White Beats Crimson 7-3 In 2016 A-Day Game
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
With 2:48 remaining in the fourth quarter, the White squad came from behind to defeat the Crimson squad in today's annual Alabama football spring A-Day Game in front of a crowd of 76, 212 at Bryant Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The lone score came about when true freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts hit Derek Kief in the endzone on a toe-dragging touchdown.
As far as the quarterback situation goes, Hurts looked really good. It needs to be pointed out, however, that he didn't have to face last season's, and very likely this season's, top-ranked defense. The Crimson quarterbacks were rushed, sacked, and hurried throughout the game. Hurts had his struggles at time with the defense himself, but in all fairness to the "leading candidates" for the starting QB position, he didn't face the likes of Tim Williams and Rashaan Evans, just to name two.
Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin and new defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt were battling a scoreless tie when kicker Adam Griffith was called on to attempt his fourth field goal of the day. Griffith has already missed on attempts of 36, 47 and 42 yards when a ten-play drive stalled out bring up a fourth and goal with 10:55 remaining in the fourth. Griffith put this one through the uprights to give the White the lead, and what many thought would be the only score of the game 3-0.
Everyone knows that head football coach Nick Saban isn't high on starting a true freshman in the quarterback position, and the fact that he has never done so says either he has nixed the idea all this time or never had one mature enough to handle the pressure of the position. Regardless, Hurts showed he is a quarterback "force" with whom to contend.
Don't expect Saban to to crown the freshman anytime soon. This contest will more than likely go right down to week of the USC game this fall.
So, what did Saban have to say? The head man stated, "So, how many conclusions can be drawn about anything that happened today, other than the fact that this is an opportunity for us coaches and as a team, to look where we are, individually and collectively as a group, continue to evaluated and use the rest of this off-season to focus on individual improvement for the players that we have, so they can go out there and execute with more consistency."
And yes, there's more...in another story.
Me? As last season, and said so repeatedly BEFORE the start of the 2015 campaign, I am confident the coaches will select the one that will indeed get the job done. As Alfred E. Newman of Mad Magazine always said, "What, me worry?" Naw. We have a starting quarterback. We'll just have to wait and see which one it is that Kiffin and Saban have "coached up" to take the job.
Statistics For The Alabama 2016 Golden Flake A-Day Game:
--Team Totals-- White Crimson
| FIRST DOWNS | 20 | 7 |
| Rushing | 7 | 0 |
| Passing | 12 | 6 |
| Penalty | 1 | 1 |
| NET YARDS RUSHING | 65 | -5 |
| Rushing Attempts | 39 | 12 |
| Average Per Rush | 1.7 | -0.4 |
| Rushing Touchdowns | 0 | 0 |
| Yards Gained Rushing | 149 | 22 |
| Yards Lost Rushing | 84 | 27 |
| NET YARDS PASSING | 232 | 136 |
| Completions-Attempts-Int | 20-31-0 | 14-37-1 |
| Average Per Attempt | 7.5 | 3.7 |
| Average Per Completion | 11.6 | 9.7 |
| Passing Touchdowns | 1 | 0 |
| TOTAL OFFENSE YARDS | 297 | 131 |
| Total offense plays | 70 | 49 |
| Average Gain Per Play | 4.2 | 2.7 |
| Fumbles: Number-Lost | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Penalties: Number-Yards | 1-13 | 4-24 |
| PUNTS-YARDS | 6-266 | 9-420 |
| Average Yards Per Punt | 44.3 | 46.7 |
| Net Yards Per Punt | 43.5 | 46.7 |
| Inside 20 | 3 | 1 |
| 50+ Yards | 2 | 3 |
| Touchbacks | 0 | 0 |
| Fair catch | 1 | 6 |
| KICKOFFS-YARDS | 2-129 | 2-125 |
| Average Yards Per Kickoff | 64.5 | 62.5 |
| Net Yards Per Kickoff | 35.0 | 35.0 |
| Touchbacks | 0 | 0 |
| Punt returns: Number-Yards-TD | 0-0-0 | 1-5-0 |
| Average Per Return | 0.0 | 5.0 |
| Kickoff returns: Number-Yds-TD | 2-55-0 | 2-59-0 |
| Average Per Return | 27.5 | 29.5 |
| Interceptions: Number-Yds-TD | 1-5-0 | 0-0-0 |
| Fumble Returns: Number-Yds-TD | 0-0-0 | 0-0-0 |
| Miscellaneous Yards | 0 | 0 |
| Possession Time | 34:21 | 25:39 |
| 1st Quarter | 7:42 | 7:18 |
| 2nd Quarter | 11:13 | 3:47 |
| 3rd Quarter | 8:43 | 6:17 |
| 4th Quarter | 6:43 | 8:17 |
| Third-Down Conversions | 4 of 14 | 2 of 14 |
| Fourth-Down Conversions | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 |
| Red-Zone Scores-Chances | 1-2 | 1-2 |
| Touchdowns | 1-2 | 0-2 |
| Field goals | 0-2 | 1-2 |
| Sacks By: Number-Yards | 3-25 | 11-84 |
| PAT Kicks | 1-1 | 0-0 |
| Field Goals | 0-4 | 1-1 |
| Points off turnovers | 0 | 0 |
Stats courtesy RollTide.com.
To view individual game stats and info just click the link here---RollTide.com.
More updates to follow on High Tide later.
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Lakan Taylor Wins Women's Pole Vault
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
University of Alabama junior Lakan Taylor stepped up---and over---winning the women's pole vault last evening at the South Alabama Invitation held in Mobile. Freshman Will Herrscher finished fourth in the men's pole vault.
Taylor's vault was 13 feet, 7 1/4 inches for first. Senior Anna Reed tied for second while junior Britainy Smith placed seventh.
