Alabama tight end Robbie Ouzts scored his second career touchdown with a 44-yard catch from Jalen Milroe during the second quarter against Mercer on Saturday, finding himself completely unmarked as he entered the end zone.
“It was kind of a blow-up, really,” Ouzts noted. “But I’ll take that any day.”
The senior is often overlooked, primarily serving as a blocker and doing the essential work in the trenches. However, his performance on Saturday showcased his ability as a pass-catching threat. “He’s one of those versatile players for us,” said Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer. “It was really exciting for him and our team to see Robbie make that catch.”
On Friday night, Ouzts spoke to the team, focusing on the younger players.
“I gave a little senior speech, reminding them not to take college football for granted because the days feel long but the years fly by. Embrace the grind,” Ouzts, who played in his 48th game Saturday, said. “I encouraged them to build friendships with their teammates, as I’ve made some of the best friends over the last two years.”
He also expressed joy in seeing younger players get their chance to play. “It was great to see those guys get an opportunity. They put in the work every day, and I couldn’t be happier for them.” Ouzts nearly secured a second touchdown but the ball was just out of his reach.
“Jalen was under pressure. You can’t catch them all,” he remarked.
A Day of Milestones
Several Crimson Tide players had notable achievements that day. Defensive back Zabien Brown recovered a fumble and ran 66 yards for his first career touchdown, marking the first non-offensive touchdown of the season for Alabama.
“We’ve been aiming for that touchdown all year,” said linebacker Qua Russaw, who made a diving, one-handed interception in the first quarter. “(My teammates) were joking that I should have scored,” he added, referring to the lighthearted banter from the defense. “I was falling back and couldn’t reach it. They said, ‘You should have done something.’”
Austin Mack, the fourth-string quarterback, threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to Rico Scott, marking both players’ first touchdowns.
From Struggles to Success
The game began awkwardly for Alabama, who committed two penalties that allowed Mercer into their territory. However, defensive back Domani Jackson forced a fumble that defensive tackle Damon Payne recovered. Shortly after, receiver Ryan Williams ran a 29-yard reverse for a touchdown, putting Alabama up 7-0.
Extensive Participation
The participation report was lengthy, as Alabama began substituting players with around eight minutes left in the third quarter while leading 38-7. In total, five quarterbacks played, 11 players rushed the ball, and 13 players made receptions.
“For the guys to be able to play a quarter and a half, it was great to see them execute on the field,” DeBoer remarked about getting the backups involved.
A total of 71 players participated in the game for the Crimson Tide.
Two for One
On Ryan Williams’ second touchdown, Germie Bernard delivered a key block, taking down two Mercer defenders. As Williams came around the end, Bernard knocked one down and helped clear the path for Williams’ 14-yard score.
Attendance of Notables
Nick and Terry Saban were present at the game, with Terry arriving about an hour early and Nick getting there just 10 minutes before kickoff, having come from his ESPN GameDay segment in Athens, Georgia.
Additional Notes
The weather at kickoff was 68 degrees and sunny, with a sold-out crowd of 101,077. This marked the sixth game this season that Alabama scored over 40 points. Alabama successfully converted its only fourth-down attempt and is now 4 for 9 this season. Mercer’s first four drives resulted in three turnovers and one punt, while Alabama scored three touchdowns and had one punt on their first four drives. Honorary captains for the game included former Tide quarterbacks Jeff Rutledge (1975-78) and Gary Rutledge (1972-74). The game officials included referee Jason Autrey and other key officials covering various roles.
