Alabama 24-Vanderbilt 10

BY RAFAEL GARCIA
SEC INSIDER

All things that start well end….well…heck this is Vandy football. All just doesn’t go right as hope and expectation turned into reality before you knew it. Chris Nickson struggled before giving way to Mackenzi Adams, who did not fare much better as the Alabama defense would have none of it Saturday in Nashville. Adams did complete a career high 13 passes. Penalties on the offense and special teams buried their hopes before they could recover and there were so many missed tackles, one thought they might just give up and walk off the field at some point. The Tide held star wideout Earl Bennett in check for most of the day (four catches for 52 yards). Two receivers caught their first collegiate passes in tight ends Justin Green and Jake Bradford. Cornerback D.J Moore was one of the lone bright spots with 13 tackles while Reshard Langford became the active leader in interceptions with his seventh career pick. Vandy’s young defensive line was torched giving up 221 rushing yards. Nick Saban finds a way to get the best out of his troops and wins first SEC game with Tide.

Key Plays:

1. Nickson hooks up with Bennett on 60-yard strike only to have it called back for pass interference on Bennett.
2. Alabama punt returner Javier Arenas returns punt 69 yards to Vandy 1 -- ‘Bama scores on next play.
3. Vandy punt returner Alex Washington had a punt return for a touchdown called back because of a facemask penalty.