Football vs. Mississippi State Postgame Notes
11/10/2018 6:39:00 PM | Football
GAME CAPTAINS: Alabama's captains against Mississippi State were running back Damien Harris, offensive lineman Ross Pierschbacher and defensive lineman Quinnen Williams.
24 IN A ROW AT HOME: With its 24-0 win over Mississippi State, Alabama has now won 24-consecutive games at Bryant-Denny Stadium, equaling the longest home winning streak in school history. The Crimson Tide won 24 in a row at home (Bryant-Denny and Legion Field combined) from Sept. 18, 1971 to Nov. 9, 1974.
Defensive Notes
BACK-TO-BACK SHUTOUTS FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 2012: With its 24-0 victory over Mississippi State today, Alabama has recorded back-to-back shutouts for the first time since consecutive 49-0 wins over Western Carolina and Auburn on Nov. 17 and Nov. 24, 2012. The Alabama defense has not allowed an offensive score in its previous 152 minutes and 18 seconds of play, dating back to a second quarter Tennessee touchdown pass on Oct. 20.
RUSHING DEFENSE CONTINUES TO SHINE: Alabama limited Mississippi State to just 44 yard rushing today and has held its last five opponents to 329 yards on the ground (65.8 ypg). The Tide's last four SEC opponents have rushed for just 157 yards, an average of 39.3 yards per contest.
TURNOVERS, TURNOVERS, TURNOVERS: Ale Kaho's second quarter fumble recovery today gives the Crimson Tide at least one forced turnover in 52 of its last 54 contests dating back to the start of the 2015 season. During the current run, the Crimson Tide has forced 91 turnovers (62 interceptions, 29 fumbles) and returned 21 of those miscues for touchdowns. The Tide has forced at least one turnover in 13 consecutive games.
FIRST HALF DEFENSE: The Tide defenders have limited the opposition to just 58 points (five touchdowns, three field goals) and 1,462 yards of offense (146.2 per game) in the first half in 2018.
Offensive Notes
TAGOVAILOA TIED FOR SECOND ON UA SINGLE SEASON TOUCHDOWN PASSES LIST: With his second quarter touchdown pass to Josh Jacobs today, Tua Tagovailoa has 28 scoring tosses in 10 games this season, which is tied for second on the Alabama single-season touchdown list with AJ McCarron (2013) and Blake Sims (2014). McCarron is the UA leader with 30 in 2012.
TAGOVAILOA NOW THIRD ON TIDE SINGLE SEASON TOUCHDOWN RESPONSIBILITY LIST: With his second-quarter touchdown pass to Josh Jacobs, Tua Tagovailoa has been responsible for 31 touchdowns this season (28 passing/three rushing). The total ties AJ McCarron (31 in 2012) for third on the UA career touchdown responsibility list. Jalen Hurts holds the single-season record with 36 (23/13) in 2016. Tagovailoa is also eighth on the career touchdown responsibility list with 44 (39/5) in only 19 career games.
TAGOVAILOA 10th ON TIDE SINGLE SEASON PASSING YARDAGE LIST: With 164 yards passing against Mississippi State today, Tua Tagovailoa has now throw for 2,525 yards this season, which ranks No. 10 on the UA single-season passing yards list. AJ McCarron (2011) is ninth with 2,634.
TAGOVAILOA FIRST HALF PASSING: Through 10 games, Tua Tagovailoa has thrown for 2,060 yards and 25 touchdowns with one interception on 122-of-172 passing (70.9 percent) for an efficiency rating of 218.34 in the first half.
TAGOVAILOA VS. SEC: In seven games against Southeastern Conference opponents this season, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has thrown for 1,942 yards and 20 touchdowns with two interceptions on 113-of-172 passing (.656) for an efficiency rating of 196.59.
TUA AT THE HELM: Sophomore Tua Tagovailoa has directed 81 drives as the Tide's starting quarterback this season with 48 resulting touchdowns (59.2 percent) and six culminating in field goals for 54 total scoring drives (66.7 percent). In those drives, the Tide offense is 39-for-65 (60.0 percent) on third down conversions, accounting for 3,820 yards on 444 snaps for an average of 8.60 yards per play and 349 of the 441 points scored by the UA offense.
HARRIS NOW EIGHTH ON UA CAREER RUSHING LIST: With 53 yards rushing against Mississippi State today, senior Damien Harris has now rushed for 2,789 yards in his career to move into eighth place on the UA career rushing chart. Trent Richardson (2009-11) is seventh with 3,130 yards.
FIRST HALF SCORING: Through 10 games this season, Alabama is outscoring its opponents, 347-58 (34.7-5.8), in the first half. That total includes a 185-31 (18.5-3.1) first quarter advantage and a 162-27 (16.2-2.7) difference in the second quarter.
FIRST HALF TOTAL OFFENSE: With 216 total yards in the first two quarters against Mississippi State today, Alabama is now averaging 350.4 yards in total offense in the first half this season (3,504 yards in 10 games). UA has outscored the opposition by 289 points (347-58) and outgained them by 2,042 yards (3,504-1,462) before the break this season.
OPENING DRIVE TOUCHDOWNS: Damien Harris' 1-yd touchdown run on Alabama's first possession against Mississippi State today was the Crimson Tide's ninth opening drive touchdown in 10 games this season.
DRIVES UNDER A MINUTE: Twenty-one of the Crimson Tide's scoring drives this season have lasted less than a minute with 12 lasting less than 30 seconds. The 21 quick scores shares the national lead with Utah State for scoring drives lasting less than a minute. Clemson and Illinois are tied for third with 16. Memphis is fifth with 14.
Special Teams Notes
CAREER LONG FIELD GOAL FOR BULOVAS: Joseph Bulovas' fourth-quarter 49-yard field goal today is a new career high for the redshirt freshman. Bulovas' previous long was a 47-yarder against Texas A&M on Sept. 22.
