Fitzpatrick, Alabama football swarm past Arkansas
By David Wasson
Alabama football started a stern October stretch with a flourish Saturday night, as the top-ranked Crimson Tide scored two defensive touchdowns en route to a 49-30 rout of No. 16 Arkansas.
Jalen Hurts accounted for four touchdowns and Minkah Fitzpatrick had three interceptions as the Crimson Tide extended its nation-best winning streak to 18 games. The win is Alabama football’s 10th straight (6-0, 3-0 Southeastern Conference) over the Razorbacks, and Fitzpatrick’s 100-yard interception return for a touchdown was Alabama’s 10th non-offensive score of the season.
“When we score a non-offensive touchdown, it kind of helps the offense and it helps boost the morale of the team,” Fitzpatrick said. “We get really excited and have fun out there.”
Hurts finished 13-of-17 passing for 253 yards with two touchdowns. He ran for two more TDs.
Damien Harris added 122 yards rushing on 13 carries for the Crimson Tide, which finished with 517 yards of total offense and averaged 10.1 yards per play.
Austin Allen completed 25 of 48 passes for 400 yards and three touchdowns for Arkansas (4-2, 0-2), also throwing three interceptions as the Razorbacks finished with five turnovers overall. Arkansas finished with 473 yards of total offense, but it gained only 73 yards on the ground on 36 carries.
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Alabama’s winning streak is now one off coach Nick Saban’s best at the school. The Crimson Tide won 19 straight games over the 2009-10 seasons.
“We’re certainly not where we want to be, not in all facets of the game,” Saban said. “Sometimes we play great on offense, but we’ve just got to be more consistent when we play really good teams.”
Alabama’s three turnovers on offense weren’t vintage Crimson Tide, but the defensive effort – five forced turnovers – was. Alabama has already matched last season’s total of 10 non-offensive touchdowns.
Arkansas began the season with three first-year starters up front, and they once again struggled in both pass protection (six sacks, numerous other hits on Allen) and running the ball – averaging 2 yards per rush.
Next: Postgame notes and photos from Alabama-Arkansas
The Crimson Tide continue their most difficult four-game stretch of the season next weekend by traveling to No. 9 Tennessee, which lost to No. 8 Texas A&M on Saturday. That’s followed by a date with the undefeated Aggies and then LSU on Nov. 5.