West Virginia Mountaineers vs Alabama Crimson Tide Match Player Stats On Aug 30, 2014

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Aug 30, 2014

No. 2 Alabama 33, West Virginia 23: T.J. Yeldon ran for 126 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the Crimson Tide held off the Mountaineers in the season opener at Atlanta.

Derrick Henry added 113 yards rushing and a score while Blake Sims passed for 250 yards on 24-of-33 passing in his first career start for Alabama (1-0). Amari Cooper made 12 catches for 130 yards and Adam Griffith knocked in four field goals for Alabama - three from over 40 yards.

Clint Trickett went 29-of-45 for 365 yards and a touchdown for the Mountaineers (0-1), who managed only 28 yards on the ground. Kevin White caught nine passes for 143 yards and a score but West Virginia managed only six points in the second half.

Yeldon gave the Crimson Tide their first lead with a 15-yard run less than a minute into the second quarter, but the Mountaineers came right back and knotted it at 10 when Trickett found White for a 19-yard score. Yeldon’s 1-yard dive put Alabama back in front with 1:57 left in the half, but Mario Alford took the ensuing kickoff back 100 yards to tie it again before Griffith’s 41-yard field goal sent the Crimson Tide into the locker room up 20-17.

Henry took his turn with 7:44 left in the third quarter, driving through the defense for a 19-yard touchdown and a 27-17 edge. West Virginia managed two field goals the rest of the way but Alabama responded to each to put the game away.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Cooper has racked up at least 100 yards receiving in three straight games dating to last season and has eight 100-yard performances in his career. … Alabama P JK Scott earned the job in camp and got only two chances to punt in the contest, booting one 62 yards in the first half. … Rushel Shell led the Mountaineers with 38 yards rushing on 10 carries.