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Tide Reigns Supreme in the Georgia Dome

by John Mitchell

34

VS

24

For the second consecutive season the Alabama Crimson Tide opened up the season with a win over a top 10 ACC opponent in the Georgia Dome. The game was not as close as the score indicated, as the Tide won 34-24. Alabama out-gained Virginia Tech 498-155 in total yards. A lot of uncharacteristic mistakes are what kept this game close. Virginia Tech had the lead going into the 4th quarter 17-16, but Alabama played a brilliant 4th quarter led by the running of Mark Ingram who ended up with a career high 150 yards on the ground. Greg McElroy was off to a slow start in his collegiate debut as a starter. He at one point had missed on nine consecutive passes in the first half. He settled in once the second half started and was 13-18 on pass attempts. He showed some very good decision making, and he seems to be the perfect fit at QB for the Crimson Tide offense.

The first half was sluggish for the Crimson Tide. On their first two offensive possessions the Tide settled for two field goals and held a 6-0 lead. After the second field goal on the ensuing kickoff, Virginia Tech return man Dyrell Roberts took it 98 yards for a touchdown to give Virginia Tech a 7-6 lead.

That was a huge swing of momentum in Virginia Tech’s favor, who on their first two offensive drives had failed to record a first down. Alabama’s complete first quarter domination had resulted in them being down by a point. Alabama would take the lead to end the first quarter after Virginia Tech fumbled a punt, and Alabama recovered. Leigh Tiffin tacked on his third field goal of the game to give the Tide a 9-7 lead.

Virginia Tech would get the ball deep in Alabama territory following a Greg McElroy interception. Virginia Tech would have to settle for a field goal though, and took a 10-9 lead. Alabama would respond to the Virginia Tech field goal with an 11 play 76 yard drive that was capped off with a 19 yard touchdown run by Roy Upchurch to give Alabama 16-10 lead. Virginia Tech would take full advantage of Alabama mistakes on the next drive. On a 3rd and 10, Marquis Johnson was called for pass interference that gave the Hokies new life.

On the very next play, busted coverage by Marquis Johnson yet again led to a 43 yard pass completion for Virginia Tech. On 1st and goal from the five, Tyrod Taylor pitched the ball back, and it was fumbled. Taylor recovered the ball, but it was an 18 yard loss. That seemed like a huge play for the Tide, because with the way the defense had been playing, it was looking like the Hokies would settling for a field goal. But wait, a flag was on the field. Rolando McClain was unable to keep his cool, and he laid out a Virginia Tech player and shoved an official.

Now, I’ve watched Rolando McClain for a while now, and he’s not a player that does that, so I have to believe that something had to have been said to him. Either way, it cost Alabama as the penalty gave Virginia Tech the ball back on the 4. Three plays later, Virginia Tech would punch in a touchdown to take a 17-16 lead. Alabama had a strong drive with 1 minute remaining, and set themselves up in field goal range to end the half. Leigh Tiffin, who had been a perfect 3-3 so far, missed a 36 yard field goal to end the first half of play. Although Alabama had controlled most of the first half, Virginia Tech had the one point advantage.

The third quarter was one of a huge missed opportunity for the Tide. Alabama’s defense had a strong showing, and the offense moved the ball into Virginia Tech territory twice in the quarter. The Tide had a strong drive going, and Roy Upchurch took the ball and looked to be headed to endzone. Virginia Tech’s Cody Grimm came from behind Upchurch and knocked the ball loose, and Grim recovered. That seemed like a very costly fumble for the Tide. At the beginning of the 4th quarter, the Alabama defense held strong once again, and got the ball back in the offenses hands.

On the first play of the ensuing drive, Greg McElroy completed a 48 yard pass to Marquis Maze down to the Virginia Tech 6 yard line. On the next play, Mark Ingram punched it into the endzone to give the Tide a 22-17 lead. Alabama would be successful on a two point conversion attempt to push the lead to 24-17. On the kickoff, Alabama’s Chris Rogers stripped the ball from Davon Morgan, and recovered it at the Hokie 21 yard line. This seemed to swing the momentum hugely in favor of the Tide even though they had to settle for a field goal to take a 27-17 lead.

It looked as if the Tide had put the game away until Dyrell Roberts had another big return aided by a 15 yard personal foul penalty on the Tide. Two plays later, Ryan Williams took it 32 yards for a touchdown to cut the lead to 27-24. Alabama once again responded to adversity as they had a 5 play 74 yard drive capped off by an 18 yard touchdown pass from Greg McElroy to Mark Ingram. The defense held strong the rest of the way as the Tide would hang on to a 34-24 win.

Another season started for the Tide with another huge win. Alabama had some very uncharacteristic mistakes that we didn’t see last season, though. But, that was expected with a new QB, and a revamped offensive line. The offensive line gelled together, and looked like a completely different unit from the first half to the second. I was very impressed with the defense, and the offense looked good as well. If the Tide can limit mistakes, then Alabama will give Florida a run for their money in the SEC. If you were thinking that Florida had it easy, and would not be challenged within the conference, then think again. The Tide has risen, and is here to stay, they will give Florida all they can handle if the meet up in the SEC Championship game. Let’s not got too far ahead of ourselves yet, next up is Florida International

Submitted 9/11/09

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