12-05-15 MFB vs Florida SEC Championship
#19 Reggie Ragland
Photo by Kent Gidley
ALABAMA 12, Florida 7
The line closed at Alabama being a 16½-point over the Gators—the second-largest point spread in the 24-game history of the SEC Championship Game. In 1995, Florida was a 24½-point favorite over Arkansas.
OFFENSE
- Despite being held to 65 yards on 19 carries, and committing a critical fumble, Derrick Henry has scored the only offensive touchdown of the game on a 2-yard scoring rush in the second quarter.
- With four receptions for 81 yards, freshman Calvin Ridley is responsible for nearly half of Alabama’s 175 total yards at halftime.
DEFENSE
- Prior to Florida’s Antonio Callaway returning a second-quarter punt for an 85-yard touchdown, the Gators average starting field position was their own 15.8-yard line.
- At the half, Alabama has limited Florida to zero net rushing yards on 14 attempts. The last time the Tide held an opponent to minus-rushing yards was nearly five years ago in the 2011 Capital One Bowl against Michigan State.
- The Gators have only three first downs entering the second half. Entering the game, Alabama’s fewest first downs yielded on the season was eight versus Charleston Southern.
SPECIAL TEAMS
- Keith Holcombe’s blocked punt midway through the first quarter, scoring a safety for the Tide, was the first blocked kick of his Alabama career. In addition, it was the fourth blocked kick for the Crimson Tide this season, and the first blocked punt in an SEC title game since 2003.
- Alabama blocked two kicks—a punt and a field goal—in the first quarter. The school record for blocked kicks in a single game is three against Southern Mississippi in 1994.
- The two punters—the Tide’s JK Scott and Florida’s Johnny Townsend—have combined to punt nine times for a staggering average of 53.8 yards.
