Southern Miss
1-3
Alabama
4-0 , 1-0
Southern Miss Falls to No. 1 Alabama
9/25/2021 11:03:00 PM | Football
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Jameson Williams was off to the races the first time he touched the ball, and the second, and the fourth.
Williams, the Ohio State transfer who brought another speedy playmaker to Tuscaloosa, had three monster plays. He opened the game with a 100-yard kickoff return, then added an 81-yard touchdown catch on his second touch and another 83-yard runback in the top-ranked Crimson Tide's 63-14 win over Southern Miss on Saturday night.
Williams and the Crimson Tide (4-0) needed just 14 seconds to put to rest any worries of a letdown against Southern Miss (1-3) after a close win over No. 11 Florida and with No. 13 Mississippi on deck. Bryce Young was nearly flawless in throwing for five touchdowns while completing 20 of 22 passes for 313 yards.
Williams, meanwhile, had 258 all-purpose yards on just four touches.
The performance was marred only by a third quarter interception — his first of the season — at the goal line when the ball bounced off Williams, who was unstoppable when he caught the ball.
Williams spun out of the grasp of a defender and raced the remaining 65 yards untouched.
Roydell Williams ran for 110 yards and Jase McClellan gained 97, plus a 9-yard touchdown catch. Jahleel Billingley caught five passes for 105 yards and a score.
Even an Alabama mistake resulted in a touchdown.
John Metchie III was diving toward the goal line in the first quarter when he was knocked out of bounds. The ball popped out after he tried to reach back across the pylon, but tight end Cameron Latu reached across the line and pulled it into the end zone.
Southern Miss freshman Ty Keyes made his second straight start in place of an injured Trey Lowe. Keyes passed for 131 yards and two touchdowns with an interception. He also led the Golden Eagles with 41 rushing yards.
"I thought our young quarterback really grew up tonight," Hall said, adding that "he showed he belongs in an environment like this."
Team Stats
USM 0, UA 7
UA - J. Williams 100 yd kickoff return (Will Reichard kick)
USM 0, UA 14
UA - J. Billingsley 16 yd pass from Bryce Young (Will Reichard kick) 8 plays, 60 yards, TOP 3:38
USM 0, UA 21
UA - Cameron Latu 1 yd pass from Bryce Young (Will Reichard kick) 6 plays, 76 yards, TOP 2:25
USM 0, UA 28
UA - R. Williams 1 yd run (Will Reichard kick), 4 plays, 60 yards, TOP 1:05
USM 0, UA 35
UA - J. Williams 81 yd pass from Bryce Young (Will Reichard kick) 1 plays, 81 yards, TOP 0:14
USM 7, UA 35
USM - Pittman,Chandle 14 yd pass from Keyes,Ty (Bourgeois,Brigg kick) 5 plays, 46 yards, TOP 3:29
USM 7, UA 42
UA - Jase McClellan 9 yd pass from Bryce Young (Will Reichard kick) 10 plays, 97 yards, TOP 5:04
USM 7, UA 49
UA - Cameron Latu 11 yd pass from Bryce Young (Will Reichard kick) 4 plays, 68 yards, TOP 1:30
USM 14, UA 49
USM - Jones,Demarcus 11 yd pass from Keyes,Ty (Bourgeois,Brigg kick) 12 plays, 84 yards, TOP 5:31
USM 14, UA 56
UA - J. Williams 83 yd kickoff return (Will Reichard kick)
USM 14, UA 63
UA - Javon Baker 24 yd pass from Jalen Milroe (Will Reichard kick) 8 plays, 85 yards, TOP 4:09
