TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Mark Ingram rushed for 113 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries and Rashad Johnson scored on a 32-yard interception return in No. 2 Alabama’s 35-0 victory over Arkansas State on Saturday.
The Crimson Tide (9-0) turned in a dominant all-around performance to set the stage for next week’s showdown at No. 15 LSU in the type of game that had been a stumbling block for recent ‘Bama teams.
Alabama, which can clinch the Southeastern Conference Western Division title with a win over LSU, managed its first shutout since a 17-0 win over Mississippi State on Nov. 5, 2005. The Tide allowed only 158 yards on 54 plays against Arkansas State (4-4), which had scored 83 points against Texas Southern and upset Texas A&M earlier this season.
The Tide took its opening drive 89 yards on 16 plays for a touchdown to put aside any fears of a letdown like the one in last year’s loss to another Sun Belt Conference team, Louisiana-Monroe.
Ingram scored on runs of 5 and 17 yards in the second half for the freshman’s first 100-yard game. Glen Coffee rushed for 56 yards and a 9-yard touchdown to cap that opening drive before sitting out the second half.
John Parker Wilson completed 15 of 28 passes for 158 yards and was intercepted once.
Wilson’s 12 consecutive completions dating back to last week’s game at Tennessee tied Andrew Zow’s school record set in 2000. The streak ended when Julio Jones couldn’t hold onto his second pass attempt.
The final score could have been even more lopsided, but the Tide was turned back four times on trips into Arkansas State territory, including an interception on the goal line and a missed field goal.
Arkansas State crossed midfield twice in the fourth quarter but the drives ended with a failed fourth-down play and a sack on third down.
Quarterback Corey Leonard passes for just 67 yards and was intercepted once and sacked four times. Reggie Arnold gained 72 yards on 15 carries for the Red Wolves.
The Tide led only 14-0 at halftime but breezed down the field to open the third quarter. Upchurch’s 22-yard run capped a four-play, 70-yard drive after Ingram tallied 43 yards on two runs.
Johnson, meanwhile, spearheaded the dominant defensive performance. He had 13 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss besides the interception return that made it 14-0 midway through the second quarter.
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