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. Yeldonกฏs 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 Griffithกฏs 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. กญ 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. กญ Rushel Shell led the Mountaineers with 38 yards rushing on 10 carries.