Live from the press box, We will be giving Quarter by Quarter, Drive by Drive updates as the Alabama Crimson Tide face the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles.
> 3:15- Arrive at Bryant-Denny Stadium, very few here still but the excitement is about to commence
> 3:45- Southern Miss punters, long snappers and kickers enter the field from the south end zone to begin warm ups
>3:55- Alabama punters, long snappers and kickers enter the field from the north end zone to begin warm ups
> 4:15- Southern Miss receivers, running backs and quarterbacks enter the field from the south end zone and begin drills
> 4:20- Alabama receivers, running backs and quarterbacks enter the field from the north end zone and begin drills
> 4:22- Southern Miss comes together as a team from the south end zone and begin to stretch and move into warm ups
> 4:25- Alabama come together as a team from the north end zone and begin to stretch and move into warm ups
>4:27- ALABAMA’S CAPTAINS- RB TJ Yeldon, TE Brian Volger, FS Nick Perry
>4:40- Both teams exit the field and enter locker room before kickoff
>4:47- Fans begin to pile in as the Million Dollar Marching Band enter the field
>5:01- Alabama enters the field ready to play…get ready Alabama Fans, IT’S GAMETIME!!!
> 5:04- Captains enter the 5o yard line, Southern Miss wins toss and elect to receive, Alabama will kick towards the North end zone
FIRST QUARTER
> Scoring Drive- (10 plays, 59 yards, 3:17) Southern Miss- 3, Alabama- 0
Nick Mullens looked strong first drive, completing two 3rd down drives for big gains. Alabama’s defense prevails holding Southern Miss to a 32 yard field goal.
> Alabama to start drive from their own 30
> Scoring Drive -(7 plays, 70 yards, 3:53)- Alabama 7, Southern Miss- 3
Alabama comes out strong under Blake Sims. After a 17 yard gain by Amari Cooper and 12 gain by TJ Yeldon, Sims finds Cooper on a slant for a 22 yard touchdown pass. Adam Griffith nails the PAT
> Southern Miss to start drive from their own 19
Nick Mullens has impressed on third down, hitting Casey Michael for a 16 yard game, play was turned over though due to a facemask call on Southern Miss’ linemen. Alabama holds and forces a punt
> Alabama to start drive at the 50 yard line
Blake Sims returns and tries to throw deep to Cooper, unfortunately it didn’t work. After 2 runs Alabama is forced to punt away.
> Southern Miss to start drive from their own 10 yard line
Mullens returned to look strong again with a 36 yard completion to DJ Thompson on a controversial catch. Still, Southern Miss was once again stopped by Alabama’s defense, forcing another punt to the Crimson Tide.
> Alabama to start drive from their own 20 yard line
Amari Cooper comes out and is able to make something out of nothing again with a 13 yard rushing game as the clock runs down, ending the 1st quarter.
SECOND QUARTER
>Alabama starts drive from own 44 yard line
>Scoring drive- (13 plays, 80 yards, 7:07) Alabama 14, Southern Miss 3
Sims comes out again and hits Amari Cooper once again, leading them down the field. On 3rd down, Sims transforms something out of nothing with a 20 yard run to keep the drive going. This sets the Tide up for a Blake Sims 4 yard touchdown run. Adam Griffith nails the PAT.
>Southern Miss to start drive at their own 8 yard line
Although an impressive 2nd down run by Nick Mullens, Alabama holds Southern Miss again to another 3 and out forcing a punt by the Eagles.
>Alabama to start drive at Southern Miss 36 yard line
>Scoring Drive- ( 6 plays, 38 yards, 2:49) Alabama-21, Southern Miss-3
The Blake Sims and Amari Cooper show continue with another run and pass combo. After a first down by Kenyan Drake, Drake finds his way into the end zone on a 1 yard touchdown run.
>Southern Miss to start drive at their own 30 yard line
>Scoring drive- (7 plays, 70 yards, 1:25) Alabama 21, Southern Miss 6
Southern Miss’ offense just can’t find answers around Alabama’s defense with another 3 and out after the Ryan Anderson sack. After Tyren Jones touches the ball of the punt, Southern Miss gets a 2nd chance at life. Alabama’s defense is once again ready forcing the Eagles to settle for a field goal by Corey Acostca
>Alabama to start drive at their own 20 yard line
After a quick run by Blake Sims, the Tide not to risk it and head into the half leading. Alabama will receive the ball at the half.
