Alabama Football: Costly win as Tide beats LSU and moves to 9-0

Alabama football does not play for style points and against a stubborn foe, winning ugly is no condemnation. The LSU win may prove very costly.

Alabama football beat LSU 24-10, taking its win streak against the Bengal Tigers to seven games. The Tide prevailed in a tough, physical battle that saw injuries befall Shaun Dion Hamilton, Mack Wilson and Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Jalen Hurts, J.K. Scott and Rashaan Evans were team leaders for the Tide. Hurts passed for 183 yards and was the Tide’s leading rusher with 71 yards. J.K. Scott punted eight times for a 51.6 yard average with zero return yards. Rashaan Evans led the defense with 10 tackles and a sack.

LSU had more first downs (16 to 14) and more total yards (306-299) than Alabama football. Playing against an LSU eight-man front and man coverage, the Tide had to pass to win. Hurts responded with his best accuracy of the season while completing 11-of-24 throws, despite at least two drops.

Bo Scarbrough and Damien Harris had 20 carries for net 72 yards and 3.6 yard-per-carry average. Seven Tide players caught passes with the biggest play a 47-yard dart to Henry Ruggs III.

Hamilton and Wilson may be lost for the season

Post-game comments indicate that Shaun Dion Hamilton and Mack Wilson’s injuries are likely to be season-ending. Hamilton injured a knee, possibly the same one he seriously injured last December in the SEC Championship game. Mack Wilson injured his foot.

Minkah Fitzpatrick hurt a hamstring early in the game and saw limited action, only when the Tide was in Dime defense. Rashaan Evans, Jamey Mosley and Anfernee Jennings were also banged up in the game but their injuries were not believed to be a problem going forward.

The LSU defense, led by Arden Key and Devin White played tough throughout the game. In addition to mostly shutting down the Alabama football rushing attack, the Bengal Tigers sacked Jalen Hurts four times.

Second-half quarterback hurries and sacks by the Tide kept LSU from mounting a late charge. The Alabama football defense finished the game with six sacks. Dylan Moses was the sack leader for the Tide with 1.5 takedowns. Ronnie Harrison also made a key interception in the first half. It was the only turnover in the game.

In the post-game press review, Nick Saban said,

"“Obviously a tough game. We haven’t been tested with hard. Hard kind of defines you. We didn’t play a great game.”"

True freshman Vandarius Cowan saw his first action this season. Some questioned Saban’s decision to play Cowan this late in the season but he was needed against LSU after the numerous injuries to linebackers.

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Hats off to the LSU offensive and defensive game plans from Matt Canada and Dave Aranda. The Tide will continue to see loaded boxes going forward. Against LSU, Jalen Hurts was effective enough to negate an opponent selling out to stop the run. It may take even more of the same against Auburn and Georgia.