High Tide: No. 4 Alabama Dismantles No. 2 LSU 30-16; Southeastern Conference Scoreboard

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No. 4 Alabama Dismantles No. 2 LSU 30-16

Photo Credit: RollTide.com

More than likely the leading Heisman candidate in the nation going into yesterday's football games is no longer the leading candidate. The University of Alabama Crimson Tide defense held the LSU Tiger's big-time running back, Leonard Fournette to just 31 total rushing yards while on their way to a 30-16 shellacking of the second-ranked and previously unbeaten Tigers.

It was a stellar night for Alabama running back Derrick Henry, going over the 200 yard mark once again. Henry picked up 210 rushing yards on 38 carries and scored three Tide touchdowns. His longest run of the night was for 40 yards, averaging 5.5 yards per carry. Henry's touchdown record has now extended to at least one score via the rush in 14 consecutive games.

Once again Bryant-Denny Stadium was packed with 101,821 screaming fans. Though a small percentage of that quieted after Bama began pulling away following LSU being able to tie the game at 10-10 for a very short period. The No. 4 Crimson Tide (8-1 overall; 5-1 SEC) is now statistically tied with No. 2 LSU (7-1 overall, 4-1 SEC) for the SEC West lead. However, by virtue of the tie-breaker, Alabama leads the Southeastern Conference Western Division.

Fournette's 31 yards last night was a far cry from usual 193.1 rushing yards per game average. He was leading the nation in that category. Henry put on a show for the Tide faithful, scoring touchdowns of two, one and seven yards on the night with 38 carries, which was the third-most carries by a player in a single game in Alabama history.

The Crimson Tide broke out to a 10-0 lead early, only to have the Tigers storm back to tie the game 10-10 with an effective passing game. But the Tide was able to take a 13-10 lead into the locker room by virtue of an Adam Griffith 55-yard field goal with only 14 seconds remaining in the first half, the longest of his career. (It was 15 yards longer than his previous season-best.) In all, Griffith would make three field goals on the evening, and extend his streak to seven. Remember the beginning of the season when everyone wanted to know what it would take for Alabama to get a field goal kicker? In fact, fans were still groaning last night when he first stepped out on the field. Alabama has a kicker...the same guy we always had. The slump is over.

Quarterback Jake Coker was 18 of 24 in passing for 184 yards with no interceptions or passing touchdowns. He lost 26 yards on the evening due to the heavy rush or not getting the ball off on time. Kenyan Drake rushed 10 times for 68 yards, with a longest run of 24 yards.

Calvin Ridley led the receivers with 51 yards on seven receptions. ArDarius Stewart was next with 47 yards on three receptions, followed by Drake with three receptions for 40 yards, Richard Mullaney with three receptions for 28 yards and O.J. Howard picked up 18 yards on two receptions.

"We didn't play perfectly but I thought it was really important that we could control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, and we did a really good job of that," commented Alabama head football coach Nick Saban.

LSU head coach Les Miles was complimentary of the Alabama Crimson Tide. Who wouldn't be be after your formerly undefeated team has just been dismantled by a far superior team? He spoke of Alabama's defense being good. He said that Derrick Henry was solid. He even turned to his own team and said neither his offensive line nor Leonard Fournette were to blame for last night's loss.

Miles said, "Our defense was on the field for the whole second half virtually. We have to improve. We can't take those kinds of events. This football team is much better than they showed tonight."

Les did mention something about next year. Asked about the current five-year streak Alabama has going on in beating his Tigers, Les is just looking forward to getting the Tide at home next year.

Jake Coker was asked about Derrick Henry's performance last night, and, according to AL.com, Coker responded, "You're damn right he is!" when asked about whether he thought Henry was the best running back in the country. He later commented concerning Henry, "He deserves every bit of credit that he's going to get."

When asked about Henry immediately after the game, Saban told Allie LaForce, "I can't say enough about Derrick Henry."

Marlon Humphrey later tweeted, "Can my man King Henry get some respect now?"

Fox Sports national college football writer Bruce Feldman said concerning Henry, "The 242-pound junior upstaged Leonard Fournette as the Tide throttled LSU." When he posted his Heisman rankings, he had Derrick Henry up to No. 1 from the No. 3 spot last week. He dropped Leonard Fournette from No. 1 all the way down to No. 5.

Alabama travels to play Mississippi State next week. Game time is 2:30 p.m. and will be televised by CBS. Verne, Gary and Allie are going to be there. Oh boy!