabama


PENSACOLA, Fla. — A bipartisan bill is making its way through Washington that would preserve and possibly restore a famous piece of naval aviation history.

The F-14 Tomcat was in service with the Navy for more than 30 years and was famously used in the original “Top Gun” movie.

But when the aircraft retired in 2005, the U.S. government destroyed a majority of the airplanes that were here in the U.S. This made the prospects of the jet returning to the skies next to impossible.

The “Maverick Act” hopes to bring a jet that inspired a generation back to life.

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“The Maverick Act got a lot of support,” “It passed the Senate unanimously. It now heads to Congress for a final vote.”

Pensacola Navy veteran Dan McCort can still feel the raw power the F-14 Tomcat brought to naval aviation.

“It was a blast to fly. I gotta tell you I got it,” McCort said. “I love the airplane. I love the missions because it came with a huge mission set.”

The only country in the world flying the jet was Iran. The jets were given to Iran in 1979. But when the government was overthrown, the jets fell into the hands of an anti-American government.

Because of that, when the jet retired in 2006, the U.S. ordered most of the aircraft and its parts be destroyed.

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During Operation Epic Fury, American and Israeli pilots destroyed Iran’s entire Air Force, including all the remaining flyable F-14s.

“We had to take them out, but boy that was hard for me to watch,” McCort said.

A bill dubbed the “Maverick Act” was introduced through a bipartisan effort. The legislation would preserve and restore three F-14s sitting in our nation’s boneyard.

“That airplane inspired an entire nation, partly because of the movie, partly because of the times it was hard Cold War, and it represented frankly American air power,” said McCort.

“A fantastic piece of equipment that served our country well,” Congressman Jimmy Patronis said. “But I can’t help but poke fun at it simply because of what Tom Cruise has done with the most recent ‘Top Gun’ movies.”

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The bill calls for the Navy to donate the Tomcats to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, where they will be restored. If there’s enough spare parts, the bill calls for one of them to be restored to flight status to be flown at airshows across the country.

All of this would be funded by private donors, and not American taxpayers.

“If there’s no taxpayer dollars being used to restore these things then put it on the table,” said Patronis.

McCort says restoring the airplane will cost millions of dollars.

“A foundation that could generate some donations to defer the costs of making this thing fly because it will not be inexpensive,” said McCort. “I believe we’ll pay dividends down the road, both for the museum as well as a recruiting opportunity… as well as a recruiting opportunity for the country in general, and for the Navy frankly.”

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