No. 10 Alabama Football Defeats Mercer in Penultimate Regular Season Home Game

The Crimson Tide made it past its final nonconference test of the 2024 regular season.

Nov 16, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe (4) throws during warmups prior to a game against Mercer Bears at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Will McLelland-Imagn Images / Will McLelland-Imagn Images

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.— One week before its last road game of the season, the No. 10 Alabama football team (8-2) dispatched the Football Championship Subdivision’s seventh-ranked team, the Mercer Bears, on Saturday afternoon.

The first half saw Alabama take advantage of turnovers and the versatility of star freshman wide receiver Ryan Williams to score the game’s first 28 points. The Bears (9-2) got on the board at the two-minute timeout of the first half with a 31-yard passing touchdown from Whitt Newbauer to Kendall Harris. Through 30 minutes of play, the Crimson Tide held a commanding 31-7 lead. All told, the home team did not punt for the first time until late in the second quarter.

The Crimson Tide notably scored its first non-offensive touchdown all season on a 66-yard Zabien Brown fumble return in the second quarter. A staple of defensive and special teams exploits of the past, it took until two weeks before the Iron Bowl for a non-offensive score in 2024.

It was more of the same in the second half. Alabama took the ball first (after deferring on the coin toss) and, after a number of reviews, scored a touchdown on its opening drive courtesy of a three-yard Jalen Milroe rush. It was after this point that some of the Crimson Tide’s backups began to see action; second-string quarterback Ty Simpson entered the game on the next drive. The Crimson Tide did not get on the board again in the quarter, eventually scoring a touchdown just over two minutes into the fourth after a long pass from Simpson (following a highlight-worthy escape from a sack) to Josh Cuevas and a one-yard score by tailback Richard Young.

On the Tide’s next offensive drive, Kalen DeBoer used two quarterbacks. He first utilized freshman Dylan Lonergan to help the team move the ball downfield, and then ended the drive with former Washington Husky Austin Mack, who found Rico Scott for a 31 yard touchdown in the corner of the endzone, making the score 52-7.

Alabama’s final offensive drive saw junior quarterback Cade Carruth end the game with a series of handoffs to running back JR Gardner to run the clock out.

The Crimson Tide is now 8-2 on the season, and looks to be playing its best football of the year. In the last three games, Alabama’s defense has allowed just 20 points and its offense if firing on all cylinders.

The Tide travels to Norman, Oklahoma next week to take on the 5-5 (1-5) Sooners.

How it Happened:

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Fourth Quarter:

• Mack finds Rico Scott for a 31 yard touchdown, extending Alabama's lead to 51-7 with 3:36 left to play. Reid Schuback makes the PAT to make the score 52-7. Alabama 52, Mercer 7 with 3:36 left to play.

• Austin Mack enters the game for Alabama at quarterback.

• Dylan Lonergan enters the game for the Crimson Tide at quarterback, and picks up a fourth down with a pass to Ty Lockwood.

• Mercer is listless once more on offense, set to punt it away again.

• With 15 yards to go on third down, Simpson seemed poised to get sacked but got out of it and completed a long pass to Josh Cuevas for 43 yards to the one-yard line. Richard Young then punches it in for a score. Alabama 45, Mercer 7 with 12:54 left in the game.

• Alabama goes for it on fourth down on the Mercer 41 with a yard to get and moves the chains but incurs an illegal substitution penalty. Nevertheless, the possession continues.

• The final quarter officially gets underway at 3:30 p.m. CT. Alabama begins the period with the ball on Mercer's 43.

Third Quarter:

• The third quarter ends at 3:27 p.m. CT. Alabama leads Mercer in commanding fashion, 38-7.

• Mercer can't make anything of the possession, punting from their own 25 after a three-and-out. Mbakwe makes the fair catch at the Alabama 39.

• After three straight Simpson incompletions, Alabama punts it back to Mercer. The Bears will start their next drive at their own 20.

• Ty Simpson picks up a first down with his legs with 11 yards to go on a third-and-long. An impressive play for the Crimson Tide backup quarterback.

• The Bears punt on their first drive of the third quarter. Jaylen Mbakwe breaks off a return across the 40, but holding is called. Alabama sets up shop at its own 16 with Ty Simpson coming in at quarterback.

• Jalen Milroe finds paydirt with his legs from three yards out, concluding this drive in the end zone. Alabama 38, Mercer 7 with 10:33 remaining in the third quarter. A 10-play, 67-yard scoring drive.

• Touchdown Jam Miller, seemingly. After yet another review, this score also does not hold up.

• After review, the touchdown is called back, but Alabama does maintain possession just inside the two-yard line of Mercer.

