Gators sink under passing Tide, 42-21

photo Alabama quarterback Blake Sims, left, scrambles for yardage around Florida defensive lineman Joey Ivie during the first half of Alabama's 42-21 win Saturday in Tuscaloosa. Sims passed for 445 yards in the game.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Ball security was not at a premium Saturday for third-ranked Alabama inside Bryant-Denny Stadium.

It didn't matter.

The Crimson Tide overcame their early sloppiness with what has become the nation's top passing connection -- Blake Sims to Amari Cooper. Each had a career-best performance, with Sims throwing for 445 yards and Cooper amassing 201 as Alabama broke free for a 42-21 Southeastern Conference victory over Florida.

Sims completed 23 of 33 passes and threw four for touchdowns, including an 87-yarder to Kenyan Drake on the Crimson Tide's first play from scrimmage and a 79-yarder to Cooper later in the first quarter.

"When Blake takes what the defense gives, he's instinctive and makes good plays and decisions," Alabama coach Nick Saban said. "People are going to have to respect him as a passer. He has made too many plays and too many good throws for people to not respect him as a passer.

"He's done a really good job for us."

Sims was widely viewed this summer as the expected backup to Jacob Coker, who transferred from Florida State with hopes of swiping the role of AJ McCarron's successor. But Sims has started all four games and shown improvement each week.

His 445 yards rank second in school history to the 484 Scott Hunter had in a losing effort against Auburn in 1969, but could Sims have imagined such a showing a month ago?

"No, I didn't think this was possible," he said. "I'm just blessed. I just try to take what the defense gives me and trust my guys that they're going to be there."

Alabama (4-0, 1-0) won its 23rd consecutive league opener and racked up 645 yards, the most ever assembled against a Florida defense. The Crimson Tide's staggering 2,350 yards through four games under new offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin also are an Alabama record.

"They had an 87-yarder and a 79-yarder," Florida coach Will Muschamp said, "and as the game wore on, you can't get them off the field."

Alabama scored the final 21 points after the Gators (2-1, 1-1) pulled into a 21-21 tie early in the third quarter following the Crimson Tide's fourth and final miscue. That was a tipped Sims pass that was caught by Florida linebacker Antonio Morrison and returned 20 yards to the Alabama 16.

Florida quarterback Jeff Driskel scored two plays later on a 14-yard keeper, but Alabama answered with a 16-play, 66-yard drive that culminated with Derrick Henry's 3-yard run that made it 28-21. A three-and-out by the Gators put the Tide in position to take control, but Sims injured his right shoulder on a 24-yard carry and was replaced by Coker.

As Sims headed to the locker room, Henry ripped off runs of 25 and 13 yards to set up a 4-yard scoring pass from Coker to Cooper that gave the Tide a 35-21 lead with 21 seconds left in the third quarter.

"This was a great win for our team," Saban said. "Everybody who watched the game could tell that there were some things we did extremely well, and there were things that were sloppy. I thought in the second half we really controlled the game.

"Obviously, the turnovers were a huge factor in the game, given that they scored 21 points off them."

Sims suffered a bruised shoulder but returned to the game and threw one more touchdown pass, a 6-yarder to Cooper that capped the scoring with 10:10 remaining. Alabama is off this week, which comes at a good time for its new star quarterback.

A star quarterback who helped the Crimson Tide convert 12-of-16 third-down opportunities into firsts.

"I thought Blake did a really good job on third down all day," Saban said. "We had several third-and-shorts, but we had some third-and-longs that we converted."

Florida also is off this week. The Gators return to action Oct. 4, when they visit Tennessee.

Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.

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