SEC reset: Alabama
ALABAMA (1-0)
Game: Alabama 35, Virginia Tech 10. The Crimson Tide scored more points on defense and special teams than it did on offense in dominating the Hokies in Atlanta. Junior WR/KR'PR Christion Jones scored on a 72-yard punt return and a 94-yard kickoff return and junior SS Vinnie Sunseri took it to the house with a 38-yard interception. Sunseri's pick was a momentum stopper for the Hokies. It came after Tech had closed the gap to 14-7 and had stopped Bama on the ensuing series.
Takeaway: Bama had little in the way of offense, just 206 yards total, but showed it can win games in just about any fashion. It was the first time since 1995 that the Tide had three touchdowns in a game from its defense and special teams.
The defense, meanwhile, was its usual self, holding the Hokies to just 212 yards. Tech QB Logan Thomas was just 5-of-26 passing for a meager 59 yards. The Tide had a sack (shared by senior DE Ed Stinson and freshman LB Ryan Anderson) and the interception by Sunseri.
-- Senior QB AJ McCarron, who had to wear a walking boot in the week leading up to the game to protect an ingrown toenail, was only 10-of-23 passing for 110 yards and a touchdown. He was intercepted once and sacked four times.
-- Sophomore Christion Jones is the first player in the FBS to have both a punt return and kickoff return for touchdowns since 2006. According to the school records dating back to 1944, he is the first Alabama player to do it.
