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AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Will Reichard kicked a 33-yard discipline aim with 10 seconds left, and Bryce Younger and No. 1 Alabama overcame a stifling defensive effort by Texas to earn a hard-fought 20-19 victory Saturday.
Younger was hit and harassed by the Texas protection a lot of the recreation, however the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback put collectively a giant fourth quarter.
He had a twisting, off-balance landing cross, after which a 20-yard scramble within the remaining minute to arrange Reichard’s profitable kick. Younger simply dodged a blitzing defender, then had large open discipline forward of him to scamper.
“We all know what it takes,” Younger stated of the ultimate drive that began on the Alabama 25 and moved throughout midfield in two performs. “We embrace that problem. That is the place we wish to be at.”
Younger’s clutch play rescued Alabama on an uncharacteristically sloppy day when the Crimson Tide (2-0) struggled with penalties and dropped passes and was compelled into six consecutive punts in a single stretch. Texas (1-1) stuffed Alabama on fourth-and-inches late to arrange a go-ahead discipline aim by Bert Auburn with 1:39 remaining.
“I feel on the finish of the day he (Younger) did an excellent job,” Alabama coach Nick Saban stated. “When his greatest was wanted, he was actually good. And that’s what we wanted.”
Younger additionally spoiled what may have been a program-defining victory for Texas and second-year coach Steve Sarkisian. Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers was knocked out with a shoulder harm on the finish of the primary quarter.
The regular hand of backup Hudson Card and an impressed protection helped Texas construct a 16-10 lead early within the fourth, after which drive for the lead once more on Auburn’s fourth discipline aim of the day.
Younger was 27-of-39 passing for 213 yards with the scrambling TD throw to Jahmyr Gibbs that gave Alabama a 17-16 lead. Jase McLellan had an 81-yard landing run for Alabama within the first quarter.
Alabama prevented its first nonconference regular-season loss since 2007 in opposition to Louisiana-Monroe in Saban’s first season.
“No person gave us an opportunity on this recreation. … None of you, nobody within the nationwide media,” Sarkisian stated. “We performed like a staff that believed it may win the sport.”
THE TAKEAWAY
Alabama: The Tide was all out of types. Eleven first-half penalties and dropped passes confirmed a stage of sloppy play seldom seen by Saban groups. Final season’s Bronco Nagurski Award winner Will Anderson struggled to make performs in opposition to an inexperience Texas offensive line.
“It’s all about self-discipline, making the correct decisions and choices, whether or not it’s post-snap, it doesn’t matter. We’ve obtained to play higher, there’s little question about that,” Saban stated.
Texas: The Longhorns let an enormous win get away. Now in addition they have questions at quarterback if Ewers is out for an prolonged interval. He was electrical early in opposition to the Tide and had already handed for 134 yards within the first quarter earlier than he was damage when linebacker Dallas Turner drove him into the bottom.
BACK ON TRACK
Saban received his first 25 matchups in opposition to former assistants who turned head coaches, after which misplaced two final season in opposition to Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M after which Kirby Good of Georgia in final season’s nationwide championship recreation. Sarkisian was Saban’s offensive coordinator when Alabama received the 2020 nationwide title.
POLL POSITION
This may very well be a kind of uncommon conditions the place the top-ranked staff will get penalized for not taking part in nicely in a win, whereas the loser earns respect for practically stealing a victory in what was anticipated to be a blowout. If voters weren’t impressed by Alabama, the Tide may drop behind No. 2 Georgia. Texas, unranked however receiving votes, could have been spectacular sufficient to sneak into the underside of the rankings.
RECORD CROWD FOR FUTURE RIVAL
Texas, which is scheduled to hitch the Southeastern Convention forward of the 2025 season, drew a report crowd of 105,213 to Darrell Ok Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Anderson was impressed by a crowd that hampered Alabama sign calls on the line of scrimmage all recreation.
“That is in all probability just like the loudest setting I’ve performed in. the toughest recreation, since I have been in faculty soccer,” Anderson stated. “Tremendous loud, lots of power.”
NO SAFETY
Texas obtained what initially appeared like a sack and a security that may have given the Longhorns a 12-10 lead and the ball early within the third quarter. Even the Alabama kickoff staff was gathered on the sector. However the recreation officers, who at first threw a flag for concentrating on, waived that off and the protection and Alabama was allowed to punt as an alternative.
UP NEXT
Alabama hosts Louisiana-Monroe.
Texas hosts UTSA subsequent Saturday.
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Extra AP faculty soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/ap_top25. Join the AP’s faculty soccer e-newsletter: https://bit.ly/3pqZVaF
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