Field Level Media
Sep 29, 2018
Sophomore quarterback Tua Tagovailoa threw two touchdown passes while completing all eight of his attempts as top-ranked Alabama rolled to a 56-14 dismantling of visiting Louisiana on Saturday at Tuscaloosa, Ala.
True freshman receiver Jaylen Waddle caught two touchdown passes and also returned a punt for a score for the Crimson Tide (5-0). Junior running back Josh Jacobs rushed for two scores and sophomore wideout Henry Ruggs III had two touchdowns while making five catches for 116 yards.
Tagovailoa passed for 128 yards, junior backup Jalen Hurts threw for 118 yards and redshirt freshman third-stringer Mac Jones passed for 94. Waddle had 138 yards on three receptions -- including a 94-yard score -- and 201 all-purpose yards.
Alabama outgained Louisiana 608-288 and has topped 500 yards in a program-record five straight games.
The Ragin' Cajuns (1-3) lost their third straight game and fell to 0-9 all-time versus Alabama. Sophomore running back Trey Ragas rushed for 111 yards and a fourth-quarter touchdown to end the Crimson Tide's shutout hopes.
The Ragin' Cajuns are coached by former Alabama assistant Billy Napier and the rout allowed Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban to improve to 14-0 against former assistants.
The Crimson Tide had a 357-74 edge in yards and a 17-3 lead in first downs while holding a 49-0 halftime advantage.
Alabama controlled the game from the outset and scored three touchdowns in the first seven minutes and 28 points in the opening quarter.
Jacobs scored on a 9-yard run to cap the Crimson Tide's first possession and senior Derek Kief blocked a punt to set up Tagovailoa's 13-yard scoring pass to Ruggs with 9:25 remaining. Waddle returned a punt 63 yards for a score to make it 21-0 with 8:02 left in the stanza.
Jacobs tacked on a 1-yard scoring run with 2:28 left to make it 28-0. Hurts served as the quarterback on the next possession and tossed a 54-yard scoring pass to Ruggs with 13:52 remaining in the half.
Sophomore Najee Harris scored on a 5-yard run to make it 42-0 with 7:26 left in the half before Tagovailoa threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Waddle with 1:28 to play.
Waddle got into the act again late in the third quarter when he caught a slant pass and outran the Louisiana defense for a 94-yard scoring pass from Jones to make it 56-0 with 1:30 left.
Ragas scored on a 1-yard run with 13:30 remaining in the game to get the Ragin' Cajuns on the board, and senior quarterback Andre Nunez threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to junior wideout Ja'Marcus Bradley more than 9 1/2 minutes later.
Nunez completed 9 of 15 passes for 75 yards and two interceptions.
--Field Level Media