Alabama
10-0 , 7-0
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Mississippi State
6-4 , 2-4
No. 1 Alabama Blanks No. 16 Mississippi State, 24-0
11/10/2018 6:14:00 PM | Football
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The top-ranked Alabama football team recorded its second-consecutive shutout Saturday, blanking the No. 16/18/15 Mississippi State Bulldogs, 24-0, at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
The Crimson Tide (10-0, 7-0 SEC) held the Bulldogs (6-4, 2-4 SEC) to just 169 yards in total offense, 248 yards below State's season average entering the day, and kept MSU off the scoreboard for the first time this season.
Alabama's defense totaled five sacks in the game and limited Mississippi State to just 44 yards on the ground in the win. Sophomores Dylan Moses and Quinnen Williams led the Tide with six tackles apiece.
On offense, sophomore quarterback Tua Tagovailoa threw for 164 yards and a touchdown. Junior running back Josh Jacobs carried a career-high 20 times for 97 yards and a touchdown while contributing the Tide's lone touchdown catch as well. Junior Irv Smith Jr. led Alabama in receiving yards with 70 on five receptions.
Today marked the 11th-consecutive season and 38th time in program history that Alabama has recorded 10 wins in a season. The victory was also the Crimson Tide's 24th straight home win, tying the school record set from 1971-74. The win also gives Alabama back-to-back shutouts for the first time since consecutive 49-0 victories over Western Carolina (Nov. 17) and Auburn (Nov. 24) in 2012.
Alabama's offense wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, using a nine-play, 73-yard march to score its ninth opening-drive touchdown of the season. UA used a balanced attack on the ground and through the air, finished by senior running back Damien Harris punching it in from one yard out. After redshirt freshman Joseph Bulovas converted the extra point, Alabama led 7-0 with 10:40 left in the first quarter.
Following a Mississippi State three-and-out, the Tide took over at its own 17-yard line. Alabama then methodically drove down the field, eating up 83 yards in 13 plays, capped by another one-yard touchdown run, this time by Jacobs. Following the Bulovas kick, UA held a 14-0 advantage with 2:48 remaining in the opening frame.
The two sides traded punts in the second quarter before a muffed punt by the Bulldogs set the Tide up with a short field. It took just three plays for UA reach the end zone when Tagovailoa found Jacobs out of the backfield for a 14-yard pitch-and-catch. Bulovas' extra point extended the Tide advantage to 21-0 with 3:26 left before halftime.
In the first half, the Crimson Tide defense held the Bulldogs to just three first downs and 85 total yards en route to the 21-0 lead.
In the third quarter both defenses held the other team in check, with the score remaining 21-0 heading into the final 15 minutes of play. At the end of three quarters, Alabama had outgained Mississippi State 240-136 in total yardage.
Midway through the fourth quarter, the Alabama defense set up a short field for the offense, after stopping the Bulldogs on fourth down and giving the Tide the ball at the MSU 42-yard line. Six plays later, Bulovas drilled a career-long 49-yard field goal to give UA the 24-0 lead with 9:11 left in the game.
The Tide returns home next Saturday, Nov. 17, for a non-conference game against The Citadel at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Kickoff between the Crimson Tide and Bulldogs is set for 11 a.m. CT.
For all the latest information on the team by following @AlabamaFTBL on Twitter, AlabamaFBL on Instagram and AlabamaFootball on Facebook. General athletics news can also be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and AlabamaAthletics on Facebook.
Team Stats
MS 0, UA 7
UA - Damien Harris 1 yd run (Joseph Bulovas kick), 9 plays, 73 yards, TOP 4:20
MS 0, UA 14
UA - Josh Jacobs 1 yd run (Joseph Bulovas kick), 13 plays, 83 yards, TOP 5:54
MS 0, UA 21
UA - Josh Jacobs 14 yd pass from Tua Tagovailoa (Joseph Bulovas kick) 3 plays, 27 yards, TOP 1:03
MS 0, UA 24
UA - Joseph Bulovas 49 yd field goal 6 plays, 11 yards, TOP 1:52
