Fantastic News: Western Kentucky is defeated by No. 5 Alabama football in the inaugural Kalen DeBoer era game.

Fantastic News: Western Kentucky is defeated by No. 5 Alabama football in the inaugural Kalen DeBoer era game.

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama — The Alabama Crimson Tide trounced the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 63-0 on Saturday night in Bryant-Denny Stadium in the inaugural game of head coach Kalen DeBoer’s tenure.

That’s because the No. 5 Alabama football team destroyed the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in the season opener, playing in real game action for the first time after all the hoopla about its crazy offseason. After scoring 42 points in the first half, the Crimson Tide (1-0) didn’t look back.

Alabama’s decisive victory dispelled any concerns about how it will do in the first game without illustrious former coach Nick Saban. Jalen Milroe, the quarterback, was excellent; he completed three of his four passes for touchdowns in the first half, including an 84-yard pass to Ryan Williams, the much-discussed rookie sensation.

In his third career meeting with Alabama at a third different school, Hilltoppers quarterback TJ Finley threw two interceptions in the first quarter to transfer defensive back Keon Sabb, who was also making his Crimson Tide debut. With a 64-yard runback to set his team up at Western Kentucky’s 26, quarterback Nick Sabb highlighted his second choice. Wide receiver Kendrick Law was the recipient of a 22-yard touchdown pass from Milroe as a result.

Opportunities to move the ball downfield were abundant for Western Kentucky; Finley’s second interception came on a play that began two yards short of the red zone. Later, before the second quarter ended, Caden Veltkamp joined the game and benched him. Following a high snap in the, Milroe lost a fumble.

final seconds of the first quarter, but Lucas Carneiro’s eventual field goal attempt from 38 yards out was unsuccessful. The Hilltoppers extended the drive twice and went for it on fourth down three times in their last drive of the first half. Finley attempted a pass on fourth and five but was unable to reach Alabama’s five-yard line, causing the series to come to a stop.

Milroe scored a touchdown on the ground each of the first two halves. The 2024 season began with the first, a 12-yard scramble in the first quarter. As it turned out, neither DeBoer’s team nor its starting quarterback, who starts the season positioned in his role, were deterred by the rain that clouded the gameday skies. It was a rough day for the running backs as well, particularly in the second frame. During the quarter, sophomore Justice Haynes ran for 85 yards while Jam Miller ran for 39 yards. Milroe completed his day with a 7-for-9 completion rate, 200 yards of completion, and three touchdowns.