01-20-2020, 06:43 AM
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- It wasnt the biggest pass of AJ McCarrons career, but it might have been the most personal. McCarron threw for two touchdowns and became No. 1 Alabamas winningest quarterback in Saturdays 49-0 victory over Chattanooga. His most memorable toss went for 3 measly yards. On his final drive in his last game at Bryant-Denny Stadium, McCarron found his little brother, Corey, early in the third quarter. The crowd might not have gotten excited, but their mom, Dee Dee Bonner, made her feelings known. "I literally could hear her screaming as soon as he caught it over everybody," AJ McCarron said. "I guess the rest of the crowd was, All right, great, 5-yard gain. And she was still yelling. The whole family was probably crying." McCarron completed 13 of 16 passes for 171 yards for the Crimson Tide (11-0). He improved to 36-2 as a starter, breaking a tie with Jay Barker for the school mark. McCarron and Alabama got an easy tuneup for the Iron Bowl against No. 6 Auburn to determine the Southeastern Conference Western Division champion. Both teams are still hoping for national title shots in a state that has claimed the last four BCS championships. The Tide defence produced its third shutout of the year, blocking a field goal against the FCS Mocs (8-4). "For me, it was perfect," linebacker C.J. Mosley said of his final home game. "We came out with a shutout. It cant get any better than that for a defensive player. We talked about this being a momentum game, going into next week and the rest of the season." Kenyan Drake ran for 77 yards and a 13-yard touchdown with starting tailback T.J. Yeldon sitting out to rest a sprained ankle. Freshman Derrick Henry ran six times for 66 yards and scored on a 5-yard touchdown set up by his own 27-yard scamper. Christion Jones scored on a 75-yard punt return in the second quarter for his third return TD of the season. It was atonement for Jones, who fumbled a return after Chattanoogas first series. Alabama outgained the Mocs 435-175 despite turning to the backups for most of the second half. McCarron and the other seniors were honoured in a pregame ceremony. The two-time national champion quarterback threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Norwood and a 38-yarder to Amari Cooper. Norwood had four catches for 84 yards -- all in the first half -- also in his home finale, including a 50-yarder. "It was kind of an emotional thing for me, too, at the end of the game, because a lot of those guys have meant a lot to the program," Tide coach Nick Saban said. "We really wanted to go out and play well for those guys." Backup receiver Chris Black took an end around 31 yards for a touchdown and Henry scored on a 5-yarder. Chattanooga started backup quarterback Terrell Robinson with Jacob Huesman nursing a knee injury. Robinson went 8 of 15 for 82 yards with an interception. He also ran 13 times for 37 yards. The Mocs had already clinched a share of the Southern Conference title. Now, theyre hoping for an at-large berth to their first FCS playoffs since 1984 with Samford getting the automatic berth with a 33-32 win over Elon. Chattanooga coach Russ Huesman pointed to Georgia Southerns upset of Florida Saturday as evidence of the leagues strength in his own teams post-season prospects. "Our conference, the Southern Conference, stinks according to everybody out there," Huesman said. "But weve got the fourth-best team in the conference beating Florida. If everybody thinks the Southern Conference stinks, youre nuts." The Mocs had a couple of scoring chances halted. Trey DePriest picked off Robinsons fourth-down pass at the Alabama 17 after Jones early fumble. AShawn Robinson blocked a field goal for the Tide, which has allowed five touchdowns in its last six games. "We lost 49-0, but at the same time we knew what we were up against this week -- the No. 1 team in the nation," Terrell Robinson said. "Theyre blowing a lot of teams out this year. We just wanted to come in and compete today, and I think we did that." Along with Yeldon, tight end Brian Vogler and cornerback Deion Belue sat out the game with injuries. Guard Arie Kouandjio sprained his left ankle during the game but Saban said he could have returned. As for the McCarron-to-McCarron connection, the Tide quarterback had been pushing for the chance for a while. Saban asked offensive co-ordinator Doug Nussmeier to make the call and told AJ McCarron exiting the locker room at halftime that it was coming. "If I had dropped it, he would have yelled at me in front of a lot of people," said Corey McCarron, a