No. 1 Tide Rolls Over Mercer Bears 48-14 In Home Opener

TUSCALOOSA, AL — It was a triumphant return in front of a full Bryant-Denny Stadium for the top-ranked Crimson Tide on Saturday, cruising to a 48-14 win over the Mercer Bears in Alabama's home opener.

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Here are our top takeaways from the game

• The Crimson Tide amassed 425 yards of total offense, while surrendering 236 on defense with three turnovers. Despite a jittery start in the first half on offense, the Alabama defense held Mercer to only 35 total yards.
• Highly-touted freshman defensive back Kool-Aid McKinstry corralled his first collegiate interception in the first quarter, after head coach Nick Saban mentioned earlier this week that he would likely see more playing time against Mercer than he did in the opener against Miami. Junior DB Marcus Banks also grabbed an interception in the win.
• Alabama's first score of the game came on a blocked Mercer punt by sophomore Chris Braswell, which was recovered by sophomore Jase McClellan and returned 33 yards for a Crimson Tide special teams touchdown. McClellan also had a five-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.
• Senior Brian Robinson Jr. would get the first offensive points of the game in the closing minutes of the first quarter with a four-yard run. He would go on to carry the ball 10 times for 70 yards and a score.
• Junior Slade Bolden mades waves in the second quarter, catching a swing pass from sophomore Bryce Young and going 10 yards before going airborne into the endzone for his first receiving touchdown of the season.
• Receiver JoJo Earle led the way for the receiving corps with 7 catches for 85 yards, while John Metchie III snagged 5 receptions for 70 yards.
• Young would go 19-for-27 in his second career start, gathering 227 yards through the air and throwing for 3 scores.
• Kicker Will Reichard was perfect on extra points and went 2-for-3 on field goals, hitting from 30 and 40 yards.
• Star linebacker Will Anderson was taken to the medical tent and then on to the locker room with an injury early in the third quarter. His status is unclear at this point.
• Mercer's first points of the game came on a 60-yard touchdown strike in the third quarter after 38 unanswered points from Alabama.
• Byron Young, Phidarian Mathis, and DJ Dale each had sacks in the win.

No. 1 Alabama (2-0) will travel to Gainesville next Saturday for its first true road test of the season again Dan Mullen and No. 13 Florida (2-0)

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