No. 5/5 Alabama Football Opens 2024 Campaign with a 63-0 Win Over Western Kentucky

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The No. 5/5 Alabama soccer crew started the 2024 season in fashion, as head coach Kalen DeBoer earned his first victory in his Crimson Tide debut following a 63-0 win over Western Kentucky Saturday night time in entrance of a sold-out crowd at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Alabama produced 600 yards of whole offense in its first displaying of the season whereas limiting Western Kentucky to simply 145 whole yards. Quarterback Jalen Milroe wanted simply seven completions on 9 makes an attempt to notch 200 yards via the air, together with three touchdowns. He added two dashing scores to his ledger as nicely, accounting for 5 whole touchdowns within the win. Freshman extensive obtained Ryan Williams’ first two catches as a member of the Crimson Tide each discovered the endzone with the freshmen totaling 139 yards in his first collegiate recreation. Kendrick Regulation’s lone reception resulted in a 22-yard landing.

Justice Haynes led Alabama with 102 yards on 4 carries, highlighted by an 85-yard landing run within the second quarter. After the starters had been pulled halfway via the third quarter, operating again Daniel Hill and quarterback Ty Simpson every supplied dashing touchdowns late within the ballgame.

Defensively, Keon Sabb shined in his preliminary Alabama look, nabbing two first half interceptions. Deontae Lawson and Jihaad Campbell led Alabama with 9 whole tackles, whereas Que Robinson notched the Crimson Tide’s solely sack.

Notes

• The win stands as the primary victory of Kalen DeBoer‘s tenure at Alabama, with first-year Crimson Tide head coaches now combining to personal a 22-7 document (22-6 with out interim head coaches) of their respective UA debuts.
• The Crimson Tide improved to 84-11-2 (.885) all-time throughout 97 whole home-opening video games.
• Alabama has now reeled off 23-consecutive home-opening victories, a streak that started in 2002.
• The 63-0 win is the biggest margin of victory for a first-year UA head coach in his teaching debut in program historical past. It’s also the third-largest margin of victory in a season-opening win in program historical past (66-0 win over California on Sept. 15, 1973 / 89-0 win over Delta State, Sept. 21, 1951).
• Jalen Milroe was answerable for 5 touchdowns (3 passing, 2 dashing) marking the third time in his profession he is completed the feat.
• His 5 touchdowns tie him for fourth-most at school historical past.
• Milroe’s 84-yard landing connection to Ryan Williams within the first quarter now stands because the longest go of the junior’s profession and was Williams’ first-career rating on his first-ever reception.
• Williams’ 139 receiving yards makes him the primary Alabama participant to eclipse 100+ receiving yards since Jermaine Burton on Nov. 25, 2023 versus Auburn.
• Justice Haynes’ 85-yard landing scamper within the second quarter was not solely the longest landing carry of his profession, however the longest landing run by a Crimson Tide participant since Jase McClellan’s 81-yard dashing rating at Texas on Sept. 10, 2022.
• Haynes’ rating can also be the longest Alabama scoring play since Bryce Younger and Jameson Williams mixed for a 94-yard landing on Sept. 4, 2021, versus Miami.
• Saturday marks the primary occasion of the Crimson Tide producing two 80+ yard scores since Sept. 7, 1991, in opposition to Tennessee (Chris Anderson, 96-yard run, Danny Woodson, 85-yard run).
• The 63 factors scored by the Crimson Tide are probably the most in a recreation since Alabama’s 66-10 win over Chattanooga on Nov. 18, 2023.
• The Tide had not posted a defensive shutout since Nov. 19, 2022, when Alabama defeated Austin Peay 34-0.
• Keon Sabb is the primary participant since Terrion Arnold on Nov. 25, 2023 at Auburn to document two interceptions in a recreation, doing so in his Crimson Tide debut.
• Alabama reached 600 yards of whole offense (334 dashing, 266 passing) for the primary time since Sept. 24, 2022, in opposition to Vanderbilt (400 passing, 228 dashing).
• The Crimson Tide protection restricted the Hilltoppers to simply 145 yards of whole offense (103 passing, 42 dashing), the bottom mark by an Alabama opponent since Vanderbilt’s 129 whole yards on Sept. 24, 2022 (115 passing, 14 dashing).

How It Occurred

First Quarter

• 10:07 – UA | Jalen Milroe was answerable for the primary Crimson Tide landing of 2024, taking a designed QB run via the center of the Hilltoppers protection for a 12-yard dashing rating. The drive was a fast 2-play, 16-yard scoring drive, arrange by Keon Sabb’s first Alabama interception (7-0, Alabama).
• 5:01 – UA | Milroe evaded inside stress, escaping to his left earlier than discovering Kendrick Regulation for a 22-yard landing reception. The three-play, 26-yard drive was made attainable by Sabb’s second interception of the sport, returning the decide 64 yards. (14-0, Alabama).
• 2:27 – UA | Dealing with a 3rd down and 13 at his personal 16-yard line, Milroe discovered an uncovered Ryan Williams for an 84-yard landing. The drive wanted simply three performs, totaling 81 yards. (21-0, Alabama).

Second Quarter

• 12:35 – UA | Jam Miller discovered the endzone for the primary time in 2024, scampering 39-yards down the proper sideline to increase the Crimson Tide lead. The dashing rating was bookended by Milroe’s 40-yard carry the play earlier than, equating to a two-play, 80-yard scoring drive (28-0, Alabama).
• 2:53 – UA | Justice Haynes’ first landing of the brand new season went for 85 yards, taking the within handoff untouched for the rating. The drive wanted simply two performs to cowl 96 yards (35-0, Alabama).
• 1:30 – UA | Milroe once more discovered Williams for one more prolonged landing, because the freshman broke a sort out in the midst of the sector en path to a 55-yard receiving rating. The landing simply earlier than halftime wanted simply two performs, going for 55 yards (42-0 Alabama)

Third Quarter

• 6:30 – UA | Milroe used his legs but once more, evading defenders for a 21-yard dashing landing to finalize a nine-play, 61-yard drive (49-0, Alabama).
• 2:51 – UA | Daniel Hill turned the second freshman to attain in his collegiate debut, churning his legs for a two-yard dashing landing. The scoring drive accounted for 51 yards on six performs (56-0, Alabama).

Fourth Quarter

• 10:04 – UA | Retaining the soccer on the learn possibility, Ty Simpson punctuated a 10-play, 63-yard drive with a 15-yard dashing rating (63-0, Alabama).

Up Subsequent

• Alabama will return to Bryant-Denny Stadium for a matchup with USF subsequent Saturday, Sept. 7.
• The Crimson Tide and Bulls are scheduled for a 6 p.m. CT kickoff on ESPN.