The Alabama Crimson Tide and the Auburn Tigers both earned victories on Saturday afternoon over their lower tier opponents that present a sort of bye week late in the season.
For the Tide, it was an FCS opponent in the Mercer Bears who were the victim of a 52-7 domination behind a great game from both Jalen Milroe and freshman sensation wide receiver Ryan Williams.
Williams got the scoring started for the Tide on a 29-yard rushing touchdown during which he simply ran away from everyone and looked like the fastest player on the field:
📺: ABC pic.twitter.com/wkGuy618EV
— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) November 16, 2024
Williams also caught the second touchdown of the game, a dump off in the flat from 14 yards out that he carried to paydirt:
Not touchin' ✌️@Ryanwms1
📺: ABC pic.twitter.com/r0yryaVGbq
— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) November 16, 2024
Milroe finished the afternoon with 186 yards through the air and two passing touchdowns along with another 43 on the ground and a score. Germie Bernard was the team’s leading receiver with 4 catches for 81 yards.
The Auburn Tigers on the other hand claimed a 48-14 victory over the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks. After losing this November cupcake last season to New Mexico State, the Tigers were on their game early and often behind a big day from Payton Thorne through the air.
The real star of the day however was fellow star freshman receiver Cam Coleman for Auburn. Coleman caught three touchdowns and 100 yards including one of the best plays you will ever see a wide receiver make on a ridiculous one-handed touchdown grab:
ONE-HANDED CAM
📺 @SECNetwork pic.twitter.com/oMraSo93dS
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) November 16, 2024
.@CamColeman12 off to a hot start 👀
📺 @SECNetwork pic.twitter.com/njBxU8wGCf
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) November 16, 2024
8 ATE 😮💨 @CamColeman12 https://t.co/3zkEkRSrvV pic.twitter.com/thkEkzrAs9
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) November 16, 2024
Thorne finished the game with five passing touchdowns and 282 yards. Of note for the Tigers, freshman Walker White was the first quarterback to enter the game in garbage time instead of Hank Brown with White seeing his first action of the season.
Up next for Auburn is a home game against the pleasant surprise in the SEC this season in Texas A&M, while Alabama hits the road to take on Oklahoma in the first SEC matchup between the two schools.
Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP and hear him every weekday morning from 6 to 9 a.m. on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5, available free online.
