Alabama 55, Vanderbilt 3
(AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
By JOHN ZENOR
AP Sports Writer
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Bryce Young passed for a season-high 385 yards and four touchdowns and No. 2 Alabama beat Vanderbilt 55-3 in the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams.
It was the first 300-yard game of the season for the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, who didn't play in the fourth quarter and completed 25 of 36 passes.
The Crimson Tide (4-0, 1-0) opted to air it out against the Commodores (3-2, 0-1) and finally got big games and plays from multiple receivers. It was the most passing yards for Young since perhaps locking up the Heisman with 421 yards against Georgia in the SEC championship game.
Alabama outgained Vandy 628-129 in total yards.
Ja'Corey Brooks had a career night, all in the first half when he had six catches for 117 yards and two touchdowns. Georgia transfer Jermaine Burton had his biggest game for the Tide: 94 yards on four catches, including a 48-yarder.
Jahmyr Gibbs, who started the first three games at tailback, mostly lined up at receiver while Jase McClellan took over in the backfield. McClellan ran for 78 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries. Gibbs caught three passes for 43 yards and a score.
THE TAKEAWAY
Vanderbilt: Avoided a third straight shutout in the series after losing the last two meetings by a combined 93-0. It's still the Commodores' 23rd consecutive loss to the Tide and 22nd straight defeat against SEC teams.
Alabama: Gave future opponents, including three teams in a row who were ranked this week, something to think about with the downfield passing and lining up Gibbs as a receiver with such frequency. Linebacker Will Anderson Jr. had 2-1/2 sacks.
BROOKS' BIG NIGHT
Brooks was mostly known for his tying touchdown in the final seconds against Auburn to force overtime last season. This was by far his biggest overall game. The sophomore had four catches for 62 yards through three games. Brooks caught passes on four consecutive plays for 68 yards and a TD on one drive.
| Scoring Summary |
| First Quarter |
Vandy | Ala |
| Ala |
TD |
8:49 |
Ja'Corey Brooks 21 yard TD pass from Bryce Young (Will Reichard Extra Point) |
0 |
7 |
| Vandy |
FG |
3:49 |
Joseph Bulovas 40 yard field goal |
3 |
7 |
| Ala |
TD |
0:35 |
Traeshon Holden 8 yard TD pass from Bryce Young (Will Reichard Extra Point) |
3 |
14 |
| Second Quarter |
Vandy | Ala |
| Ala |
TD |
13:22 |
Ja'Corey Brooks 34 yard TD pass from Bryce Young (Will Reichard Extra Point) |
3 |
21 |
| Ala |
TD |
4:43 |
Jahmyr Gibbs 7 yard TD pass from Bryce Young (Will Reichard Extra Point) |
3 |
28 |
| Ala |
FG |
0:00 |
Will Reichard 40 yard field goal |
3 |
31 |
| Third Quarter |
Vandy | Ala |
| Ala |
FG |
6:55 |
Will Reichard 21 yard field goal |
3 |
34 |
| Ala |
TD |
2:56 |
Jase McClellan 12 yard TD run (Will Reichard Extra Point) |
3 |
41 |
| Fourth Quarter |
Vandy | Ala |
| Ala |
TD |
5:11 |
Jamarion Miller 1 yard TD run (Will Reichard Extra Point) |
3 |
48 |
| Ala |
TD |
0:32 |
Jamarion Miller 40 yard TD run (Will Reichard Extra Point) |
3 |
55 |
| Team Stats |
| |
Vanderbilt |
Alabama |
| First downs |
9 |
34 |
| Rushing |
3 |
10 |
| Passing |
5 |
20 |
| Penalty |
1 |
4 |
| 3rd Down Efficiency |
1-13, 8% |
7-12, 58% |
| 4th down efficiency |
0-1, 0% |
1-2, 50% |
| Rushes-Yards |
25-14 |
33-223 |
| Passing Yards |
115 |
400 |
| Return Yards |
25 |
89 |
| Completions-Attempts-Int |
13-26-0 |
30-43-0 |
| Sacks-Yards Lost |
4-33 |
0-0 |
| Punts |
10 |
2 |
| Fumbles Lost |
0-0 |
4-1 |
| Penalties - Yards |
6-41 |
6-55 |
| Vanderbilt Passing |
| Player |
Cmp |
Att |
Yds |
TDs |
Int |
| A. Swann |
13 |
26 |
115 |
0 |
0 |
| Vanderbilt Interceptions |
| Player |
Int |
Yards |
| Alabama Interceptions |
| Player |
Int |
Yards |
| Vanderbilt Punting |
| Player |
Punts |
Yards |
Avg |
| M. Hayball |
10 |
432 |
43.2 |
| Alabama Punting |
| Player |
Punts |
Yards |
Avg |
| J. Burnip |
2 |
87 |
43.5 |
| Vanderbilt Punt Returns |
| Player |
Ret |
Yards |
Average |
| W. Sheppard |
1 |
9 |
9.0 |
| Alabama Kick Returns |
| Player |
Ret |
Yards |
Average |
| Vanderbilt Missed FG |
| Player |
Length |
| Alabama Missed FG |
| Player |
Length |
