Notebook: Targeting, Roughing the Passer Penalties Highlight Alabama vs. Mississippi State

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Final week, the speak of the school soccer world, notably within the Alabama part of it, was focusing on and the dearth of it being referred to as towards Tennessee on Crimson Tide quarterback Bryce Younger, who took a vicious hit from Omari Thomas. Regardless of video proof suggesting focusing on might have been referred to as, no foul was assessed. Crimson Tide nation erupted through Twitter all week, and Alabama head coach Nick Saban stated UA despatched the play to the SEC workplace for evaluation.

Somebody within the league will need to have gotten the message.

Mississippi State was flagged 3 times for roughing Younger on Saturday, and one other Bulldog participant, Jackie Matthews, was ejected for focusing on on receiver Isaiah Bond. There was one other evaluation for focusing on by a Bulldog participant, nevertheless it was dominated authorized.

Younger has taken a beating this season with huge hits, together with the three roughing calls Saturday.

“We have got to do a greater job of defending him so he does not get hit,” Saban stated.

“Bryce is a tricky man and may take a success,” Alabama offensive lineman JC Latham stated. “Generally if you blitz everyone, it makes us tougher for all 5 of us (offensive linemen) to choose up the additional blitzer.”

Daring Bulldogs

Mississippi State rolled the cube on a number of events on offense early on. The Bulldogs went for it on fourth down on their first possession with the ball on the Alabama 15-yard line. Defensive again DeMarcco Hellams broke up a cross for Jalen Walley to provide the ball to Alabama. MSU went for it once more late within the first quarter, this time with extra success. Quarterback Will Rogers ran for 3 yards on a keeper on fourth-and-two to maintain the drive alive. The Bulldogs went for it once more on that drive, which working again Rara Thomas transformed with a two-yard acquire. The drive ended with a missed discipline objective.

The Bulldogs went for it on fourth down six occasions, together with twice on the sport’s last drive, which they transformed.

Unfortunate Canines

Mississippi State at all times appears to catch Alabama on the worst time. Alabama has confronted Mississippi State 5 occasions following a regular-season loss within the Saban period (besides 2007). Alabama’s gained all 5 and outscored the Bulldogs 171-31.

Say what?

Communication was an issue within the second quarter. Not with the groups, however with the refs. The microphone for head referee Scott Walker was spotty all night time, nevertheless it was virtually comical after a Mississippi State penalty within the second quarter. There was a discrepancy with the clock and Walker tried to relay to the operator to reset the time to 12 minutes and two seconds, His microphone repeatedly minimize out earlier than he might get out the phrase ‘two.’ He repeated his plea 5 – 6 occasions to no avail. After a prolonged delay, the clock was lastly corrected, which received an enormous cheer from the Bryant-Denny Stadium crowd. Alabama’s Jahmyr Gibbs scored two performs later.

Walker had one other microphone second after Alabama recovered a muffed punt within the third quarter. Walker had his mic on when he blew his whistle to begin the play clock. The sound reverberated all through the stadium, a lot to the displeasure of the followers’, and members of the media’s, ears within the press field.

One other streak is over

Tennessee ended a 15-game dropping streak to Alabama final week. Mississippi State didn’t snap its dropping streak to Alabama—it is at 15 straight now. However the Bulldogs did break a Bryant-Denny Stadium landing drought, a streak spanned 12 quarters since 2014.

It seemed just like the Bulldogs would depart Tuscaloosa with no landing once more, however they scored on the sport’s last play.

Pissed off,” stated Alabama linebacker Henry To’oTo’o after studying of the tip of the streak. “We received beat on some one-on-ones, we had some penalties on that drive. A mixture of these issues will finally result in factors on the board.”

Lideatrick Griffin had an opportunity to finish the drought within the third quarter. He slipped previous Kool-Support McKinstry across the 5-yard line and was on their lonesome ready on a Will Rogers cross on the objective line. As an alternative of a positive landing, Griffin bobbled the ball for an incompletion.

Alabama had outscored the Bulldogs 146-3 throughout the streak till the ultimate rating Saturday.

Streaks nonetheless intact

Very similar to Tennessee, the collection with Mississippi State has been decisively one-sided of late with Alabama proudly owning a 15-game win streak. Alabama is 87-17-3 all time towards Mississippi State. Nick Saban is 20-1 all time vs the Bulldogs, together with his lone loss in Saban’s first 12 months at Alabama in 2007.

Tidebits

Recreation captains for Alabama have been quarterback Bryce Younger, linebacker Will Anderson Jr., and security Jordan Battle…The Crimson Tide’s 1992 nationwide championship staff was honored earlier than the sport. UA went 13-0 with a win over Miami within the Sugar Bowl. Head coach Gene Stallings was in attendance, in addition to Prince Wimbley and George Teague, who have been additionally honorary captains… Alabama is 86-13-1 all time in homecoming video games… Ellery Hill, a finance main from Michigan, was topped Homecoming queen…Officers for the sport: Scott Walker, Referee; Tom Fast, Umpire; Gary Jayroe, Head Line; Chad Lorance, Line Choose; Phillip Davenport, Subject Choose; Sean Petty, Aspect Choose; Ron Turner, Again Choose; Jason McArthur, Heart Choose…Introduced attendance was 100,077.