Alabama Overpowers Miss. State After Years Of Losses
Arenas finished with 153 yards on six punt returns, setting up another touchdown for the SEC West champions with a 46-yard return in the first half.
"I think that special teams, probably as much as any game this year, had a tremendous impact on the field position in this game with certainly Javier Arenas and his returning, but also a good job by the return teams and that had a big impact on the game," Alabama head coach Nick Saban said.
John Parker Wilson was less than stellar, throwing for 148 yards on 10-of-17 efficiency while adding a rushing touchdown for Alabama (11-0, 7-0 SEC), which closes out its regular season November 29 at home against in-state rival Auburn in the Iron Bowl.
Mark Ingram and Glen Coffee led the rushing attack with 78 and 71 yards on the ground, respectively, with Ingram posting a TD for the Tide, who will likely remain atop the Bowl Championship Series rankings and has a December 6 date with No. 3 Florida in the SEC title game standing in their way of a shot at the national championship.
The Bulldogs had little success against a stout Alabama defense, as Tyson Lee passed for 132 yards and a touchdown on 11-of-28 attempts. Anthony Dixon was also stymied to the tune of 26 yards on 11 carries for Mississippi State (3-7, 1-5) which was coming off a bye after losing to Kentucky 14-13 and had beaten 'Bama in its previous two meetings.
Jamayel Smith accounted for MSU's only touchdown on a 31-yard reception.
Alabama was outgained 134-110 in the first half but still led 12-7 at the break. MSU got the ball to start the second half but was quickly forced to punt at its own 34. Blake McAdams boomed a 46-yarder to Arenas, who raced untouched down the right sideline for a back-breaking 80-yard TD.
"The wall was there," Arenas recalled. "My teammates set up it up nicely. The blocks were there and all I had to do was run. I was able to get comfortable back there and relax and use the blocks that were there for me."
Though the Tide failed to get the ball in the end zone with their next few possessions, their defense allowed just two first downs in the third quarter. Field goals of 34 and 35 yards by Leigh Tiffin pushed 'Bama's lead to 25-7 four minutes into the fourth quarter.
Later in the frame, Parker was able to move the offense with his arm on consecutive completions of 37 and 34 yards to Brad Smelley and Julio Jones, respectively. The latter put the ball on the goal line, and Ingram powered into the end zone for the final score of the game with eight minutes to play.
The special teams also got 'Bama going in the first quarter. With MSU punting in its own end zone, Kareem Jackson came off the end unblocked and knocked the ball off McAdams' foot through the back of the end zone for a safety five minutes into the game.
Following a Lee fumble, Tiffin booted a field goal of 35 yards to cap a nine- play, 35-yard drive later in the first quarter for a 5-0 lead.
The Bulldogs actually took a lead when Lee rolled right and tossed 31 yards to the end zone for Smith, who made a nice adjustment on the ball to haul in the TD with 10:19 to play in the half.
After a perfect punt and defensive hold from the Tide, MSU was again forced to punt from its end zone. This time Arenas returned the kick 46 yards to the Bulldogs two and Parker snuck over the goal line for a 12-7 lead with under five minutes remaining in the half.
"When you give up the points that we gave up in the kicking game, it puts a lot of pressure on our team," Bulldogs head coach Sylvester Croom said, "We can't give those guys points. You can't give them anything."
Game Notes
Arenas, who set a single-game Alabama record for punt return yardage, has five career punt returns for a TD, which is a new school record...Alabama owns a 72-18-3 series lead over Mississippi State...Jones finished with three catches for 53 yards in the win.
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