Alabama pulls away from Mississippi State: Defense shines, Keelon Russell dazzles as Tide dominate second half

For the first time, Alabama looks like a real deal Kalen DeBoer team. The Crimson Tide managed to challenge every inch of the field with their passing game, and controlled the game with their aggressive defense. Alabama also ran the ball at a much higher level, nearing 200 yards rushing. 

The win is a fourth straight dominant performance against Power Four competition as the Tide have an average victory margin of 28.8 points per game. If Alabama outlasts Georgia next week, the Crimson Tide will have a serious shot at No. 1 in the nation. 

Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor showed flashes of his brilliance with 258 yards and three touchdowns, but he just didn't get enough help to compete. Of course, giving up an SEC ranked record 56 points didn't help matters, but the real trouble came in the running game. 

The Bulldogs rushed for only 18 yards on 30 carries, including a sack-adjusted 1.9 yards per carry. Starter Fluff Bothwell went down after only one carry, which didn't help matters, but the Bulldogs have to find ways to generate opportunities without Taylor just bailing them out. 

Since throwing two interceptions early against Kentucky, Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell has been unstoppable. After throwing for 300 yards and three touchdowns in his last two games, Russell threw for 285 yards and four total touchdowns to outduel the heralded Kamario Taylor. 

Russell was sensational against the Bulldogs, making big throw after big throw. He found Rico Scott on a back shoulder third down to set up a touchdown. On another occasion, he threw a 50-yard bomb to Lotzeir Brooks to keep a drive alive. Russell's legs were also significant. Alabama is more than its star quarterback, but they have a legitimate Heisman contender. 

FINAL: Alabama 56, Mississippi State 23

No. 7 Alabama survived a sloppy start against No. 16 Mississippi State to pull away 56-23 and move to 5-0. The Tide and Bulldogs combined for five turnovers in the first half, but Alabama cleaned things up and put together a dominant second-half finish. The 56-point performance is the most ever allowed by a ranked SEC team at home. 

The Crimson Tide bludgeoned Mississippi State in the second half, outsourcing them 28-6 down the stretch. The first four drives of the second half all went for touchdowns, with two lasting more than five minutes as Kalen DeBoer's squad controlled the pace of play. 

In a matchup of top quarterbacks, Alabama's Keelon Russell stepped up and delivered a dominant performance. The sophomore from Dallas completed 16-of-22 passes for 285 yards and three touchdowns, and added another score on the ground. He thoroughly outdueled the rising Kamario Taylor, who turned the ball over three times. 

Mississippi State hosted its biggest home game since at least 2014, but the Bulldogs just struggled to live up to the moment. Taylor turned the ball over on both of his first two drives before leaving the game with an injury in the fourth quarter. Leading tackler Jalen Smith and rusher Fluff Bothwell also left the game with injuries. 

Alabama has now scored at least 45 points in every game this season, including a combined 155 points over the last three games. 

4Q: Alabama 56, Mississippi State 23

Alabama backup quarterback Austin Mack was close to winning the starting quarterback job out of camp, and the upperclassman looked the part in his first action. Mack completed both pass attempts for 19 yards and capped it off with a three-yard rushing score to push the lead further. 

With the game out of reach, Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell's day is done. The sophomore completed 16-of-22 passes for 285 yards and three touchdowns, and added another rushing score, in a tremendously dominant effort. 

Backup Austin Mack competed hard for the starting quarterback job in the preseason, but Russell has shown superstar potential. 

Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor appeared to head off the field towards the locker room in the fourth quarter against Alabama. Backup Billy Puckett entered the game for his first action against a Power Four opponent. The freshman from Mississippi completed 5-of-8 passes for 63 yards against ULM. 

Taylor had a precautionary boot during the week, but claimed he wasn't bothered by a minor injury suffered against Missouri. With the Bulldogs down big, his day could be over. 

4Q: Alabama 49, Mississippi State 23

Alabama initially settled for a field goal, but a running into the kicker penalty proved costly as the Tide used the few extra plays to set up an eight-yard touchdown thrown from Keelon Russell to Rico Scott. 

Early 4Q: Alabama 42, Mississippi State 23

No. 7 Alabama is pulling away from No. 16 Mississippi State in the second half behind a dominant defensive effort. The Crimson Tide have forced four turnovers and sacked MSU quarterback Kamario Taylor five times to take a three-score lead on the road. 

