TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (11/01/08) ? Alabama's Mark Ingram rushed 12 times for 113 yards with two touchdowns to lead the Crimson Tide in a 35-0 win over Arkansas State Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Glen Coffee rushed for nine yards capping off an 89-yard scoring drive, Alabama's first of the game, to give the Crimson Tide their first touchdown at the 4:23 mark of the first quarter. With a Leigh Tiffin point after try, the score was 7-0 in favor of Alabama.
ASU senior defensive back Dominique Williams stopped the Crimson Tide's second scoring drive at 38 yards when he intercepted a John Parker Wilson pass in the ASU end zone, returning the pick 23 yards at the end of the first quarter. It was the second interception for Williams on the season.
Rashad Johnson intercepted ASU junior quarterback Corey Leonard at the Red Wolves 32 yard line returning the pick for Alabama's second touchdown of the game at the 8:54 mark of the second quarter. Tiffin's kick made the score 14-0 for Alabama.
The Crimson Tide threatened with a Tiffin 37-yard field goal attempt, but the kick sailed wide-left at the 00:27 mark of the second half, setting the halftime score, ASU down 14-0.
On their first drive of the second half, like the first, Alabama took advantage of its first opportunity to get on the scoreboard. Roy Upchurch rushed over the left end for a 22 yard touchdown at the 13:37 mark of the third quarter. The Tiffin kick attempt was good giving the Crimson Tide a 21-0 lead.
Mark Ingram gave Alabama a 28-0 advantage when he had a five-yard touchdown rush over the left guard with 2:20 left in the third quarter.
Ingram added the final score for the Crimson Tide when he picked up a 17-yard touchdown run at the 4:37 mark of the fourth quarter.
Arkansas State put together its best drive of the game driving seven plays for 46 yards at the beginning of the fourth quarter. The Red Wolves were unable to convert a fourth and five situation and turned the ball over on downs with 13:17 left in the game.
Leonard was 8-17 with one interception for 67 yards. Leonard connected with junior wide receiver Jabbari McLennan for a 26-yard pass late in the third quarter which was the longest of the game for the Red Wolves. McLennan's 26 yards led all ASU receivers.
Junior running back Reggie Arnold led the Red Wolves with 15 rushes for 72 yards, with a long rush of 11 yards.
On the defensive side of the ball, ASU sophomore safety M.D. Jennings led the Red Wolves with nine tackles including seven solo-hits. Junior corner Dyland Walker and senior linebacker Ben Owens added seven tackles each for Arkansas State.
For the seventh out of eight total games this season, the Red Wolves recorded multiple sacks. ASU is ranked seventh nationally in the category. ASU players Bryan Hill and Stanley Wakwe teamed up for a first-half sack while true freshman Gregory McCall recorded the first sack of his career in the third quarter.
Arkansas State next travels to Florida International, returning to Sun Belt Conference action on Nov. 8 at 6 p.m.