Notebook: Despite kicking woes, Alabama the new special-teams kings of the SEC
COLLEGE STATION, Tex. — Texas A&M actually kicked the ball to Alabama on special teams.
Big mistake.
While most opponents haven’t punted or kicked the ball to Alabama’s returners this season, Texas A&M, with the reigning Ray Guy winner for the best punter in college football, did Saturday.
The result was 311 return yards by the Crimson Tide.
Meanwhile, the Aggies finished with 24.
Sophomore Jaylen Waddle notched 128 on punt returns, the third most in Crimson Tide history, and junior Henry Ruggs III had 131. Both did so on four attempts.
Although neither reached the end zone, Alabama did off a blocked punt by Ale Kaho, his second in as many games. Tyrell Shavers, who wasn’t able to field the first one against Ole Miss (which Kaho subsequently landed on) grabbed it and scored a 2-yard touchdown.
“It was huge,” Nick Saban said about special teams in general.
Although Alabama’s kickers are still having problems, the game signaled a changing of the guard in terms of special teams play in the SEC, if not nation. For years the Aggies had the reputation of being the best, but the Crimson Tide beat them at their own game here.
It makes sense, Alabama special-teams coach Jeff Banks previously worked at Texas A&M.
“I don’t want to say he emphasized it, but he wanted special teams to really take over the game,” Ruggs said. “We did take over the game, but I thought we left a lot out there.”
Another record-setting day for Tua Tagovailoa
University of Alabama junior quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had another record-setting performance and became the Crimson Tide’s all-time leader in career touchdown passes.
He surpassed the old mark of 77, set by AJ McCarron from 2010-13, with his second touchdown throw in the first quarter.
With four touchdown passes, Tagovailoa has 81.
Overall, the junior quarterback was 21-for-34 for 293 yards, although did have his first interception of the season.
In 30 games he’s moved into third on the Crimson Tide all-time passing list with 6,614 yards. The players ahead of him are John Parker Wilson (2005-08) with 7,924 yards, and McCarron at 9,019 yards.
Injury report
Freshman kicker Will Reichard (hip) made some short kicks before warm-ups, but did nothing else. Saban said he’s still considered “day-to-day.”
Sophomore Joseph Bulovas handled the kicking duties and made field goals of 35 and 27 yards, although the first went off the right upright, and he had an extra-point attempt blocked. Sophomore Skylar Delong kicked both of Alabama’s punts (36 and 23 yards), the first of which came in the final two minutes of the third quarter.
Redshirt junior tight end Miller Forristall had to be helped off the field late in the third quarter, with what looked like an ankle injury. He did return, though.
Junior center Chris Owens (knee) didn’t make the trip. Saban said they hoped he can return to practice next week.
Tide-bits …
Coming into the game, Alabama had 13 pass breakups this season. It nearly matched it with 10. … Ruggs called getting tackled by Texas A&M’s kicker “unacceptable.” … Matt Loeffler's officiating crew worked the game. … Game captains were Ruggs III, Anfernee Jennings and Tagovailoa. … Announced attendance: 106,749, a Kyle Field record for the current configuration of the stadium.
