Alabama wins Iron Bowl tune up over Chattanooga

Published 12:09 am Sunday, November 24, 2013

Alabaama’s Kenyan Drake stiff arms a Chattanooga defender during Alabama’s blowout victory against Chattanooga Saturday. --Kent Gidley

Alabaama’s Kenyan Drake stiff arms a Chattanooga defender during Alabama’s blowout victory against Chattanooga Saturday. –Kent Gidley

TUSCALOOSA (AP) — It wasn’t the biggest pass of AJ McCarron’s career, but it might have been the most personal.

McCarron threw for two touchdowns and became No. 1 Alabama’s winningest quarterback in Saturday’s 49-0 victory over Chattanooga. His most memorable toss went for 3 measly yards.

On his final drive in his last game at Bryant-Denny Stadium, McCarron found his little brother, Corey, early in the third quarter. The crowd might not have gotten excited, but their mom, Dee Dee Bonner, made her feelings known.

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“I literally could hear her screaming as soon as he caught it over everybody,” AJ McCarron said. “I guess the rest of the crowd was, ‘All right, great, 5-yard gain.’ And she was still yelling. The whole family was probably crying.”

McCarron completed 13 of 16 passes for 171 yards for the Crimson Tide (11-0). He improved to 36-2 as a starter, breaking a tie with Jay Barker for the school mark.

McCarron and Alabama got an easy tuneup for the Iron Bowl against No. 6 Auburn to determine the Southeastern Conference Western Division champion. Both teams are still hoping for national title shots in a state that has claimed the last four BCS championships.

The Tide defense produced its third shutout of the year, blocking a field goal against the FCS Mocs (8-4).

“For me, it was perfect,” linebacker C.J. Mosley said of his final home game. “We came out with a shutout. It can’t get any better than that for a defensive player. We talked about this being a momentum game, going into next week and the rest of the season.”

Kenyan Drake ran for 77 yards and a 13-yard touchdown with starting tailback T.J. Yeldon sitting out to rest a sprained ankle. Freshman Derrick Henry ran six times for 66 yards and scored on a 5-yard touchdown set up by his own 27-yard scamper.

Next week, Alabama will travel to Auburn for the Iron Bowl.