Blake Sims was a bright spot for Alabama in the opener. (RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports)
ATLANTA — No. 2 Alabama took underdog West Virginia’s best shot and survived to win its season opener, 33-23, Saturday at the Georgia Dome.
Quarterback Blake Sims got the start and played well for Alabama, and running backs T.J. Yeldon and Derrick Henry led a rushing attack that racked up 278 yards and helped put the game away in the fourth quarter. But it wasn’t easy.
West Virginia, an underdog by more than three touchdowns, moved the ball against Alabama’s defense behind quarterback Clint Trickett. The Mountaineers trailed by only seven, 30-23, early in the fourth quarter. It could have been even closer, but West Virginia hurt itself with dropped passes and twice settled for field goals inside the Alabama 10-yard line.
After being locked in a tight quarterback competition with Florida State transfer Jacob Coker, Sims started and played the entire game, except for the final series.
The fifth-year senior, making his first career start, led touchdown drives of 95 yards and 85 yards and completed 15 of 19 passes in the first half. He also made plays with his legs, adding a scrambling element that lacked during A.J. McCarron’s three years as the Tide starting quarterback.
For the most part, the Crimson Tide’s offense, under the direction of new coordinator Lane Kiffin, looked very similar to the balanced pro-style attack that coach Nick Saban has employed throughout his career.
West Virginia, in contrast, pushed the tempo, testing Alabama’s perceived weakness against the no-huddle. Trickett mixed in a short passing attack with the bruising running of Rushel Shell. Trickett threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Kevin White in the back corner of the end zone that tied it, 10-10, early in the second quarter. White had 143 yards on nine receptions.
The teams combined to score 17 points in the final two minutes of the first half. First, Yeldon’s second touchdown run put Alabama up 17-10. West Virginia’s Mario Alford returned the ensuing kickoff 100 yards to even the score at 17-17. Alford made one cut, broke free and out-ran the Alabama coverage team. With 1:30 left, Sims marched the Tide into field-goal position, setting up Adam Griffith for a 41-yard kick that gave Alabama a 20-17 lead at intermission.
Griffith kicked four field goals in the game. Yeldon scored on runs of 15 yards and 1 yard in the first half, and Henry added a 19-yard touchdown that put Alabama up 27-17 midway through the third quarter. Yeldon led Alabama with 126 rushing yards, Henry added 113, and Sims chipped in with 42 yards on scrambles.
Sims finished 24 of 33 for 250 yards with one interception. Trickett completed 29 of 45 passes for 365 yards and a touchdown.
NOTES: Alabama was without starting linebacker Trey DePriest, a preseason first-team All-SEC selection. DePriest was suspended for what coach Nick Saban described as a minor NCAA infraction. … West Virginia was picked to finish eighth in the 10-team Big 12 in the preseason media poll. Alabama was picked to win the SEC by the media. … Alabama QB Blake Sims played in the 2009 Georgia high school football state championship game at the Georgia Dome as a member of the Gainesville Red Elephants. … The game marked the first meeting between Alabama and West Virginia. … The Mountaineers will try to bounce back against Towson next week at home. The Crimson Tide hosts Florida Atlantic next week. … Attendance was 70,502.
