A scoreless start

September 29, 2007

Ken Rogers

Alabama and Florida State didn’t score in the first quarter—advantage Alabama, which was playing into a steady 15-20 mph breeze.
FSU dominated field position, but not the scoreboard. Alabama’s P.J. Fitzgerald, punted into that wind four times, with results ranging from indifferent to poor. He shanked his first attempt, a 19-yarder that gave the Seminoles a first down at the Alabama 47.
Still, Alabama’s defense, paced by Ezekial Knight’s fine play, played tough. Both defenses did. Alabama didn’t make a first down; FSU had two.
Florida State’s best scoring opportunity came when Gary Cismesia missed a 46-yard field goal. In true FSU tradition, it was wide right.
Revisiting Alabama’s problems in last week’s loss to Georgia, the Tide was 0-for-4 on third down. Florida State was 2-for-6.

Another 60-minute game

September 22, 2007

Ken Rogers

Alabama grabbed the momentum when it dodged disaster and tied the game at 10-all. But the Dawgs are tough. In the face of a hostile crowd, they marched 73 yards in nine plays to take a 17-10 lead in the final 15 minutes. Freshman running back Knowshon Moreno runs hard every carry. He scored on a 6-yard pitched around right end and went in standing up.
Alabama fumbled the opening kickoff of the third quarter and Georgia started on the UA 27. Brandon Coutu’s 50-yard field goal try was just short.
The Tide tied the game after Rashard Johnson intercepted Matthew Stafford and returned it to the Georgia 37. Terry Grant’s 30-yard run put the Tide inside the 1 and John Parker Wilson sneaked over on the next play.
Still, Georgia’s is on the march to start the fourth quarter.

Tide’s late score makes it 10-3 at the half

Ken Rogers

Georgia pitched a shutout for most of the first half, but Alabama marched 46 yards in seven plays in the final 39 seconds to get on the board with Leigh Tiffin’s 40-yard field goal as time expired.
Georgia took the fight to the Tide for most of the first 30 minutes. The Bulldogs were content to move the chains, gaining yards in small chunks. But quarterback Matthew Stafford was effective. Stafford is 10-for-17 for 112 yards. John Parker Wilson overcame a sluggish start and finished 10-for-20 for 80 yards. But the Bulldogs were much better on third down—converting 6-of-11 into first downs. Bama struggled with 1-of-7.
In short, Georgia is doing exactly what a road underdog must do: not beat itself. There are two well-coached teams on the field tonight.

Georgia starts fast

Ken Rogers

It didn’t take long for the Dawgs to show their intensity. Georgia marched 70 yards in 10 plays to score on the game’s first possession, and led after one quarter 7-0. Dawgs have been impressive on third down. They converted on two third downs to keep the drive alive, then scored on a third-and-8 pass from Matthew Stafford to Thomas Brown.
Alabama failed to take advantage of Georgia native Lionel Mitchell’s interception of Stafford later in the quarter.
Meanwhile, Bama offense looks a little out of sync. They need to move the chains and settle in.

What will it take?

September 15, 2007

Ken Rogers

Here come the Hogs. Starting the fourth quarter on the one-foot line, trying to pull within a score of Alabama.
Arkansas trails 31-17, but they’re harder to kill than Dracula.
Darren McFadden is really good, and Felix Jones would be that good if they’d just hand him the ball. Arkansas trailed 31-10, but has cut it to 31-24 just four seconds into the fourth quarter.
Don’t touch the remote.