No. 7 Alabama Survives Late Scare, Beats South Carolina

© Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images

After losing to Vanderbilt 40-35 on Oct. 5, the No. 7 Alabama Crimson Tide (5-1, 2-1 Southeastern Conference) managed to survive a late scare, beating the South Carolina Gamecocks (3-2, 1-3 SEC) 27-25 on Oct. 12 at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

How crazy was this game played under the hot Alabama sunshine? Well, the Crimson Tide nearly handed this one to the Gamecocks with a botched kickoff recovery in the final minute.

Let's break down the situation.

While South Carolina took a 19-14 lead into the fourth quarter, Alabama scored the next 13 points to take a 27-19 lead with 1:54 left on the clock. In less than a minute, the Gamecocks drove down the field and with 43 seconds remaining, South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers connected with Nyck Harbor on a 31-yard touchdown pass. Head coach Shane Beamer decided to go for a two-point conversation, but it failed, leaving the Gamecocks behind 27-25.

South Carolina Had Final Shot

South Carolina executed an onside kick. Alabama could not recover, giving South Carolina a chance to get in position for a possible game-winning field goal.

Sellers gave it his best shot, heaving a pass toward the end zone. However, Alabama's Domani Jackson was in the right place at the right time, intercepting the pass and sending the Crimson Tide faithful home happy.

The game tested the mettle of Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer, who was confronted last week with incessant questions about the Vandy loss.

“Another game down to the wire,” DeBoer said, according to the The Associated Press . “We’re kind of getting accustomed to those. There’s some things that we can do to make sure it doesn’t get to that point. But we always talk about finding a way to win. As many times as it looked like we weren’t, we did.”

Alabama Gets Clutch Play

Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe delivered in the clutch, with a 7-yard TD run a 34-yard scoring pass to Germie Bernard—both scores in the fourth quarter. For the game, Milroe completed 16-of-23 passes for 209 yards, 1 TD pass and 2 TD rushes.

It wasn’t quite the emphatic rebound win Alabama was hoping to produce, but Milroe was still pleased. “When we talk about team, that’s a great example of just finding a way as a group to just cheer on whoever’s on the field and everyone just buying in,” Milroe said.

For South Carolina, Sellers went 23-for-31 passing for 238 yards, 2 TDs and 1 interception.

Coming Up

Alabama, which might take a tumble in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, travels to "Rocky Top" where the Crimson Tide will battle No. 8 Tennessee (5-1, 2-1) in Knoxville, Tenn., on Oct. 19. South Carolina will travel to Norman, Okla., where the Gamecocks will face a feisty No. 18 Oklahoma (4-2, 1-2) team.