HALF-TIME: ALABAMA-21, SOUTHERN MISS-6
THIRD QUARTER
>Alabama to start drive from their own 20 yard line
>Scoring Drive- ( 8 plays, 75 yards, 2:54) Alabama 28, Southern Miss 6
Blake Sims begins the drive for Alabama once again finding Amari Cooper for two big first downs. After a nice run by Derrick Henry, Kenyan Drake’s gets his second touchdown of the day on a 1 yard run. Adam Griffith nails the PAT
> Southern Miss to begin drive from their own 21 yard line
>Scoring Drive (8 plays, 59 yards, 3:51)- Alabama 28, Southern Miss 9
Nick Mullens was able to do work against the Alabama defense this drive. After 2 good passes, Mullens makes an incomplete pass. This ultimately lead to Nick Perry being ejected from the game after a controversial helmet to helmet call. Southern Miss however would be pressured again, having to settle for only a field goal from Corey Acosta.
>Alabama to begin drive from their own 30 yard line
>Scoring Drive (7 plays, 68 yards, 3:03) Alabama 35, Southern Miss- 9
Blake Sims remains in the game and completes a 29 yard reception to Amari Cooper. After a first down pass to Christion Jones and first down run by Kenyan Drake, Sims hits Brian Vogler for a 5 yard touchdown pass. Adam Griffith nails the PAT
>Southern Miss to begin drive from their own 25 yard line
After a nice 3rd down conversion by Nick Mullens, Southern Miss completes back to back first downs on the drive. However, Mullens couldn’t find any of his targets ending the drive in another punt by the Eagles.
>Alabama to begin drive from their own 1 yard line
Jake Coker finally entered the game of this drive and never passed. Instead, Alabama decided to hand the ball to Kenyon Drake and Derrick Henry to end the quarter.
Fourth Quarter
>Alabama to start quarter at their own 40 yard line
>Scoring Drive- (8 plays, 99 yards 3:22) Alabama 42, Southern Miss 9
Jake Coker once again showed what he can do on the drive finishing 2-2 with 2 first downs. After that, Kenyan Drake scores for the 3rd time today on a 29 yard touchdown run. Adam Griffith perfect again with the PAT.
>Southern Miss to begin drive from their own 12 yard line
Scoring Drive- (11 plays, 62 yards 3:56) Alabama-42. Southern Miss-12
Nick Mullens once again tried to keep Southern Miss alive, as he worked his way up the field with 4 straight first downs. After finally reaching the red zone, Mullens is rushed on his throws all three times, ending in another field goal by Corey Acosta.
>Alabama to begin the drive from their own 41 yard line
>Scoring drive- (9 plays, 46 yards 3:49) Alabama- 45, Southern Miss
This time Jake Coker remained in the game. Unfortunately under his wing, Alabama was stopped close to the red zone and had to settle for an Adam Griffith 13 yard field goal.
>Southern Miss to begin drive from their own 25 yard line.
Once again, Mullens didn’t have any answers for the Tide’s defense. On another quick 3 and out, Mullens day would be over as the Eagles punted once again.
>Alabama begins the drive from their own 41 yard line
Jake Coker entered the field one more time and unfortunately, the third try wasn’t the charm. Coker wasn’t able to make the throws he need or have his running backs get them enough to score. JP Scott came in to punt and thanks to an interference call. Alabama would be given a blessing as they get the ball again, this time in scoring position.
>Alabama begins the drive from Southern Miss 15 yard line.
Scoring drive- (3 plays 15 yards :14 seconds)- Alabama 52, Southern Miss-12
In the final drive of the game, Alabama was blessed with field positioning after the late hit. In the drive, Alec Morris would enter the game and lead the Tide to the end zone one final time. Tyren Jones would score his first touchdown as a member of the Tide bouncing to the outside for a 2 yard run.
FINAL- Alabama-52, Southern Miss-12
Stay tuned for postgame recap later on!
