College Football around Alabama: 2018 Season Begins

Week 1 of the college football season saw teams from the SEC win 13 of their 14 games to open the season.

Similarly, college football squads from the Yellowhammer State enjoyed a successful start to the 2018 season including wins for Alabama and Auburn over Power Five conference squads.

Auburn Slips Past Washington  

The Auburn Tigers roared out of the locker room with an opening touchdown to begin the season.

After Washington went three plays and out on their first offensive possession, Ryan Davis returned a punt 32 yards to set the Tigers offense in Huskies territory. Six plays later, quarterback Jarrett Stidham found Sal Canneliia for a highlight reel touchdown to give Auburn a 6-0 lead after the two-point conversion attempt failed.

Except for Jake Browning’s 13-yard scoring pass to Quinten Pounds at the end of the first half, both offenses struggled to punch the ball in the end zone as Auburn’s Andres Carlson and Washington’s Peyton Henry knocked home three field goals.

With the Huskies ahead 16-15, Auburn freshman Jatarvious Whitlow went through the heart of the Washington defense and scored the winning touchdown from 10 yards away.

The Tigers and Huskies combined for 618 total yards but the Huskies inability to score in the red zone was the difference in the game. Although Auburn scored two touchdowns in five red zone chances, Washington managed only one touchdown in six red zone opportunities.

Troy Falls to Boise State

In a return trip to Troy University, No. 22 Boise State found the end zone early and often in a 56-20 victory over the Troy Trojans.

The Broncos scored on five of their first seven possessions of the game including their final four of the first half.

Boise State quarterback Brett Rypien carved up the Troy defense to the tune of 305 passing yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. Senior wide receiver Sean Modster lead all receivers with seven receptions for 167 yards and two touchdowns.

UAB Blanks Savannah State  

In their second season since resurrecting football, the UAB Blazers dispatched Savannah State 52-0.

Offensively, UAB rushed for 285 yards while throwing for 263 yards. Sophomore running back Spencer Brown rushed for 102 yards on 18 carries with a touchdown while quarterback A.J. Erdely completed 22 of his 28 pass attempts for 228 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.

Week 1 Scores

#1 Alabama                    51            Louisville                           14 (Orlando, FL)

#9 Auburn                       21           #6 Washington                  16 (Atlanta, GA)

#22 Boise State              56           Troy                                   20

UAB                                52           Savannah State                   0

Louisiana Tech               30           South Alabama                  26

North Alabama               34           Southern Utah                    30

Samford                         66           Shorter (GA)                         9

Alabama State               26           Tuskegee                            20

Alabama A&M                37           Miles College                        0

West Alabama                36           Lenoir Rhyne                     32

Birmingham Southern    34           LaGrange                           28

Faulkner                         16           Campbellsville                   10

Guilford vs. Huntingdon - Cancelled (Weather)

Jacksonville State - Idle