Alabama Rallies Past Florida State After Lightning Delays Slow Play

TUSCALOOSA, AL — No. 10 Alabama overcame a slow start, a 15-point deficit and two lengthy lightning delays Saturday night to rally past Florida State for a 50-36 win at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

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Sophomore quarterback Keelon Russell accounted for 376 yards of offense and four touchdowns as the Crimson Tide improved to 3-0 on the season.

Alabama trailed 21-6 late in the second quarter before scoring 20 unanswered points over the final 2:36 of the first half to completely change the complexion of the game.

Click the link below to watch head coach Kalen DeBoer's postgame press conference.

Russell finished 23-of-30 passing for 320 yards and three touchdowns, while rushing for another 56 yards and a score.

Alabama finished with 567 yards of total offense, including 247 yards on the ground.

The comeback came on a night repeatedly disrupted by threats of severe weather, although those in the stadium only experienced brief showers.

Kickoff was delayed 1 hour, 45 minutes because of lightning, while another lightning delay halted play for 34 minutes with 2:36 remaining in the second quarter.

Florida State (1-2) controlled much of the game before that second stoppage, with its offense scoring touchdowns on three of its first four drives.

The Seminoles took a 7-0 lead on Ashton Daniels' 20-yard touchdown pass to Duce Robinson before Ousmane Kromah's 12-yard touchdown run made it 14-3 late in the first quarter.

Alabama kicker Conor Talty connected from 32 and 43 yards, but Daniels' 3-yard touchdown run stretched Florida State's advantage to 21-6 with 9:42 remaining in the half.

The Crimson Tide finally found its footing, though, as Russell connected with receiver Cederian Morgan for a 21-yard touchdown with 2:36 remaining — marking the first catch of the highly touted freshman's Crimson Tide career.

The game then entered its second lightning delay.

When play resumed, Alabama's defense immediately provided another spark when Ivan Taylor — the son of former NFL cornerback Ike Taylor — intercepted Daniels.

Two plays later, Russell found Ryan Coleman-Williams on a screen pass that turned into a 46-yard touchdown, cutting the deficit to 21-19. The score also represented Coleman-Williams' first touchdown catch of the year.

The Crimson Tide then got the ball back and needed only two plays to travel 56 yards, with Russell connecting with Kaleb Edwards for a 16-yard touchdown with 22 seconds remaining.

Florida State responded on the opening possession of the second half, retaking the lead at 28-26 on Daniels' 2-yard touchdown pass to Landen Thomas.

But Alabama answered with an eight-play, 75-yard drive that ended with true freshman EJ Crowell's 4-yard touchdown run.

Russell then provided one of the biggest plays of the night, breaking free for a 57-yard touchdown run to give Alabama a 40-28 advantage late in the third quarter.

Talty's third field goal of the night, a season-long 45-yarder, pushed the lead to 43-28 in the fourth.

Florida State made one final push, with Daniels scoring on a 6-yard run before the Seminoles converted the ensuing two-point attempt to cut Alabama's lead to 43-36 with 4:11 remaining.

The Crimson Tide responded by putting the game away on the ground.

Alabama marched 90 yards on nine plays before Trae'shawn Brown scored on a 20-yard run with 2:15 remaining for the final margin.

Brown led Alabama with 86 rushing yards and a touchdown, while four Crimson Tide players rushed for at least 50 yards.

Lotzier Brooks led the receiving corps with career highs of eight catches and 101 yards, marking the first 100-yard receiving performance of his career.

Alabama's defense surrendered 36 points but came up with three interceptions, with Bray Hubbard, Red Morgan and Taylor each recording a pick.

The Crimson Tide also held Florida State to a pedestrian 94 rushing yards, marking the third consecutive game Alabama has held an opponent below 100 yards on the ground.

Luke Metz and Devan Thompkins finished with six tackles apiece, while Thompkins added a sack. Terrance Green recorded two tackles for loss and a sack, and Yhonzae Pierre finished with five tackles, three quarterback hurries and a pass breakup.

The victory marked Alabama's 90th consecutive home win over an unranked opponent and improved head coach Kalen DeBoer to 15-1 at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

The Crimson Tide will return to action on Saturday, Sept. 26, when the South Carolina Gamecocks come to Tuscaloosa.

Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. CT.

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