Alabama keeps the postseason aspirations on track by cruising to a 52-7 win over the Mercer Bears. The Crimson Tide weren’t as overly impressive as the score dictates, but they did their job and avoided the upset. They created turnovers, didn’t turn over the ball, and kept the penalties somewhat in check. The offense threw for over 300 yards and rushed for 189 yards. The third down efficiency was excellent going eight for 15. The defense held Mercer to 202 total yards and one of nine on third down. They played a solid game in all facets against an overmatched opponent. Now at 9-2, Alabama’s postseason possibilities are very real, remaining in the mix for the SEC championship and the college football playoffs.
Initial Concern
Both teams have been the most penalized in their respective leagues. That was on full display for Mercer’s first drive. Bama got flagged for a horse collar tackle on the second play. Then Mercer was called for an illegal shift. On third down, DeVonta Smith was called for pass interference giving the Bears an automatic first down. Fans probably started to sweat just a bit. Then running back CJ Miller tried to run around the edge, but Domani Jackson knocked the ball out and Damon Payne Jr. recovered it.
Bama’s initial plan was to run the ball. Jam Miller started the drive with back-to-back carries to gain 16 total yards. After a Jalen Milroe completion, Ryan Williams ran an end around 29 yards for an easy touchdown. Mercer took the ball and got nine yards on three plays to bring up a 4th and 1 on their own 34-yard line. When you’re more than 40-point underdogs, it’s necessary to roll the dice when chances present themselves. Especially when playing an offense this good. But they opted to punt and gave Bama the ball back.
Bama Back In Business
Mercer committed a roughing of the passer penalty on the first play. Bama ran the ball successfully three times before a holding penalty pushed them back. Milroe wasn’t fazed, hitting Williams for a 17-yard gain. Two runs and a completion got them down to the Mercer 14. Milroe hit Williams on a screen pass, which Germie Bernard threw a beautiful block to seal the edge. Williams split two defenders and went 14 yards for his second touchdown on the day. The nine-play, 85-yard drive made it 14-0.
Mercer finally put a decent drive together moving the ball 41 yards to get to the Alabama 34-yard line. But quarterback Whitt Newbauer was intercepted by Qua Russaw and Bama was back in business. Mercer was able to force the offense into a 4th and 1 on its own 41-yard line. Unlike Mercer’s head coach Mike Jacobs, Kalen DeBoer decided to be aggressive even though punting with a solid lead against this type of opponent would have made sense. Milroe ran two yards for the first down. Three plays later, Milroe hit a wide-open Robbie Ouzts for a 44-yard touchdown to go up 21-0.
Seal The Deal
Mercer again was able to move the ball getting it close to mid-field. Newbauer completed a pass over the middle to Parker Wroble for 25 yards, but Wroble had the ball knocked out on a tackle by DaShawn Jones. Zabien Brown picked it up and returned it 68 yards for another touchdown. Mercer finally got on the board when Bama’s first punt of the game only went 20 yards. Newbauer took advantage finding Kendall Harris who made an incredible one-handed, 31-yard touchdown grab. Alabama added a field goal before halftime and the score was 31-7.
Ball Game
Alabama got the ball at half and ended any of Mercer’s upset hopes. Milroe led a 10-play, 67-yard drive that was capped by his own three-yard touchdown run to make the lead 38-7. Milroe and multiple other starters’ days were done. Backup quarterback Ty Simpson led a touchdown drive that ended with a Richard Young touchdown. Third-string quarterback Austin Mack threw a long touchdown pass to Rico Scott. The starters did their job and the young players got reps, the exact recipe any coach would desire.
The Outlook
Alabama’s postseason path is still up in the air because the SEC standings are crazy. Going into last week, eight SEC teams in the top 25 still had a chance to win the SEC. Now the conference is coming into focus. LSU lost three conference games in a row, including last week’s loss to Florida, eliminating them from contention. Missouri lost a heartbreaker to South Carolina giving them their third conference loss and killing any chances they had. Texas and Texas A&M both won to keep them as the only one-loss teams in the conference. But they play each other in two weeks.
Those eight teams that were still in it are now down to six. Alabama currently sits in fifth place, but the postseason chances have never been higher. They have two more games against Oklahoma and Auburn, two of the weaker teams in the conference. Georgia and Tennessee are the two-loss teams currently above them. Alabama has the tiebreaker over the Bulldogs, but the Volunteers have the tiebreaker over them. There is still so much up in the air. The only certainty is these last two weeks are going to be crazy.
