Football vs. Louisville Postgame Notes
9/2/2018 12:50:00 AM | Football
GAME CAPTAINS: Alabama's game captains were running back Damien Harris, linebacker Anfernee Jennings and offensive lineman Ross Pierschbacher.
FIRST TIME STARTERS: The Crimson Tide had 11 student-athletes make their first career starts vs. Louisville, including four on offense, four on defense and three specialists. Getting their first career nod on offense were offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood, wide receivers Henry Ruggs III and DeVonta Smith and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Making their first starts on defense were defensive lineman Quinnen Williams and defensive backs Saivion Smith, Xavier McKinney and Shyheim Carter. Placekickers Austin Jones and Joseph Bulovas and punter Skyler DeLong started for the first time on special teams.
OPENING DAY SUCCESS UNDER SABAN: Alabama has been dominant in season openers under head coach Nick Saban. The Tide is 12-0 under Saban, has outscored its opponents 486-141 (40.5-11.7) and outgained them, 5,231-2,481 (435.9-206.7). Alabama outscored its last three opening day opponents – USC, Florida State and Louisville – 127-27 and allowed just three touchdowns.
NON-OFFENSIVE TOUCHDOWNS: Josh Jacobs' 77-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and Shyheim Carter's 45-yard interception return for a score tonight were Alabama's 62nd and 63rd non-offensive touchdown of the Nick Saban era. Tonight also marked Alabama's first multi-non-offensive touchdown game since recording two against Florida in the 2016 SEC Championship Game.
FINDING THE END ZONE: Tonight's victory over Louisville marks the first time Alabama has scored on a rush, reception, kickoff return and interception since the Crimson Tide's 35-10 win over Virginia Tech on Aug. 31, 2013 in Atlanta.
Defensive Notes
HOLDING OPPONENTS UNDER 300: The Crimson Tide's defensive performance against Louisville this evening marks the 97th time in 153 games (63.4 percent) under head coach Nick Saban that the Tide has held an opponent to less than 300 yards of total offense.
TURNOVERS, TURNOVERS, TURNOVERS: Alabama's two interceptions tonight gives The Crimson Tide at least one forced turnover in 43 of its last 45 games dating to the start of the 2015 season. During the current run, the Crimson Tide has forced 75 turnovers (52 interceptions, 23 fumbles) and returned 18 of those miscues for touchdowns.
DOUBLE-DIGIT TACKLES FOR LOSS: Alabama's 11 tackles for loss tonight marks the second consecutive game the Tide has reached double digits in that category. Alabama had a 2017 season-high 12 stops behind the line against Georgia in the 2018 CFP National Championship Game.
CARTER RECORDS FIRST CAREER INTERCEPTION SCORE: Shyheim Carter's 45-yard interception return for a touchdown this evening is the first of his career and the first for Alabama since Mack Wilson's 18-yard return against Clemson in the 2018 Allstate Sugar Bowl.
CAREER NIGHT FOR QUINNEN WILLIAMS: Alabama defensive lineman Quinnen Williams finished with career highs in tackles (six) and tackles for loss (3.5) in his first career start this evening. Williams' previous career best in tackles was five vs. LSU in 2017. His previous high in tackles for loss was two on two occasions.
Offensive Notes
SCORING STREAK CONTINUES: Alabama extended its school record for scoring in consecutive games to 228 games against Louisville tonight with Tua Tagovailoa's opening drive 11-yard touchdown pass to Jerry Jeudy. The Crimson Tide was last held off the scoreboard in a 9-0 loss to Auburn on Nov. 18, 2000. Alabama has a 175-52 (.771) record over the course of the current streak.
OPENING DRIVE TOUCHDOWNS: Alabama has won 16 straight games when scoring a touchdown on its first offensive possession of a game. The Tide's last loss after finding the end zone on its first drive was to Oklahoma in the 2014 Allstate Sugar Bowl.
OPENING DAY QUARTERBACKS: Tua Tagovailoa's two touchdown passes equaled the most for an opening day starting quarterback during the Nick Saban era at Alabama. AJ McCarron and John Parker Wilson both threw for a pair of scores against Michigan (2012) and Clemson (2008), respectively. Tagovailoa's 227 passing yards ranks No. 3 for an opening night starter in the Saban era. The sophomore's total trails only Blake Sims' 250 yards against West Virginia in 2014 and Greg McElroy's 230 yards against Virginia Tech in 2009.
CAREER NIGHTS FOR JERRY JEUDY AND DEVONTA SMITH: DeVonta Smith and Jerry Jeudy established career highs in multiple categories. Smith set career bests for receptions (four) receptions and yards (99). Smith caught one pass in eight different games as a freshman in 2017 and had a career high 41 yards receiving against Georgia in the 2018 CFP National Championship Game. Jeudy's four catches and two touchdown receptions were also career bests. He caught one touchdown in two games as a freshman a season ago and had three receptions on two occasions in 2017.
Special Teams Notes
KICKOFF RETURN TOUCHDOWN: Josh Jacobs' 77-yard kickoff return for a touchdown tonight was Alabama's first kickoff return for a score by the Crimson Tide since Kenyan Drake's 95-yard return against Clemson in the 2016 CFP National Championship Game.
NEW ERA FOR ALABAMA PUNTING: Skyler DeLong's initial punting attempt this evening was the first for Alabama from a punter other than JK Scott since Jan. 2, 2014, when Cody Mandell booted a 46-yarder in the fourth quarter of the Allstate Sugar Bowl against Oklahoma.
