Alabama sends LSU to Death Valley to keep playoff hopes alive

By WVUA-23 sports reporter Hunter Brantley

Alabama made it clear which team was “playoff-worthy,” dominating LSU 42-13 on a rainy night in Baton Rouge.

Alabama scored first on its first drive of the game, marching down the field 75 yards in eight plays, and the drive was capped off with a 39-yard touchdown by Jalen Milroe.

This would just be the start of a big night locally for the Crimson Tide signal-caller.

On LSU’s ensuing play, the game started with excellent field position at midfield, but the unsung hero tonight was the Alabama defense, which prevented the Tigers from making a field goal, making the score 7-3.

On Alabama’s next drive, the Crimson Tide again drove 75 yards, this time in 15 plays, to use up most of the first quarter’s time, and running back Justice Haynes scored his first touchdown of the night to bring the score to 14-3 .

Later in the first half, the swarming Alabama defense showed its “Bend Don’t Break” mentality by once again keeping LSU out of the end zone and allowing a field goal to make the score 14-6.

Milroe’s night had just begun when the Texas native found the end zone again before the end of the first half, making the score 21-6 at halftime.

“Coming into the game this week, (offensive coordinator Nick) Sheridan was coaching me the hardest and he kept saying, just take what the defense gives me,” Milroe said.

In the second half, Alabama’s explosive offense was similar, with Milroe being the catalyst and scoring two more goals on the ground to make the score 35-6.

“He has a superpower when it comes to running the football,” Tide coach Kalen DeBoer said. “He made the throws that were timely and needed, and other guys were able to step up.”

Talented redshirt freshman Richard Young put the exclamation point on an exciting night for Alabama by scoring the final touchdown of the night to increase the score to 42-6.