TUSCALOOSA — For only the second time all season, No. 1 Alabama (8-0) found itself trailing in the second half Saturday against No. 6 Texas A&M (6-1).  Just like the first time, Alabama wasn’t down on the scoreboard for long.

Defensive end Jonathan Allen returned a fumble 29 yards in the third quarter and quaterback Jalen Hurts juked his way to the end zone on an electrifying 37-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter as Alabama pulled away for a 33-14 win.  Allen’s touchdown was the Crimson Tide’s twelfth non-offensive touchdown of the season, and it all but ended any hopes the Aggies had of pulling off a stunning upset.

“Somebody knocked the ball out, and I think that was the real turning point in the game because I think it changed the momentum of the game,” said Alabama coach Nick Saban. “Those plays are always huge in games but that one was especially huge in this game.”

The Crimson Tide were tested for the second time this year, coming back Saturday just as they did earlier this year from a three touchdown deficit against Ole Miss. The win puts Alabama back in a familiar position — unquestionably on top of the SEC West standings as the division’s only undefeated team.

Alabama dominated the first half statistically, but only had two Adam Griffith field goals and Hurts’ 5-yard touchdown pass to O.J. Howard to show for it. Griffith made kicks from 32 and 28 yards, but missed a 29-yard field goal that would’ve put Alabama up 16-0.

“I thought we left some money on the table in the first half in terms of not scoring touchdowns in the red area,” Saban said.

Much of the lead up to the game involved Texas A&M quarterback Trevor Knight, the Oklahoma transfer that had led the Sooners to a stunning upset of Alabama in the 2014 Sugar Bowl. Knight had his moments, including two touchdown passes, but he was mostly quieted by Alabama’s defense.

He connected with Josh Reynolds for a 2-yard touchdown pass with 38 seconds left in the first half to pull A&M within 13-7. Knight set up the score with a 27-yard touchdown run on fourth down to get to the Texas A&M 2-yard line.

The Aggies rode the momentum from that score into the second half. Texas A&M got the ball first and marched 75 yards on seven plays to take the lead. Knight threw a 25-yard dart to receiver Christian Kirk in the corner of the end zone to put the Aggies up 14-13 with 12:54 left in the third quarter.

After falling behind, Alabama didn’t blink.

The offense stalled early on the ensuing drive, but a roughing the passer call awarded the Crimson Tide a free first down.

Hurts and the Alabama offense did the rest. The freshman quarterback ran 19 yards to the Aggies 2-yard line and connected with Calvin Ridley two plays later on a 4-yard score that put Alabama up for good.

On the next drive, Alabama’s defense did its part to put it away. Ryan Anderson stripped the ball away from Aggies running back Keith Ford and Allen picked it up and rumbled down the sideline for a backbreaking touchdown.

“I think those two scores in that short period of time were real keys in changing the momentum of the game,” Saban said.

Hurts did the rest, scoring on the next drive on a run where he reversed field and cut back and forth through the Aggies defense for a touchdown. He finished the game 15-for-25 passing for 164 yards with two touchdowns, but again did a lot of damage on the ground as well. He ran 21 times for 94 yards.

Knight was held to only 24 yards rushing and was sacked five times. He was also intercepted during the first half. Knight’s interception proved to be costly, as it came one play after Hurts’ threw an interception that set the Aggies up at the Alabama 49-yard line. At that point, the Texas A&M offense had gotten almost nothing going.

Alabama held a big yardage advantage, outgaining the Aggies 451-287. Alabama running back Damien Harris ran 18 times for 125 yards to lead all rushers. Kirk had nine catches for 58 yards for Texas A&M.

Alabama will have a week off before traveling to Baton Rouge to face LSU on Nov. 5.