Alabama 13, Vanderbilt 10

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Posted 8:22PM on Saturday, September 9, 2006

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - When all else failed, Alabama turned to the freshman kicker. Walk-on Leigh Tiffin's 47-yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter helped the Crimson Tide overcome drive-killing mistakes and beat Vanderbilt 13-10 on Saturday. ``I knew it was a big kick but it didn't really overwhelm me,'' said Tiffin, subbing for an injured Jamie Christensen. How big? Along with a defense that forced four turnovers, it helped Alabama (2-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) extend its winning streak over the Commodores to 18 games and overcome an offense that couldn't finish off drives. Tide fans who aren't used to sweating out such close games against Vandy (0-2, 0-1) reacted more with relief than excitement when Juwan Simpson finally made an interception as time expired. ``It's always a relief when you win,'' Simpson said. ``They fought from the first play all the way through. Vandy's defense made Tiffin's job harder, sacking John Parker Wilson for a 13-yard loss on third-and-8. Alabama coach Mike Shula, who had earlier called for a fake field goal rather than have Tiffin try a 41-yarder, turned to him to win the game. The son of famed former Tide kicker Van Tiffin sent a line-drive through the uprights with 7:34 left. ``It was amazing,'' Simpson said. ``I don't even think they've practiced kicking it that far.'' Alabama had salvaged the opportunity when Wilson sidestepped a defender and hit Nikita Stover for a 36-yard pass on third-and-18. The Commodores, who led 10-3 at halftime, then went three-and-out on the subsequent possession. The Tide ran out most of the final 5:01. Vandy got one final chance, taking over at its own 15 with 48 seconds left. Nickson threw two incompletions and a clock-burning short pass to Earl Bennett before scrambling 9 yards to the sideline. Simpson intercepted his desperate downfield pass to end the game. ``I'm kind of speechless,'' Commodores tailback Cassen Jackson-Garrison said. ``It hurts. We had led this game the entire time. We just needed a little more time to pull it out.'' Shula was a sophomore quarterback for Alabama the last time Vandy won a game in the series, back in 1984. Instead, the Tide won its 15th consecutive SEC opener. ``In a game like this you've got to find a way to win, and we did,'' Shula said. His team couldn't put this one away until the end thanks to a number of squandered scoring chances, failing to get points three times after driving inside the Vandy 35. The Tide's biggest blunders came when Goff forced a Tim Castille fumble at the Vandy 13 and jarred the ball loose from Jimmy Johns at the 2. But Simeon Castille intercepted two passes by Nickson, the second setting up Tiffin's second field goal. He has started the first two games in place of Christensen, out with a groin injury. What went through his mind lining up? ``Just making the field goal,'' Tiffin said. ``You don't really want to psyche yourself out.'' Wilson completed 18-of-29 passes for 207 yards, including an interception and a 31-yard touchdown pass to DJ Hall, making his season debut after a suspension and ankle injury. That TD tied the game at 10-all on the opening drive of the third quarter. Keith Brown caught eight passes for 99 yards and Kenneth Darby battled for 65 yards on 21 carries. Wilson and Nickson were both making their SEC debuts as starters. Nickson, a former Alabama prep Mr. Football from Brundidge, was 15-of-23 passing for 140 yards with a TD and three picks. He also ran for 40 yards. ``We had opportunities but we didn't capitalize on several,'' Vandy coach Bobby Johnson said. ``Alabama made a few first downs to keep the ball and they made it a little tough on our offense to do the things we wanted to do to win.'' Bennett had five catches for a modest 45 yards, and the Tide was determined not to let the Vandy star win in the end. ``We knew Earl Bennett was the guy,'' Simeon Castille said. ``We knew they were going to get it to him. We were just trying to use that tendency to our advantage.'' (Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)