In the heralded quarterback battle, Alabama's Keelon Russell has thoroughly outdueled the rising Taylor. Russell has 277 yards and two touchdowns through three quarters, including a 50-yard bomb to Lotzeir Brooks to set up a touchdown. The Tide are again driving with a chance to reach 45 points for the fifth straight game. 

Taylor has 258 yards and three touchdowns, but his three turnovers have proven costly. He's also gotten limited help from the running game, with only 19 net rushing yards on 25 carries after losing starting running back Fluff Bothwell after one play. The Crimson Tide running backs are all over 5.0 yards per carry. 

3Q: Alabama 42, Mississippi State 23

Even facing fourth-and-long, Mississippi State did not hesitate to take to the air. Kamario Taylor dropped back and delivered perhaps the best pass of his day, a 45-yard bomb to Anthony Evans III. A two-point conversion was stopped after Dre Kirkpatrick perfectly timed his way off the line. 

Evans has been sensational for the Bulldogs, catching 12 passes for 166 yards and two touchdowns. The rest of the team has just seven catches for 92 yards. 

3Q: Alabama 42, Mississippi State 17

Mississippi State is starting to unravel in the second half against Alabama. Kamario Taylor tried to dump off a pass to the running back, and overshot the pass. The ball was intercepted for Mississippi State's fourth turnover of the afternoon. 

Alabama quickly marched down the field and converted a touchdown on a pitch to Trae'Shawn Brown for an eight-yard touchdown, a similar play to a touchdown that was later taken off the board by a delay of game penalty. Mississippi State still had no answer. 

3Q: Alabama 35, Mississippi State 17

Alabama nearly whiffed a first-and-goal opportunity with delay of game and holding penalties, and appeared to give up a sack on third down. Instead, Mississippi State defensive end Gus Cordova was called for lining up offsides, giving Keelon Russell one more shot at the end zone. 

Naturally, Russell stepped up and found Rico Scott in a tight window in the corner of the end zone for a backbreaking touchdown. 

HALF: Alabama 28, Mississippi State 17

No. 7 Alabama leads No. 16 Mississippi State 28-17 at the half in Starkville after an ugly first half. The two teams combined for five turnovers, including a pick-six from Kamario Taylor, but Alabama scored a late touchdown to push the lead to two scores. 

The Bulldogs turned the ball over on their first two drives, including Taylor's first interception of the season to Dijon Lee. But after a wild sequence featuring back-to-back fumbles, the Bulldogs took advantage with an 11-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to one. 

Late in the second quarter, Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell connected with Lotzeir Brooks for a 50-yard completion to set up a seven-yard touchdown run by Trae'shawn Brown. Mississippi State got on the board one more time with a field goal before the half, but Alabama gets the ball out of halftime with the chance to extend the lead. 

Taylor shook off the early turnovers to finish with 196 yards and two touchdowns, with 10 catches for 114 yards and a score going to Anthony Evans. Russell was strong with 133 yards and a touchdown, along with a pair of major scrambles to set up two additional scores. 

2Q: Alabama 28, Mississippi State 14

Alabama started with the ball in tough territory, but quarterback Keelon Russell found Lotzeir Brooks for a massive 50-yard gain to swing the field and set up a seven-yard touchdown run by Traeshon Brown. The Crimson Tide get the ball out of halftime, so this could be a dangerous spot for the Bulldogs. 

2Q: Alabama 21, Mississippi State 14

First we had an Alabama muffed punt. Then we had a Mississippi State fumble. Now, Alabama running back Daniel Hill fumbled the ball deep in Tide territory, and Mississippi State is on the edge of the goal line with a chance to cut the lead to seven. Wild sequence in Starkville. 

Zion Ragins scored a touchdown on the first play after the turnover and the game is within one score. 

Just two plays after muffing the punt, Zavien Brown forced a fumble on a Mississippi State completion for their third takeaway. Both of the prior two turnovers led to Alabama touchdowns. Another score would put this game in laugher territory. 

Alabama punt return Dijon Lee made a bad decision by chasing the ball, and muffed the punt. Mississippi State recovered the ball at the Alabama 43-yard line, and they have new life. 

Mississippi State linebacker Jalen Smith, the leading tackler for the Bulldogs with 28, needed help getting to the locker room after appearing to suffer a lower body injury. The junior from Grayson, Georgia, came into the game with 28 tackles and an interception while anchoring Zach Arnett's defense. 

