Sports
Kalen DeBoer showed what Alabama can still be after Nick Saban in win against Georgia
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Kalen DeBoer took the job 261 days ago, but Saturday night felt like the moment he truly became Alabama’s head coach.
He won over the roster during spring practice. The Alabama fan base largely hopped on board over the summer after a furious recruiting run. The only thing left was leading the Alabama machine on a big stage with the entire college football world watching. And he didn’t disappoint.
No. 4 Alabama’s 41-34 win over No. 2 Georgia delivered on its hype and then some. When it was over, DeBoer improved to 108-12 as a head coach, 12-2 against AP-ranked opponents and 6-0 against Steve Sarkisian, Lincoln Riley, Dan Lanning and Kirby Smart. There were questions about Alabama’s potential drop-off after Nick Saban’s retirement, and it would have been easy to think the Georgia series would tip in the Bulldogs’ favor with the best coach in college football leading the way. Instead, it was Alabama’s ninth win over Georgia in 10 meetings.
The first half felt like 2015 in Athens: utter domination. The second half was more like 2017 and 2018, with comebacks and late-game heroics by the quarterback. The end result was familiar: Alabama on top. It was a statement game for players like quarterback Jalen Milroe and freshman wide receiver Ryan Williams, but it was an equally big spot for DeBoer, who delivered the type of marquee win that Alabama was known for under Saban.
“All the hard work that you put in during the dark is going to shine at some point,” said Milroe, who had 491 total yards and four touchdowns. “And it came out and shined today. It was a great opportunity for our football team to put it on display.”
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DeBoer also learned what it’s like to coach in the SEC. And there will be plenty of teaching moments off of that.
Leading 30-7, Alabama faced second-and-5 on the Georgia 40-yard line with 53 seconds left in the first half. To that point, everything was clicking and it felt like the dam was about to break just before halftime. Then Alabama got too cute. A triple reverse pass that Georgia snuffed out turned into an 8-yard loss. A scoring opportunity turned into a punt. You can’t leave points on the board in any situation, but especially against a team like Georgia.
A 28-0 start turned into a 30-7 halftime lead, which became a 34-33 deficit with 2:31 to play. A game that felt insurmountable for Georgia nearly became a historic collapse for Alabama. The offense that scored touchdowns on four consecutive drives to start the game punted, fumbled or turned it over on downs on seven of its next eight drives. In the second half, the offense averaged just 1.2 yards per carry and converted one third down. The defense couldn’t get a stop, particularly on fourth down, to keep Georgia at bay. It was also another bad night for penalties, with 10 totaling 90 yards.
“They should have never been in a situation to be able to come back,” Williams said. “We were supposed to just keep our foot on the gas, but (Georgia) did come back. We knew adversity would hit at some point — we just had to fight back.”
Jalen Milroe passed for 374 yards and ran for 117 yards. (Todd Kirkland / Getty Images)
To DeBoer and Alabama’s credit, they did just that. One play after Georgia took the lead, DeBoer called a deep shot for Milroe and Williams, which ended up being the game-winning touchdown. After Georgia’s go-ahead 67-yard touchdown, there was no hesitation by DeBoer to throw a haymaker right back. That type of confidence reverberates through the team.
“This isn’t just this week; from day one we’ve talked about no regrets,” DeBoer said. “Compete until the very end. We talk a lot about staying positive and keep fighting. Sometimes the ball doesn’t bounce your way — keep fighting.
“A lot of plays have opportunities where if you find a one-on-one matchup, you take it.”
The usually stoic DeBoer showed some competitive fire on Saturday in a few exchanges with the officials, but players pointed to his poise throughout the game and especially during the seesaw moments toward the end. His calm demeanor matched that of the players, and it led to Alabama turning the game on its axis in a matter of seconds after blowing a 28-point lead.
There’s your passion, Bama fans. pic.twitter.com/6OgFLHSHUS
— Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium (@BryantDenny_UA) September 29, 2024
“Coach DeBoer’s big on energy,” linebacker Jihaad Campbell said. “Throughout the whole game, coach DeBoer had poise, I think that really rubbed off on the whole team. Just understanding, ‘Hey we’re good, next-play mentality.’
“It’s Bama, you know, we are the standard. We don’t really overthink things. We have poise. We trust ourselves. We trust one another to go out there and do our job so we can execute and come out with a win.”
A furious Georgia comeback shouldn’t negate the fact that DeBoer’s staff had an excellent game plan. At halftime, Smart noted that Alabama passing out of an empty backfield was “something new” that it executed well. The interception by Domani Jackson was out of a coverage that Alabama hadn’t shown this season, which prompted Georgia’s Carson Beck to panic and make a mistake.
Milroe looked as accurate and comfortable as he ever has. Alabama finished plus-3 in turnover margin and won the time of possession battle. It was a signature win that also drives home that games aren’t over until they’re over, a message that should keep the team focused with a road game at Vanderbilt next Saturday.
