Alabama holds on late, escapes Missouri with another huge victory

Alabama Football/X

The Alabama Crimson Tide earned another huge win on Saturday on the road again, this time vs. the #14 ranked Missouri Tigers in a game that a lot of people were picking Missouri to come out on top.

In an 11:00 a.m. game against a very good team on the road in front of a raucous crowd, the challenge for the Tide was a tall one, but Kalen DeBoer and his team were able to leave Columbia with a 27-24 victory.

Things did not get started well at all as it took the Tigers less than three minutes on the opening drive of the game to march their way down the field in less than three minutes in just six plays.

Alabama was punched in the mouth right away as the Missouri running game we had heard so much about over the week was in full swing.

Ty Simpson would not be deterred though, and he took his offense right down the field with an impressive 11-play, 78-yard drive of his own capped off by a passing score to running back Kevin Riley.

After a stop for the defense, it was another lengthy drive capped off by one of Simpson’s best throws of the season on a touchdown to Isaiah Horton in the back of the end zone to give Alabama the lead.

The two sides would trade a field goal each for the remainder of the half to go into the break with Alabama leading 17-10 and getting the ball back, but Simpson would fumble on the first possession of the second half and the Tigers would score to tie things up.

Things remained that way until late in the third quarter when the Tide grabbed a 20-17 lead after a goal line mishap kept them out of the end zone. A Bray Hubbard interception on the ensuing possession made it look like things were about to be just about wrapped up, but Alabama missed a field goal to keep the lead at three.

On the next Missouri possession, Alabama was able to stop a fake punt attempt and take the ball back before Simpson took over and did some incredible things. On 4th and 8, DeBoer kept his offense on the field and Simpson delivered a 29-yard strike to Lotzeir Brooks before finding Daniel Hill in the end zone on another fourth down.

It would take another late interception after a Missouri score and stop to get the ball back, but true freshman Dijon Lee came up huge on an errant pass and shut things down.

Simpson finished with 200 yards and three scores while Jam Miller led the way on the ground with 85 yards before he got knocked out of the game with a concussion. Brooks was the leading receiver with 58 yards.

Up next for Alabama is another revenge game, this time against Tennessee in the Third Saturday in October next Saturday night at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

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.