In addition, running back Fluff Bothwell was officially ruled out for the game after returning to the sidelines in shorts. Bothwell had a pre-existing injury, according to the broadcast, and it didn't respond well after one carry. The Bulldogs have not generated any rushing offense without him. 

2Q: Alabama 21, Mississippi State 7

Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell only has two carries, but both have set up touchdowns. This time, Russell saw space and broke through for a 17-yard rushing touchdown right through the teeth of the Mississippi State defense. The Bulldogs have had no answer for the Tide, who are averaging 9.1 yards per play. 

End 1Q: Alabama 14, Mississippi State 7

No. 7 Alabama rode a picture-perfect defensive start to take an early lead against No. 16 Mississippi State in Starkville. The Crimson Tide received two turnovers on the first two drives, including a pick-six by Dijon Lee. 

The Bulldogs struck back on their third drive, stringing together a five-minute march over 12 plays and 75 yards. Wide receiver Anthony Evans III led the way with seven catches for 72 yards in the first quarter, while Taylor went 10- of 11 on passes outside of his lone interception. 

But while Mississippi State's defense has largely been off the field, Alabama has dominated when they have the ball. The Crimson Tide have 111 yards on 8.5 yards per play, with 60 yards coming on the arm of quarterback Keelon Russell. The sophomore also has a 14-yard scramble to set up a touchdown throw to Ryan Coleman-Williams. 

A key trend to watch: Alabama is sitting at 6.4 yards per carry against the Mississippi State defense. The Bulldogs have just 10 sack-adjusted rushing yards on seven carries and will be without starting running back Fluff Bothwell for at least some time. 

Mississippi State running back Fluff Bothwell is out for the game after suffering an early injury, according to the radio broadcast. Bothwell leads the team with 402 yards on 5.5 yards per carry, and no other running back has touched the ball more than 21 times in more than 150 handoffs. 

1Q: Alabama 14, Mississippi State 7

Mississippi State needed a recovery after a nightmare start, and quarterback Kamario Taylor delivered a rare long, physical drive to get the Bulldogs on the board. MSU went 75 yards in 12 plays over five minutes to give their defense a breather, capped off by a tunnel screen from Kamario Taylor to Anthony Evans III for a two-yard touchdown. 

Evans has been sensational, recording seven catches for 72 yards in the first quarter. However, the Bulldogs have just one rushing yard on eight carries, and every running back is under 2.0 yards per carry. 

1Q: Alabama 14, Mississippi State 0

You can't script a better start to a game than what Alabama just did. The Crimson Tide scored quickly after an opening fumble by Kamario Taylor, and then Dijon Lee broke on the ball to generate a pick-six off Taylor. Suddenly, the ballgame has turned into a run of Tide dominance. 

1Q: Alabama 7, Mississippi State 0

Alabama only needed to travel 48 yards after the Kamario Taylor fumble, and the Tide made it look easy. Quarterback Keelon Russell completed two passes, including a 15-yard pitch and run to Ryan Coleman-Williams to pull ahead with ease. Russell also had a key 12-yard scramble on first down to keep the defense on its heels. 

Does the ball have butter on it? One play after Kamario Taylor dropped the ball, Alabama's running back Daniel Hill fumbled the ball to lose a few yards. The Tide recovered this one, but the nerves are up. 

Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor was dealing, but a pump fake slipped out of his hands and dropped to the field. Alabama recovered the ball and will start near midfield. The play was reviewed, but it appeared that Taylor made no clear attempt to pass so the call was upheld. 

Alabama (out)

• LB Justin Hill
• LB Desmond Umeozulu
• DB Jorden Edmonds
• LB Cayden Jones
• DB Nick Sherman
• OL Jayvin James
• DL Jeremiah Beaman

Mississippi State (out)

• LB Zakari Tillman
• WR Ayden Williams
• DL Trevion Williams
• DL Diesel Moye

Mississippi State is ready for this moment, and there's a lot to like about the Bulldogs. Davis Wade Stadium will be packed. The Bulldogs have a better running game to surround Kamario Taylor. They've played more competitive games to build resilience. But like so many Alabama games before, the Tide will just find a way to pull away at the end in perhaps the best quarterback battle of the season. Pick: Alabama -6

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