The No. 2 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide scored five touchdowns on five straight possessions in the first half in a 45-0 shutout of Chattanooga at Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Senior Day.
The game was televised on the SEC Network and 92,012 fans were in the stands at Bryan-Denny Stadium.
UTC held the SEC foe on a three and out on Alabama's first possession, then the Mocs got a first down. Chattanooga converted a third-and four when sophomore quarterback B.J. Coleman hit junior WR Chris Pitchford for a 10-yard gain. However, it was downhill after that.
With the offense having trouble moving the ball, the defense was on the field for most of the game. Senior Steven Smigelsky tied a career-high for the second straight game with 11 tackles. Fellow senior Joseph Thornton and sophomore Jordan Tippit each added nine more tackles. The Mocs got to the Alabama quarterback twice in the game for a loss of 17 yards.
The Crimson Tide struck first scoring a touchdown on a Trent Richardson two-yard rush with 5:23 left in the first quarter. Alabama converted on third and fourth and short to extend the 51 yard, 11-play drive.
Holding Chattanooga to a three and out, the Crimson Tide was back in the endzone as McElroy found Julius Jones on a 22-yard post route just over two minutes later. Ingram capped off the two-play, 69 yard drive with a 25-yard touchdown run.
Chattanooga attempted a reverse pass on the team’s next possession, but Jare Gault’s throw was intercepted by Cory Reamer. After three-straight rushes by Ingram, Alabama struck again as Jones caught a 19-yard pass from McElroy to extend the lead to 21-0 at the end of the first quarter.
After driving for touchdowns on its first three possessions, Alabama scored on a special teams play when Javier Arenas returned a punt 66 yards. Arenas’ return was the seventh in his career for a touchdown, breaking the SEC mark.
The Mocs’ offense started moving the ball down the field converting two first downs, one by a roughing the passer penalty. The Alabama defense stopped Chattanooga’s nine play drive on a fourth and 10 from the UA 38.
The Crimson Tide responded with a drive of their own as they marched down the field recording three first downs. Ingram went over 100 yards for the day after scoring on a 40-yard rush putting Alabama up 35-0.
After a personal foul against Alabama for roughing Chattanooga long snapper Brock Oliver on a punt, the Mocs were awarded a first down on the Alabama 40. Freshman Bo Dyer found a hole through the line for an eight-yard gain and senior Shaun Kermah converted a third-and-one to put the Mocs inside the 30. Chattanooga was unable to get on the scoreboard as Coleman’s pass was intercepted on fourth and six from the Alabama 22.
At the half, Chattanooga was behind 35-0 recording 67 yards and five first downs. Coleman was 6-19 for 35 yards and an interception. Senior Shaun Kermah led the rushing attack with 18 yards on five carries.
Alabama picked off Coleman on the first play after halftime and had good field position. The Crimson Tide drive stalled when sophomore Nick Craig forced the first sack of the day bringing down Alabama backup Star Jackson to force a 41-yard field goal by Leigh Tiffin.
The Tide managed one more touchdown in the second half to end the scoring at 45-0. One small victory in the game for the Mocs was extending their streak to over four games without allowing a sack. Coleman has now thrown 213 passes since the last time he was sacked at Georgia Southern on Oct. 17.
UTC gained 53 yards on the ground and 36 in the air against one of the top defenses in the country.
Sophomore Mark Ingram ran for 102 yards and two scores on 11 carries before the break, and senior cornerback/returner Javier Arenas scored his seventh career punt return touchdown to break the Southeastern Conference record. Arenas also intercepted a pass on the afternoon.
Senior kicker Leigh Tiffin tied the Alabama record for career field goals and single-season field goals with a 41-yarder in the third quarter, giving him 78 for his career and 25 this season.
Before the game, the 27 members of the senior class were honored on the field.
It was the final game of the season for the Mocs, who finish with a winning record of 6-5 under new Coach Russ Huesman after managing only one win last season and two the season before.
Alabama goes on the road next week to face rival Auburn on Friday. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Central time, and the game will air on CBS.
Chattanooga
Rushing No Gain Loss Net TD Lg Avg
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Shaun Kermah 6 18 0 18 0 5 3.0
J.J. Jackson 6 17 3 14 0 7 2.3
Bo Dyer 3 11 0 11 0 8 3.7
Chris Awuah 6 7 2 5 0 3 0.8
Totals... 21 53 5 48 0 8 2.3
Passing Att-Cmp-Int Yds TD Long Sack
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B.J. Coleman 25-7-2 36 0 10 0
Jare Gault 2-0-1 0 0 0 0
Totals... 27-7-3 36 0 10 0
Receiving No. Yds TD Long
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Chris Pitchford 2 16 0 10
Jare Gault 2 12 0 6
Blue Cooper 2 7 0 8
Chris Awuah 1 1 0 1
Totals... 7 36 0 10
Punting No. Yds Avg Long In20 TB
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Mike Hammons 7 289 41.3 55 1 0
Totals... 7 289 41.3 55 1 0
Punts Kickoffs Intercept
All Returns No.Yds.Lg No.Yds.Lg No.Yds.Lg
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Chris Awuah 0 0 0 1 27 27 0 0 0
Buster Skrine 0 0 0 3 77 28 0 0 0
Joel Bradford 0 0 0 2 40 29 0 0 0
Totals... 0 0 0 6 144 29 0 0 0
Field goal attempts
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Kickoffs No. Yds TB OB Avg
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Craig Camay 1 46 0 0 46.0