NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A late landing by Jam Miller lower Alabama’s deficit to single digits earlier than halftime, however Vanderbilt’s 23-14 lead on the half Saturday was some of the stunning outcomes of the early season.
Coach Kalen DeBoer recorded the most important win of his brief Alabama profession final week towards Georgia, however the problem this week was protecting his crew centered for a proverbial “lure sport” at Vanderbilt.
Nonetheless, Alabama fell sufferer to the gradual begin. Vanderbilt had scored 13 factors towards Nick Saban-led Alabama groups in 4 conferences. It scored 23 within the first half alone on Saturday.
Rat traps had been positioned all through the soccer facility this week to warn the gamers concerning the environment: a FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, the place about 28,000 followers watched Alabama-Vanderbilt due to development within the smallest non-COVID crowd for an Alabama convention sport since 1963.
First-half miscues
Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia completed the primary quarter 4 for 4 for 56 yards as Vanderbilt possessed the ball for greater than 10 minutes and transformed three of its 4 third-down tries.
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Alabama discovered itself down 7-0 after the Commodores scored a landing. On the Tide’s first possession, a tipped cross resulted in a decide six, and Alabama’s deficit grew to 13-0.
VANDERBILT PICK 6
THE COMMODORES ARE UP 13-0 OVER ALABAMA 😮pic.twitter.com/Jkfg1efxGi
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) October 5, 2024
Into the second quarter, penalties damage Alabama’s probability for momentum. Trailing 13-7, Alabama compelled a punt on the Vanderbilt 47-yard line, however a penalty with each No. 2s (Zabien Brown and Ryan Williams) on the sphere directly gave Vanderbilt a primary down. On the identical drive, a facemask and roughing the passer gave Vanderbilt two extra first downs en path to a landing to extend its result in 20-7 with 9:32 remaining within the second quarter. Alabama almost fumbled the following kickoff, however the fumble name was overturned, stopping a disaster.
Alabama completed with these three penalties for 33 expensive yards. It’s the continuation of a troubling pattern because the Tide entered Saturday ranked 96th nationally in complete penalties and 104th in penalty yards.
Regardless of a near-even margin in complete yards (Vanderbilt 186, Alabama 159), the Commodores managed the sport by changing third downs — 7-of-10 within the first half. The end result was a 21:28 to eight:32 benefit in time of possession.
Miller’s landing and Alabama stopping any extra factors by Vanderbilt created some momentum earlier than the half, however Alabama will want maybe its finest second half of the season to keep away from a historic upset. Vanderbilt has by no means crushed an AP top-five crew.
(Photograph of the Vanderbilt gamers celebrating after Brock Taylor’s area purpose late within the first half: Butch Dill / Imagn Pictures)