transfer who walked on. "That was one of the greatest moments of my life. I would never trade it for anything." Kyle Tucker Jersey . Durant finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds, Jackson matched his career high with 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting and Lamb scored 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting, lifting the Thunder to a 94-88 win over San Antonio and snapping the Spurs 11-game winning streak. Darryl Kile Jersey .com) - Matt Beleskey has helped give the Anaheim Ducks some scoring depth and hell look to stay hot on Wednesday night when his club hosts the struggling Philadelphia Flyers. http://www.customastrosjersey.com/custom...-876y.html . The top-ranked Djokovic also beat Gael Monfils and then routed Roger Federer en route to his first Abu Dhabi title. "Its always great to win a title. This is the best way to start the 2012 season," Djokovic said. Ryan Pressly Jersey . -- Oakland Athletics third baseman Scott Sizemore has undergone surgery on his left knee to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Josh James Jersey . -- The Chicago Bears have agreed to a one-year contract with cornerback Kelvin Hayden.MONTREAL - Usually, David Krejci is piling up points in the post-season, but not this year. The Boston Bruins top-line centre had no goals and only three assists through the first 10 playoff games. Like Max Pacioretty on the opposing Montreal Canadiens, he is starting to feel some heat for his lack of production. "It feels like its right there," Krejci said Monday as the Bruins prepared for a crack at eliminating Montreal in Game 6 of their NHL Eastern Conference semifinal. "We have to start putting the puck in the net more often. "My linemates (Milan Lucic and Jarome Iginla) have been doing a pretty good job at it. Theyve been great for me the whole year, so I want to return the favour and try to be better for them." Krejci led the playoffs in scoring with nine goals and 26 points in 22 games a year ago, when the Bruins lost to Chicago in the Stanley Cup final. He also went on a tear when Boston won the Cup in 2011 with 23 playoff points. But while Lucic had a decent three goals and four assists and Iginla scored four times and added two helpers, little has been happening for the guy who normally is the playmaker on the top unit. Other than, as usual, winning well over half of his faceoffs. "I believe my time is about to come and Im going to be big for my team," he said. "I owe it to these guys. "I know we dont live in the past. But Ive been in the position before were I know I can be the player, so Im trying to stay positive. Go out and work hard. My teammates have been doing a good job of winning hockey games, so I believe my time is just around the corner." Second-line centre Patrice Bergeron and the third line centred by Carl Soderberg were the main offensive threats for the Bruins. Krejci hassnt been helped by the opponents Boston has faced.dddddddddddd Both Montreal and Detroit are quick, skating teams that relay more on puck pressure than physical play. Krejci has struggled against the Canadiens in the past. Coach Claude Julien wasnt surprised to hear that Krejci feels indebted to his teammates. "Hes just a character guy," said Julien. "Hes demanding of himself and hes been a good player for us all year." Krejci was the first player on the ice for their game-day skate, but said he wasnt making any point. "At this time, when youre in a little slump like I am, then you have to work on your game and Ive been trying to do that," he said. "Like I said, I owe it to these guys, so I want to come up big for them." As he did ahead of Game 4, a 1-0 overtime win for Boston at the Bell Centre, Julien played around with his lines at the skate. They were expected to be back to normal by puck-drop. The Canadiens, who skated at their practice rink in Brossard, Que., caused a stir with broad hints that rookie Nathan Beaulieu would start on defence in place of Douglas Murray. Coach Michel Therrien kept his starting lineup to himself, however. "Its been good to be around the group," said Beaulieu, who has been practising with the main group in recent days. "Playoff hockey, it doesnt get any bigger than that, and it doesnt get any bigger than Montreal." It will be the first game since the incident at the end of Game 5 in which Bruins forward Shawn Thornton squirted water from the bench onto P.K. Subbans visor. Thornton was fined by the NHL for unsportsmanlike conduct. Therrien said it may end up helping his team. "A lack of respect can sometimes serve as motivation," he said. ' ' '