Nothing Short of Three-markable!

Mark Barron, Mark Ingram and Marquis Johnson turned out to be the three remarkable play-makers on Saturday night at Bryant-Denny.

Mark Barron

On the game, Mark Barron had an immediate impact.

On the second play from scrimmage, he picked off a pass, from QB Stephen Garcia, down the middle of the field and returned it 77 yards for a score. The touchdown return electrified the home crowd- who thought at that point- they were sitting down to watch a rout of the visiting Gamecocks.

Instead, what they observed on the chilly Alabama evening, was a defensive struggle. A clinic on how to attack the Alabama offense and break the confidence of a first year starting quarterback that heard his name linked to the phrase, "Heisman candidate," just one week earlier.

Mark Ingram

In stepped Mark Ingram. Salvation for the once potent passing attack of the Alabama offense.

In just 24 plays from scrimmage, RB Mark Ingram, with the help of the offensive line and down field blocking by the wide receivers, ran for 246 yards against a bend, but don't break South Carolina defense.

And in the fourth quarter, with South Carolina repeatedly knocking on the door of the Alabama end zone, Ingram took 5 snaps from center and moved the ball 64 yards down field.

From there, McElroy was reinserted behind center and proceeded to pitch the ball back to Ingram who waltzed in for the late 4th quarter score.

That score effectively ended the game, putting it out of reach from the scrappy Gamecocks. On the next possession, South Carolina did take the ball 71 yards in 14 plays, but was once again left scratching through their ear-hole wondering how to get the ball into the end zone against the Crimson Tide defense.

With four seconds remaining, Alabama snapped the ball from center and knelt down in the victory formation to end the game.

Marquis Johnson

Defensively for Alabama, it was a night highlighted by the play of DB Marquis Johnson. Johnson has been a starter on and off in his career for the Tide. In 2009, he has been primarily inserted for schemes in need of a fifth or sixth defensive back.

On the last day of preparation before the South Carolina game, Javier Arenas took a blow to the ribs (described as a punch in local papers and media) and could not play in the game. He was dressed and worked out in pre-game exercises, but admitted to coach Saban that he could not move without significant pain.

Johnson played uncharacteristically great. Don't mistake, he is a very good player, but most Tide fans unfortunately have memories of plays in which the veteran corner has been burned for critical big plays and touchdowns, including the SEC championship game in 2008.

On this evening, Johnson redeemed himself from past events, defending for the Tide on five separate fade routes to the corner of the end zone. Three of the throws were made in succession as the second quarter was coming to a close.

It was as bold as any offensive statement made in any era. A direct, in your face, "we're coming at you Marquis and you cannot stop us" from the smash-mouth Garcia-Jeffery connection.

Marquis Johnson stood his ground. He single-handedly forced the Gamecocks to finish the half with a field goal; keeping the opposition at arms length.

The Tide went into the half with a 10-6 lead, a lead that would have held for the final score.