Bruised, Battered, and Beaten Into Submission: Alabama Bests LSU

Hit for hit, drive for drive, this game was one of the toughest games played at Bryant Denny since the 2007 Bama-LSU match up. In the end, Alabama had the strength, perseverance and will to finish the job.

The Bengal Tigers played strong, particularly for the first half. They added an option wrinkle to the offense that was difficult to handle for the Crimson Tide defense. The Crimson Tide on the other hand, re-established the passing game and tested the Tigers secondary throughout the day.

At the end of the first quarter, the score remained tied at 0-0 and neither team had clearly established an edge. Time of possession, offensive yardage and third down conversions favored the Tide but drive statistics were not overly impressive.

For instance, the first drive for the Crimson Tide was for nine plays, lasted a full 03:45 but only netted 31 yards. The second longest drive of the first quarter by the Tide lasted 02:47, and the offense went 55 yards in six plays.

For the Tigers, they repeatedly found themselves in poor field position, twice having to start drives from within the 10-yard line. Drives that started with promise were stalled by penalties.

Beginning the second quarter, Jefferson led the Tigers on a 13 play, 91-yard scoring drive that ate up more than six minutes of the play clock. The resulting touchdown was the first that the Crimson Tide defense had yielded in the first half of play since the FIU match up at Bryant Denny.

Alabama answered on the ensuing kick off, explosive return man Javier Arenas bounced off two tackles, found a seam and set up the Tide offense just short of the 50-yard line. Alabama answered with a 40-yard drive that ended on the LSU 11-yard line setting up the first of three Leigh Tiffin field goals.

Once again, the defenses took over the game and the respective offenses could not get on track for sustained momentum. The Alabama defense was more effective in stopping LSU from establishing any kind of rhythm. In two back to back possessions, the Tigers went three and out.

The Alabama offense was moving the ball for short yardage, but could not get into range for a score. Near the end of the second quarter, McElroy put together a drive to the goal against the stingy Tiger defense.

With less that two minutes remaining, beginning at the Alabama 24-yard line, GMac took the Tide 53 yards in six plays. With less than thirty seconds remaining in the half and the ball on the LSU 23-yard line, the Alabama QB threw an errant pass that was intercepted at the goal line. Red zone failures haunted the young QB, once again.

The second half would start where the first half ended. After receiving the kickoff, McElroy moved the Tide down the field in eight plays, covering 81 yards. But this drive seemed different, the offense had fresh legs and the team moved down field with a strong will and sense of urgency to finish with points.

The drive ended on a flag pass to receiver Darius Hanks who took the ball to the far right corner of the end zone for the score. It was the same pattern and pass that in the first half McElroy had missed to a wide open Julio Jones.

With the Tide up 10-7, the physical Tide defense went to work. Though the purple and gold held the ball nearly five minutes on their next drive, they moved the ball only 29 yards in nine plays.

In the third quarter, Jefferson was repeatedly hammered by the Alabama defenders. Mark Barron, Brandon Deaderick, Marcel Dareus, and ultimately, Nico Johnson pounded the quarterback into submission.

The last hit on Jefferson came in that third quarter 29-yard drive. Getting hit while backpedaling, Jefferson landed awkwardly on his ankle and hobbled off the field to yield the quarterback duties to Jarrett Lee.

Two plays later, again, because of an untimely penalty, the Tigers would relinquish possession. But a 45-yard Josh Jasper punt pinned the Tide inside the one-yard line.

The LSU defense scored on the third play from scrimmage, sacking McElroy (intentional grounding) for the two point safety.

Trailing only 10-9, The LSU offense was back in business following the free kick. Jarrett Lee, fresh off the bench, drove the Tigers to the Alabama end zone in six plays, covering 59 yards. The score came on an  eight yard rush over right end by Stevan Ridley.

A failed two point conversion put the Tigers in the lead at 15-10, with 03:19 left to play in the third quarter. But that would be the last of the scoring by the Tigers. In past years, an assult by the opposition this late in the game may have ended the Tide's hope for victory.

But this is a different season and this is a special team.

The Crimson Tide followed with a 12 play 65-yard drive resulting in a Leigh Tiffin field goal. Tigers went three and out. Then in one play, the barn door was blown wide open and the dogs were out for good.

From the Alabama 27-yard line, McElroy threw a screen pass to Julio Jones. With the help of offensive linemen James Carpenter and center William Vlachos, key blocks were made that cleared the path for the WR Jones to sprint 73 yards to the LSU goal line.

The play took all of 13 seconds but it will take a full season for the Bengal Tigers and fans to recover. The score put the Tide up 21-15 and the rest was left up to the Alabama defense. Play after play, LSU offensive players were carried off the field bruised and battered.

The battle in the trenches was fought all-day long but the effects felt the in the fourth quarter, when it mattered the most. Keeping the game close for three quarters ultimately paid off in spades for the Men in Crimson.

Names of the Alabama defenders were constantly called out over the loud speaker for sacks, hurries, and tackles for loss. Eryk Anders, Courtney Upshaw, Luther Davis, Terrence Cody, Rolando McClain, Mark Barron, and Lorenzo Washington pressured the Tiger offense with relentless aggression.

The Alabama secondary held up against the Tiger receivers. Robby Green intercepted the last Jarrett Lee pass of the game on the LSU 45-yard line with 02:04 remaining on the clock. McElroy knelt down in the victory formation running the clock to zero.

Alabama is once again back to back west division champs. The first back to back west division title since the '93 and '94 Alabama teams. Interestingly, no other team in the west has completed a back to back division title.

There is still work to do for the Alabama Crimson Tide to finish the season the way they have planned. An undefeated regular season will require fending off the pesky Mississippi State Bulldogs, a last home stand against UT Chattanooga and winning on the road against in-state rival Auburn.

Alabama has faced Florida each time they have reached the SEC title game. Their record stands at 2-4 against the Gators in Championship games. Those spades spoken of earlier may bloom into roses if the Tide keeps winning.

Much has been accomplished, yet there is much to be done to finish as a Champion.