Sept 13, 2003
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) – Shaud Williams ran for 174 yards and threetouchdowns on 30 carries as Alabama overpowered Kentucky 27-17 on Saturdaynight.
The Crimson Tide (2-1) controlled both lines of scrimmage and outgained theWildcats (1-2) 464-195 yards in the Southeastern Conference opener for bothteams. Alabama has won 12 straight SEC openers and owns the series 32-2-1.
The Tide’s Brodie Croyle completed 14 of 27 passes for 198 yards, includinga key 21-yarder to Brandon Greer on fourth-and-6 late in the game. Williams ranfor a 7-yard touchdown on the next play with 5:11 left and also scored on a15-yarder and 2-yarder.
Jared Lorenzen finally was able to connect downfield after that, twicehitting Derek Abney down the left sidelines, including a 24-yard touchdown with4:03 to play. Abney set up the scoring drive with a 44-yard kick return intoAlabama territory.
The Tide’s Brandon Greer recovered the onside kick and the Tide ran out theclock to end Kentucky’s hopes of a big comeback.
Alabama rushed for 266 yards on 53 carries while Kentucky gained just 26yards on 23 rushes. Lorenzen was 15-of-24 for 169 yards but had to rely onshort passes under constant pressure, and the Tide’s swarming defense bottledup most of those.
The teams traded field goals in the third quarter after Alabama led 10-7 athalftime. But Williams squirted through the line for a 2-yard touchdown on theopening play of the fourth quarter for a 20-10 lead.
Taylor Begley missed a 49-yard field goal midway through the fourth quarterfor the Wildcats.
The Tide defense allowed few such opportunities.
Kentucky had just 6 yards and no first downs on its first four possessionsbefore Lorenzen got the offense going with his arm and his legs. The Wildcatsdefense also came up big late in the first half to keep Alabama’s lead at 10-7.
Lorenzen hit tight end Win Gaffron on a 33-yard third-down strike to keepthe drive alive and ran 10 yards on a quarterback draw to the 1. Draak Davisplunged into the end zone on the next play to make it 10-7 with 6:33 left inthe first half.
Kentucky’s Chad Anderson picked off a Croyle pass in the end zone with twoseconds left in the half, ending a 16-play drive.
It was Croyle’s third attempt into the end zone from the 4-yard line.
The Tide opened the scoring with Williams’ 15-yard run and a 43-yard fieldgoal by Brian Bostick, who missed a 27-yarder to end the opening drive.
Williams reached 2,000 yards for his career on a 4-yarder to start the gameand barely stopped running much of the night.
By JOHN ZENOR
AP Sports Writer
