Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks vs Alabama Crimson Tide Match Player Stats On Sep 26, 2015

The Sports Xchange
Sep 26, 2015

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- In what was mostly a lackluster game, the two biggest cheers inside Bryant-Denny Stadium during No. 12 Alabama's 34-0 victory over ULM came on Crimson Tide kicker Adam Griffith's field goal attempts.

Griffith, who started the season 0-for-4, has made three straight kicks including a 40-yarder in the third quarter and a 35-yarder in the fourth.

Quarterback Jake Coker threw three touchdown passes and running back Derek Henry rushed for a score.

ULM never got its offense going. The Warhawks turned it over twice - both on interceptions by quarterback Garrett Smith. ULM finished with 92 total yards and punted 12 total times, which is the combined number of punts the Warhawks had in the first two games.

Coker threw a pair of touchdowns in the second half, finding tight end Michael Nysewander for a 19-yard score in the third quarter and ArDarius Stewart for a 16-yard touchdown in the fourth.

After rotating quarterbacks in the first three games, Coker played the majority of the game with Cooper Bateman replaced him in the fourth.

Alabama hasn't started fast all season, and that didn't change against ULM as it led only 14-0 at halftime.

Luckily for the Crimson Tide, the Warhawks didn't present the same type of challenges offensively that some of the Alabama's conference opponents will.

After their first two drives ended with punts, the Crimson Tide decided to run the ball more with multiple runs for Henry and Kenyan Drake off the left side. Henry capped an 11-play, 55-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown run to make it 7-0 in the first quarter.

ULM botched a snap on a punt on the ensuing possession, which set up Alabama at the Warhawks' 15-yard line early in the second quarter.

The Crimson Tide struck immediately with Coker hitting Calvin Ridley for a 15-yard score to make it 14-0. It was the freshman's first career touchdown.

Alabama's offense spun its wheels the rest of the first half, starting with a Coker interception. Coker tried to fire a deep ball to Ridley under heavy pressure but was hit, causing a short throw that was intercepted by safety Tre' Hunter.

But ULM's offense could do nothing in the opening 30 minutes. The Warhawks gained 37 total yards on 36 plays and didn't pick up their initial first down until midway through the second quarter, which came on a fake punt. The Warhawks had minus-9 rushing yards.

Conversely, the Crimson Tide had 175 total yards on 42 plays (95 rushing, 80 passing).

Just as ULM appeared to be ready to move into scoring position, Alabama safety Geno Matias-Smith intercepted a pass by Garrett Smith to end the half.

NOTES: With starter Robert Foster out with a shoulder injury, Alabama freshman WR Calvin Ridley made his first career start. ... Alabama long snapper Cole Mazza missed his second straight game for undisclosed "medical reasons." Walk-on Alex Harrelson started in his place for the second straight week. ... Alabama reserve K Gunnar Raborn was not at Saturday's game. Raborn was suspended indefinitely following a Thursday arrest for driving under the influence of a controlled substance. ... Alabama DL Jonathan Allen was helped off the field and taken to the locker room before the end of the first half. Allen appeared to be holding his left arm/shoulder. ... Alabama travels to face No. 6 Georgia (4-0) next week. The Crimson Tide haven't played in Athens, Ga., since 2008, when they won 41-30.