No. 5 Alabama opens Kalen DeBoer era, crushes Western Kentucky

Jalen Milroe threw for three touchdowns and ran for two more Saturday night as No. 5 Alabama started the Kalen DeBoer era with a resounding 63-0 thumping of visiting Western Kentucky in Tuscaloosa.

Milroe was highly efficient, completing 7 of 9 passes for 200 yards, and added 79 yards on 10 rushes. Justice Haynes added 102 yards on just four carries for the Crimson Tide, which outgained the outmatched Hilltoppers 600-145.

TJ Finley completed 18 of 31 passes for 92 yards with two interceptions in the first half for Western Kentucky before Caden Veltkamp took over in the second half. He fared no better, hitting 4 of 9 attempts for 11 yards.

Alabama used its two interceptions of Finley to build a 14-0 lead less than 10 minutes into the game. Milroe scored on a 12-yard run and Kendrick Law ripped off a 22-yard touchdown run. After that, it was mostly big plays.

Milroe made it 21-0 at the 2:27 mark of the first quarter by connecting with Ryan Williams for an 84-yard scoring strike. Jamarion Miller peeled off a 39-yard touchdown run less than 2 1/2 minutes into the second quarter and Haynes sped 85 yards with 2:53 remaining in the half.

Milroe sent the Tide into the break with a 42-0 lead by hitting Williams with a 55-yard touchdown pass, then took the rest of the game off after scoring on a 21-yard run with 6:30 remaining in the third quarter.

Backup Ty Simpson led the Tide to two more scores. Daniel Hill tallied on a 2-yard run with 2:51 remaining in the third, followed by Simpson's 15-yard touchdown scamper with 10:04 left in the game, capping a 79-yard drive.

Alabama converted 8 of 13 third-down opportunities and displayed a balanced attack, throwing for 266 yards and piling up 334 on the ground. The Tide averaged more than nine yards per play and only had to punt three times.

--Field Level Media