Tide Rolls On, Bests Missouri in Key SEC Contest, 27-24
We witnessed a true heavyweight bout in CoMo on Saturday, and the Tide was the last one standing.
By: Dave in Tuscaloosa
There is no question that Alabama is playing with grit and an edge, and to the delight of Bama Nation, it's translating into victories. Playing its third unbeaten and ranked SEC opponent in a row, the Crimson Tide rolled into Columbia, Missouri and defeated the 14th ranked Tigers 27-24 on Saturday. The win kept the Tide unbeaten in SEC play at 3-0, while the loss dropped Mizzou to 2-1. Bama moved up two spots to #6 in the latest AP poll while Missouri dropped two spots to #16.
It was a huge, gutsy road win for the Tide against an excellent opponent. Missouri entered the game with the second-best defense statistically in the country and the fourth best offense. Yet, Tide quarterback Ty Simpson had a solid day, completing 23 of 31 passes for 200 yards and 3 touchdowns. Jam Miller gained 85 tough yards on the ground before exiting the game in the 4th quarter with a concussion. The Tigers Beau Pribula completed 16 of 28 passes for 167 yards and 2 touchdowns, however, he threw two costly interceptions in the 4th quarter. Mizzou tailback Ahmad Hardy entered the contest leading the country in rushing, averaging 164 yards per game, yet the Tide D was up to the task and limited Hardy to just 52 yards on 12 carries. All in all, the Tigers slightly outgained Bama, gaining 330 yards compared to the Tide’s 326. In what resembled a heavyweight fight, both squads displayed their strength in the trenches, as the lines of scrimmage were fiercely contested all day.
The game got off to a terrific start for Missouri, as Pribula and company took the opening kick and marched 78 yards in just 6 plays, grabbing a quick 7-0 lead. The Tiger quarterback hit massive tight end Brett Norfleet down the right sidelines for a 26-yard touchdown to cap off the opening drive. Simpson and the Bama offense responded, marching 78 yards themselves in 11 plays to even the score at 7. Simpson hit freshman tailback Kevin Riley from 6 yards out for the score. On the drive, the Tide continued its hot streak on third downs, converting on both third down opportunities. The Bama defense, led by senior lineman LT Overton and linebacker Justin Jefferson, forced the potent Tiger offense into a three-and-out and the Tide offense took over at their own 33.
Alabama would silence the raucous Missouri home crowd with another brilliant touchdown drive. This one covered 67 yards on 10 plays and when Simpson delivered a strike to Isaiah Horton at the 14:51 mark of the second quarter from 16 yards out on a 3rd and 12, Alabama would take the lead for the first time in the game, 14-7. It would be a lead they would never relinquish. After the Bama D forced another Tiger punt, the Tide would end a 40-yard drive with a Conor Talty 46-yard field goal to stretch the lead to 17-7. After an exchange of punts, Missouri would end the half with a 35-yard field goal that was tipped but had enough to get over the crossbar to end the half at 17-10. The score could have been worse, as Alabama failed to take advantage of three turnover opportunities. The Tigers put the ball on the ground twice, but Bama failed to gain possession. In addition, freshman corner Dijon Lee dropped a sure interception that would have given Bama the ball on the plus side of the 50-yard line.
On the first play of the second half, Simpson coughed up the ball on a sack at his own 24, setting up the Tiger offense deep in enemy territory. Pribula would take advantage, scoring on the ground from 4 yards out to even the score at 17. After giving up 10 points in less than two minutes, a lesser team may have folded to the home squad, yet this version of the Crimson Tide would have none of it. The Bama offense would stall after four plays, yet the Tide D would step up and force Missouri, who had all the momentum, to its second three and out of the day. Calmly, Simpson and the Tide offense respond with a gritty 17 play, 66-yard drive that would eat up 9:00 off the clock. It appeared Alabama scored a touchdown to end the drive, however Simpson stumbled when handing off the ball to Jam Miller and upon replay, it was determined Simpson’s knee was down before the handoff. Talty hit his second field goal of the day, this time from 22 yards out and Bama had a 20-17 lead heading into the 4th quarter. The highlight of the Tide drive was when tackle Kadyn Proctor, who since the Georgia game has gotten one offensive touch per game, took a direct snap and rumbled 2 yards to the Mizzou one yard line, setting up the go-ahead score.
On Missouri’s first drive of the 4th quarter, the Tide would finally take advantage of a turnover opportunity when safety Bray Hubbard picked off a Pribula pass at the Alabama 40. Bama drove to the Tiger 31 where Talty missed from 49 yards out, giving the Missouri faithful hope they could take their first lead since early in the first quarter. The play of the game happened with 7:02 left to go in the contest. Missouri was set to punt from its own 37, yet Tiger head coach Eli Drinkowitz called for a fake punt. Upback Jamal Roberts was stopped a yard shy of the first down marker, handing the ball back to the Tide. Alabama would take advantage of the short field and drove the 40 yards necessary to the endzone to take a 27-17 lead with 3:16 to play. On the drive, the Tide offense would come through with two gritty plays that showed the mettle of the 2025 squad. On a 4th and 8 from the Tiger 38, Simpson completed a picture-perfect pass on the sidelines when he lofted a perfect pass to freshman Lotzeir Brooks, who was tightly covered, for a gain of 29 yards and a critical first down. Later in the drive and facing a 4th and goal from the one, Simpson found tailback Daniel Hill open in the endzone and lofted a pass that resulted in a touchdown. With time running out, Missouri took 1:36 off the clock and marched 75 yards for a touchdown to cut the lead to 3 with 1:40 to go, and the Tigers had all three time outs remaining. After a failed onsides kick attempt, Missouri held Bama to 0 yards in three plays, and used all of their timeouts to preserve plenty of time on the clock to even up, or win the game. When Alabama punted, Missouri took over on its own 18 with 1:20 left to play. Pribula would complete an impressive 25-yard pass to Donovan Olugbode on a 4th and 6, setting up the Tigers closer to field goal range at their own 47 with 0:48 seconds left to play. However, on 3rd and 10, Pribula overshot his receiver and Bama corner Dijon Lee, who had earlier dropped an interception, picked it off to end the game.
Alabama’s second road win in three weeks over a highly touted, ranked opponent has further solidified the fact that this Tide squad is one to be reckoned with not only in the SEC, but also as a contender for the national title. Kalen DeBoer and his staff continue to silence critics and a fanbase that was beside itself following the Tide’s opening day shocking loss to Florida State. The Tide will now focus on yet another ranked opponent this coming Saturday. Next up, it’s the annual Third Saturday in October clash with the Big Burnt Orange from Tennessee at Bryant-Denney. The Vols and the Tide have split their last four meetings, with the home team holding serve each time. A lot will be at stake, as Tennessee enters next week’s tilt having already dropped a conference game to Georgia last month in overtime. Meanwhile, the Tide will attempt to keep pace with Texas A&M and Ole Miss, who are also unbeaten in conference play. The race to Atlanta is officially on.
