TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — On a day when MSU quarterback Dak Prescott couldn’t overcome his early struggles and lead No. 1 Mississippi State to a comeback victory, it was No. 5 Alabama’s quarterback who turned in a game-clinching performance in the fourth quarter.
Senior Blake Sims, who has led Alabama to five-straight wins, carried his team to an emotional 25-20 win Saturday that puts it in the driver’s seat for the Southeastern Conference’s Western Division title.
Sims, who struggled in a third quarter that saw Alabama gain 47 yards, found another gear in the fourth quarter. After MSU (9-1, 5-1 SEC) cut the lead to 19-13 two plays into the quarter, Sims engineered a 15-play, 76-yard drive that took six minutes off the clock. When tailback T.J. Yeldon capped the drive with a 7-yard touchdown run, Alabama (9-1, 6-1) had a 25-13 lead and breathing room because of Sims.
“He did a really good job of executing,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said. “On that drive, he did a really good job of getting us in the right plays and executing. That was probably one of the greatest drives in Alabama history to go down there and make it a two-score game in the fourth quarter.”
Sims, who finished with 211 passing yards and a touchdown, kept the drive alive three times on third down. Twice he rushed for the first down, gaining 11 yards on third-and-10 and 7 yards on third-and-6. He also connected with Yeldon out of the backfield to convert a third-and-4 at midfield.
“We made big-time plays,” Sims said, “and we fought hard.”
Prescott noticed Sims’ fourth-quarter heroics.
“It was frustrating because we wanted a chance to get on the field and win the game,” Prescott said. “Credit goes to them, though. They made the plays.”
Playoff hopes still alive
There was little doubt MSU’s trip to Alabama would have plenty of College Football Playoff implications. In the wake of MSU’s five-point loss, its first of the season, Mullen and his players were flooded with questions on MSU’s worthiness to remain near the College Football Playoff Selection Committee’s top four.
“Those are two of the best teams in the country out there battling, and it was a great game,” Mullen said.
The Bulldogs have been ranked atop the committee’s rankings for each of the first three weeks, and MSU has sat atop The Associated Press Top 25 and Amway Coaches Poll (USA Today) every week since ascending to the top spot Oct. 12. But the loss to Alabama, which undoubtedly will move from No. 5 last week into the CFP’s top four, MSU’s status remains in doubt as it joins a pool of one-loss teams that includes No. 2 Oregon, No. 4 TCU, and others.
Asked about his team’s standing in the playoff discussion, Mullen said, “I don’t know how many other teams can say they’ve played four top 10 teams and are now 3-1 against those teams, with their only loss coming to a top-five team. If it’s based on the quality of your wins, then absolutely we should be in the mix. Are they using other criteria? I don’t know. I’m not in that room. But judging by the quality of our schedule and wins, absolutely we should be right there.”
The fourth edition of the playoff committee’s rankings will be unveiled at 6 p.m. Tuesday. Count MSU tailback Josh Robinson as another believer in MSU’s playoff resume.
“I know we are a contender,” Robinson said. “We just have to play Mississippi State football and we will be fine. They always thought we were out since day one. We just have to climb back to the top.”
Linebacker Beniquez Brown also was asked the question. He answered diplomatically.
“Hopefully, but you know, we’re not really worried about it,” said Brown, who had seven tackles. “We just have to come out next week and get better and beat Vanderbilt. If it’s meant for us to make it, then we will.”
The review
While Alabama eventually escaped with a five-point win, one key second-quarter play was crucial in that final margin.
One play after Sims connected with wide receiver Amari Cooper for a 50-yard gain to the MSU 1-yard line, sophomore running back Derrick Henry crashed across the goal line in an attempt to score a touchdown, but Henry was stripped of the ball on the play, and the ball was recovered by MSU. After an official review, it was determined Henry crossed the goal line, and Alabama was awarded a touchdown.
Brown, who forced the apparent fumble, was asked about the play after the game.
“I’m the one that pulled it out,” Brown said. “I really didn’t get a good look at it. I just felt like I ripped it out, but you really can’t second-guess it. You know, they reviewed it. You just accept it and keep on playing. It would have been a big momentum swing for us, but you can’t take it back. You just move on to the next play and just put the ball down like the coaches always tell us.”
Field position
On the game, MSU outgained Alabama by 93 yards, collecting 428 total yards to Alabama’s 335. But part of that advantage was due to MSU’s average field position compared to Alabama’s, as the Bulldogs were faced with longer fields throughout the game.
Thanks to a pronounced advantage in the kicking game and three turnovers by MSU, Alabama starting with an average field position at its 43, while MSU averaged starting at its 18.
“Those flips in field position were huge,” Mullen said. “When you’re playing quality teams, it’s hard to think you’re just going to drive at will against an excellent defense like Alabama. That ended up being a major factor.”
Rushing judgment
Against MSU’s one-two punch of quarterback Dak Prescott and tailback Josh Robinson, Alabama’s defense was as good as advertised.
The Crimson Tide entered the game yielding the fewest rushing yards in the SEC, and opponents were managing a paltry 2.8 yards per carry against its defensive front. That continued against MSU.
Prescott needed 22 carries to get to 87 yards on the ground, while Robinson had 37 yards on 12 carries. As a team, MSU averaged 3.5 yards per carry, a season low.
“I thought the defense did a fantastic job,” Saban said. “This is a really good football team we played today. They’re really hard to stop. I think our defense did a great job to hold them the way we did.”
Linebacker Nick Perry led Alabama with 12 tackles. Middle linebacker Reggie Ragland had 10.
The Crimson Tide’s defense also scored two points, dropping Robinson in the end zone for a safety with 7 minutes, 49 seconds to go in the first quarter.
“(Robinson) was trying to make a play he didn’t need to make,” Mullen said. “He should’ve kept it inside, but he tried to bounce it outside to make a play. The guys are just trying to make plays out there, which you don’t have any problems with.”
Great Scott
Prior to the game, Mullen stressed MSU’s need to win the kicking game and the turnover battle. The Bulldogs lost both — badly. Alabama punter J.K. Scott averaged 45.6 yards per punt on his seven kicks, and five of those pinned MSU’s offense inside its 20. One, a 53-yarder, backed MSU up to its 5 early in the first quarter. Two plays later, Alabama tackled Robinson in the end zone for a safety.
“That’s a huge part of the game is field position,” Mullen said. “The MVP of the game was probably their punter. We did a really poor job of punting the ball. They did a really great job of punting the ball.”
Lewis returns
After missing the bulk of MSU’s last five games due to a lower leg injury, senior wide receiver Jameon Lewis looked healthy. He finished with five catches for 42 yards and added three rushes for 18 yards. He also caught a 4-yard touchdown from Prescott in the fourth quarter, his first touchdown since a 74-yarded in Week 4 at LSU.
Cooper shines
Although Prescott entered the game as a Heisman Trophy contender, it was another candidate that stole the show. Junior wide receiver Amari Cooper caught eight passes for 88 yards and a touchdown, a 4-yarder from Sims in the second quarter to give Alabama a 12-0 lead. He added a 50-yard catch to set up Alabama’s second touchdown.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brandon Walker on Twitter @ctsportseditor
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