Alabama’s Cyrus Jones steals an option pitch from Charleston Southern

But if there was anyone left in Alabama’s locker room that thought Saturday’s game against FCS Charleston Southern was going to be a cakewalk, they were dealt a wake-up call when, prior to kickoff, SC lost to The Citadel and Florida needed overtime to survive Florida Atlantic.

Eight touchdowns later, they walked out winners. He’s the only Alabama player to score twice on punt returns, according to school records dating to 1944. “I was hoping we would put up a little more of a fight there in the first half”.

Once Henry’s day was over, Alabama turned to true freshmen Damien Harris and Bo Scarbrough, who will be called upon to fill the void of Kenyan Drake for the remainder of the regular season. Alabama didn’t need much from the passing game to dominate this one, but the quarterbacks and receivers did a nice job of making plays without committing a few of the careless mistakes that have plagued the team this season. With the players, I told them if you’re not inspired to play every play that you play, then you’re kind of cheating yourself because you’re not who you are and how you compete.

Henry tied Trent Richardson’s Alabama single-season record of 21 touchdowns before sitting out the second half. Nick Saban and Jake Coker and the Crimson Tide are coming off a victory over Mississippi State by a 31-6 final score, their seventh win in a row.

Jones struck again, returning a punt 72 yards to make it 42-0. He finished the game with 68 yards and the two scores on just nine carries.

Jones wasn’t done. On Charleston Southern’s next possession, he intercepted an option pitch and almost returned it for a hat trick.

CSU’s best drive came in the third quarter as Kyle Copeland led the Bucs on a 7-play, 74-yard drive and dove in from two yards out to give the Bucs’ their only score. Our main goal was to come in here and not get hurt, not get injured.

Derrick Henry scored the first touchdown of the afternoon, running 17 yards to pay dirt.

Alabama now turns its attention to Auburn for this year’s Iron Bowl that kicks off Saturday in Auburn.