Jalen Milroe raced for two touchdowns and passed for one, and No. 7 Alabama rallied from a fourth-quarter deficit to defeat South Carolina 27-25 in Southeastern Conference play on Saturday in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Domani Jackson made the game-winning interception as time expired for the Crimson Tide (5-1, 2-1 SEC), who rebounded from last week’s humiliating 40-35 loss to Vanderbilt.
South Carolina (3-3, 1-3)’s LaNorris Sellers completed 23 of 31 passes for 238 yards and two touchdowns, but he also fumbled in the fourth quarter and was intercepted on the final play.
South Carolina’s Nyck Harbour caught a 31-yard touchdown pass with 43 seconds left to pull his team within two points, but the accompanying two-point conversion failed.
However, Kai Kroeger’s spinning, wobbling onside kick evaded two Alabama players, and Colin Bryant recovered for the Gamecocks at the Alabama 49-yard line with 40 seconds remaining. However, the Gamecocks were unable to get into field goal range.
The Crimson Tide scored on a touchdown pass from Germie Bernard and a run by Justice Haynes. Milroe completed 16 of 23 throws for 209 yards with two interceptions.
Raheim “Rocket” Sanders rushed for 78 yards and a touchdown, Mazeo Bennett Jr. had a touchdown reception, and Kyle Kennard recorded two sacks for the Gamecocks.
Alabama squandered a 14-point lead before pulling ahead 20-19 on Milroe’s 7-yard keeper with 10:42 remaining.
Milroe connected with a wide-open Bernard for a 34-yard touchdown with 1:54 left.
South Carolina rallied from a two-touchdown deficit, scoring the next 19 points.
With 1:36 remaining in the first half, the Gamecocks faced fourth-and-9. Bennett caught a 36-yard touchdown pass from Sellers.
Nine seconds later, Kennard broke free and was ready to tackle Milroe in the end zone when the Alabama quarterback tossed the ball away before landing. Intentional grounding was called, and the safety pulled South Carolina to 14-9.
In the waning seconds of the half, John Kilgore intercepted Milroe and returned it 31 yards to the Crimson Tide’s 19. Alex Herrera kicked a 37-yard field goal to bring the Gamecocks within two.
South Carolina started the second half on a massive 16-play, 85-yard drive that took 8:35. Sanders finished it with a 1-yard run, giving the Gamecocks a 19-14 lead.
Early in the fourth quarter, South Carolina’s O’Donnell Fortune intercepted Milroe in the end zone, ending an Alabama drive. However, Sellers lost a fumble 12 seconds later, which LT Overton recovered at the Gamecocks’ 31 with 12:05 remaining. Overton’s comeback set up Milroe’s go-ahead goal.
Alabama looked slick early, with Milroe scoring from the one to cap a game-opening drive. Haynes’ 2-yard run with 4:38 left in the half gave the Crimson Tide a 14-0 lead.
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