• Alabama's opening drive of the second half results in an unorthodox touchdown as a Justice Haynes fumble deep in the red zone is recovered by Kadyn Proctor for a touchdown. The play is under review.

• The third quarter gets underway at 2:46 p.m. CT.

Second Quarter:

• Halftime arrives at 2:25 p.m. CT with Alabama up by 24 points on Mercer.

• Alabama's next drive ends with a 45-yard field goal try from Graham Nicholson, which he puts through without issue. Alabama 31, Mercer 7; 0:55 2Q.

• Mercer gets on the board with a great throw and catch from Whitt Newbauer to Kendall Harris. A nice play. Alabama 28, Mercer 7 with 1:58 to go in the half. The scoring drive was four plays, 52 yards; the touchdown pass went for 31 yards.

• The Crimson Tide punts after going three-and-out, and Mercer will have another opportunity on offense before the end of the half. The Bears take over after James Burnip shanks a punt.

• The Bears punt on the ensuing drive, and Alabama takes over on its own 26 following a short return with fewer than five minutes left in the first half.

• Mercer's Javarius George fumbles inside Alabama territory while in the process of converting a third-and-short, and the ball is recovered by Zabien Brown. Brown brings it all the way back for a touchdown on a 66-yard return- Alabama's first non-offensive touchdown of the season. Alabama 28, Mercer 0 with 8:45 to go in the half.

• Milroe hits tight end Robbie Ouzts for a 44-yard scoring strike, to the delight of the fans in attendance. The Crimson Tide leads the Bears 21-0 with 12:37 remaining in the first half.

• Jalen Milroe completes a pass to tight end Josh Cuevas that's short of the sticks on third down. Alabama goes for it on fourth down with a yard to go, and Milroe gets it with his legs.

First Quarter:

• The first quarter ends at 1:41 p.m. CT with Alabama leading Mercer by a score of 14-0.

• The Crimson Tide gets its second turnover of the day in the form of an interception by Qua Russaw. Mercer had been driving but will now send its defense back out.

• That scoring drive for Alabama took four minutes and 21 seconds. It spanned 85 yards.

• Williams scores again, this time on a 14-yard reception. The freshman is having a day. Alabama leads Mercer 14-0 with 4:08 remaining in the quarter.

• After review, Milroe is called down at the Mercer 41. Alabama maintains possession.

• Jalen Milroe fumbles the ball after being hit from behind on a running play. Mercer gets it, but the play is under review.

• Mercer runs the ball on third down with two yards to go and fails to convert, bringing on the punt team for the first time this afternoon. The Crimson Tide will take over on its own 15.

• Alabama's scoring drive: four plays, 52 yards, 1:16.

• Ryan Williams reaches the end zone on a 29-yard carry. Alabama is on the board first. The extra point is good off the boot of Graham Nicholson. Alabama 7, Mercer 0; 10:48 remaining in the first quarter.

• The Bears fumble on the first play after the penalty, and it's recovered by Alabama's Damon Payne Jr. Forced by Domani Jackson.

• Mercer's first drive has been aided by penalties, and the Bears now have the football inside Crimson Tide territory following an Alabama pass interference on a third down.

• DeVonta Smith gets the start for Alabama on defense.

• The game kicks off officially at 1:02 p.m. CT.

• Mercer will receive the ball to start the game, as Alabama wins the toss and defers.

Pregame:

• OL Jaeden Roberts (injured last week against LSU) is in uniform but Geno VanDeMark is warming with the first team. Roberts' use will likely be limited today, though Roberts was announced as a starter in the stadium's video package.

• Alabama Husky DeVonta Smith is going through initial warmups with the rest of the DBs.

How to watch:

• Who: Alabama (7-2, 4-2 SEC) vs. Mercer (9-1, 6-1 Southern)

• When: Saturday, Nov. 16, 1 p.m.

• Where: Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Ala.

• TV: ESPN+/SEC Network+

• Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network (Play-By-Play: Chris Stewart, Color: Tyler Watts).

• Series: Alabama leads, 4-0

• Last meeting: The Crimson Tide and Bears last played on Sept. 11, 2021, and the Crimson Tide easily rolled to a 48-14 victory. Bryce Young had three touchdown passes, and Brian Robinson Jr. ran in a touchdown as well.

• Last time out, Alabama: Alabama put together its most complete performance of the season in a dominating 42-13 victory at LSU. For the second straight season, Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe ran for four touchdowns against the Tigers. Alabama's defense forced three turnovers and kept LSU out of the end zone until the final 11 seconds of the fourth quarter when the game was already well out of reach.

• Last time out, Mercer: The Bears shut out VMI, 34-0. Whitt Newbauer threw for 282 yards and three touchdowns.