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For as great of a win as it was, the honeymoon phase is over, even after a win. It’s been difficult to criticize DeBoer since January, and to his credit the transition has felt seamless from the start. Saturday’s game allows for fair questions about how Georgia adjusted at halftime and made it a game — and what it means for future opponents. Give credit to Georgia as well, as a program operating at an optimal level with an Alabama-like culture and coach.
Still, Alabama proved on Saturday that under DeBoer, it isn’t going anywhere. Saturday was the biggest test to date, and DeBoer passed.
Now he has to pass the next one, and the next one — and so on. That’s what it means to be the coach at Alabama.
“We have to recognize winning in the SEC is a hard task and enjoy the win,” Milroe said. “I think that’s something that we lose focus with at Alabama — the standard of excellence, of course, but enjoying the win. So much poured into this game.
“We’re going to enjoy the win, but it’s not the end of our road. There’s so much more we can do better as we watch the tape. To start SEC play off this way, with a bang, super happy with the guys’ performance. We’re just going to constantly get better, grow and acknowledge that we’re not a finished football team and never get complacent.”
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(Top photo of Jalen Milroe and Germie Bernard: Todd Kirkland / Getty Images)
It’s an hour before Monroe High’s baseball team takes infield practice. In the dugout dressed in his uniform, Miguel Gonzalez has his scissors out giving a free haircut to a teammate.
“Ten out of 10,” infielder Alexander Hernandez said when describing Gonzalez’s barber skills.
His pitching skills aren’t bad either. He struck out 12 in six innings in his season debut. He’s 5-0 with a 0.69 ERA. He’s a four-year varsity player for the surprising Vikings, who are 13-1 to start this season under second-year coach Eddie Alcantar.
The fact that Gonzalez is still playing might come as the biggest surprise if you knew all the responsibilities he faces as an 18-year-old.
Alcantar was getting worried last January when Gonzalez didn’t show up for winter workouts.
“I have a rule if you don’t show up for practice, you don’t play,” Alcantar said.
They finally met and Gonzalez revealed he’s been too busy working as a barber. And then came the big news: He’s going to become a father in July.
The Monroe High baseball team is off to an 13-1 start.
(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)
It’s a delicate balancing act between work, school, baseball and the seriousness of being a parent as a teenager.
“I’ve been able to figure scheduling little by little,” Gonzalez said. “I do sleep. Maybe five hours.”
Gonzalez said he worked seven days a week as a barber during the summer. He’s been saving for his future while also making sure he did not have to ask his parents for money. He works weekends and sometimes has to leave practice after an hour for work.
As far as baseball, he added a slider this season, picked up some velocity and tries to throw three pitches for strikes.
Against Eagle Rock, he struck out 10 and gave up two hits in a 3-1 win. Against Arleta, he struck out 10 in six innings during a 6-1 victory with one walk. Against Westchester, he got two outs — both strikeouts — in a 3-1 win. Against Vaughn, he gave up two hits in six innings of a 2-0 victory..
Monroe, which used to be a City Section powerhouse in the 1970s when Denny Holt was head coach, also has received a strong season from junior Luis Martinez, who has 21 hits and is batting .500.
Pitcher Miguel Gonzalez has helped Monroe to an 13-1 start with a 5-0 record and 0.69 ERA.
(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)
He said his parents have been supportive: “They have told me it’s a really big responsibility.”
After high school, he plans to go to an occupational school to learn more about being a barber. He’d love to continue playing baseball, but that will depend on his development and his priorities. So far, his balancing act is keeping him levelheaded and determined.
He’s been working since he was 5 when he helped his father in landscaping. He switched to cutting hair and loves it. His clients swear by him.
“He’s a good kid,” Alcantar said.
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For the first time in more than two decades, the Illinois men’s basketball team will still be dancing when the Final Four tips off.
Iowa’s underdog run in the NCAA Tournament ended Saturday with a 71-59 loss to a dominant Illinois team. Before Illinois could cut down the nets at Houston’s Toyota Center, a buzzer malfunction caused a loud, roughly 10-minute delay.
The buzzer initially sounded signaling the end of a media timeout with just under eight minutes remaining in the first half. The horn continued blaring for about another seven minutes.
A referee talks with the scorer’s table during an official’s timeout due to a broken shot clock horn during the first half of an Elite Eight game between Iowa and Illinois in the NCAA Tournament Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Houston, Texas. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Players stood on the court ready to play for a couple of minutes before both teams started to warm up as the buzzer continued to sound.
It was finally silenced, to cheers from the crowd, but then the main scoreboard and video screen that hangs over the middle of the court went dark.
The game ultimately resumed with the big scoreboard still off. Two smaller scoreboards at each end of the arena were working.
Freshman guard Keaton Wagler scored 25 points to help secure Illinois’ first Final Four berth since 2005.
Keaton Wagler (23) of the Illinois Fighting Illini dribbles against Isaia Howard (23) of the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first half in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Tournament at Toyota Center March 28, 2026, in Houston, Texas. (Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
This will be the sixth overall trip to the Final Four for Illinois, which has never won a national title. The Fighting Illini will face either Duke or UConn next week in Indianapolis.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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BASEBALL
CITY SECTION
Palisades 2, North Hollywood 1
South Gate 5, Sun Valley Poly 4
SOUTHERN SECTION
Alta Loma 5, Schurr 3
Anaheim Canyon 6, Segerstrom 4
Beaumont 13, San Jacinto Valley Academy 3
Bethel Christian 15, United Christian Academy 1
Brea Olinda 8, Tustin 2
Buena Park 5, Savanna 3
Cajon 9, Granite Hills 5
Claremont 13, Littlerock 2
Compton 12, Compton Centennial 3
Covina 9, San Marino 6
El Segundo 13, Palos Verdes 4
Ganesha 13, Santa Ana Foothill 3
Golden Valley 9, Lancaster 8
Hesperia 8, Miller 7
Katella 6, Canyon Springs 3
La Serna 5, Alhambra 2
Linfield Christian 10, Woodbridge 0
Long Beach Cabrillo 17, Hawthorne 1
Montclair 2, Vista del Lago 0
Moorpark 16, Foothill Tech 11
Oxford Academy 7, Century 6
Rancho Mirage 1, Indian Springs 0
Rancho Verde 9, Riverside Poly 5
San Dimas 13, Irvine 2
Santa Monica Pacifica Christian 14, HMSA 11
Sonora 7, Long Beach Wilson 6
St. Paul 5, El Modena 3
Troy 5, Hacienda Heights Wilson 2
Valley View 16, Carter 10
Whittier Christian 9, Estancia 3
INTERSECTIONAL
Dominguez 13, King/Drew 2
Downers Grove 11, Santa Ana Calvary Chapel
Downtown Magnets 12, Long Beach Jordan 5
Inglewood 10, Stella 0
Layton 5, Schurr 4
Kentucky Trinity 5, St. John Bosco 0
Murrieta Valley 10, Galena 7
Orange Lutheran 7, Florida Venice 6
Santa Barbara 14, Douglas 6
Santa Monica Pacifica Christian 16, Collins Family 1
St. Bernard 7, San Diego University City 5
Tonopah 23, Lone Pine 8
SOFTBALL
CITY SECTION
San Fernando 5, LA Roosevelt 3
San Pedro 11, Legacy 1
Sun Valley Poly 8, LA Roosevelt 2
SOUTHERN SECTION
Alemany 9, Canyon Country Canyon 1
Burbank Burroughs 2, Rosary Academy 1
California 16, Whittier Christian 13
California 7, San Clemente 1
Camarillo 4, Chaminade 3
Camarillo 18, Rio Mesa 0
Capistrano Valley 9, Beckman 3
Chino Hills 15, Chino 3
Corona 10, Ridgecrest Burroughs 0
Crean Lutheran 11, Avalon 2
Crean Lutheran 13, Avalon 2
Edison 7, Crescenta Valley 5
Edison 2, Vasquez 1
Irvine 7, Long Beach Wilson 5
JSerra 2, Capistrano Valley 1
Leuzinger 11, Hawthorne 0
Marina 2, Los Alamitos 1
Mater Dei 10, Redondo Union 0
Mira Costa 9, Newport Harbor 3
Palos Verdes 2, Los Altos 1
Paraclete 11, Saugus 1
Rancho Mirage 14, Cathedral City 6
Rosary Academy 7, Fountain Valley 2
San Clemente 7, Whittier Christian 2
Simi Valley 7, West Ranch 1
Simi Valley 5, St. Bonaventure 5
St. Genevieve 7, Sacred Heart of Jesus 4
St. Paul 6, Warren 2
St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy d. Hoover, forfeit
Thousand Oaks 8, Rio Mesa 0
United Christian Academy 13, Bethel Christian 5
Vasquez 4, Woodbridge 0
Warren 5, La Serna 0
Westlake 4, St. Bonaventure 2
Westlake 0, Chaminade 0
Westlake 4, St. Bonaventure 2
West Ranch 10, Thousand Oaks 4
West Torrance 6, Hart 0
INTERSECTIONAL
Alemany 11, Arleta 1
Arleta 10, Canyon Country Canyon 8
Downey 6, Legacy 0
Downey 10, San Pedro 0
Granada Hills 8, La Serna 5
Muir 8, San Fernando 4
Muir 12, Sun Valley Poly 3
San Luis Obispo 7, Torres 6
St. Paul 8, Granada Hills 4
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