Associated Press
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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Trent Richardson ran for two touchdowns and Greg McElroy passed for 218 yards to help No. 1 Alabama beat San Jose State 48-3 on Saturday night.
The defending national champion Crimson Tide (1-0) shrugged off the absence of injured Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram and suspended defensive end Marcell Dareus in the opening mismatch.
The subs played much of the game, anyway, after the Tide raced to a 31-3 halftime lead over the Spartans. Richardson ran for 66 yards and had three catches for 46 yards before sitting out the second half. He scored on runs of 4 and 39 yards for an offense that uncorked plenty of big plays.
Julio Jones made the most dramatic with a diving, one-handed grab for a 29-yard touchdown from backup quarterback A.J. McCarron early in the second quarter. He finished with six catches for 93 yards and gained 13 yards on an end around to set up the Tide’s first touchdown.
Alabama outgained the Spartans 591-175.
McElroy mostly seemed to be playing pitch and catch, completing 13 of 15 passes but leaving after only one series of the second half. He had a 48-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Marquis Maze on a go route down the right sideline.
The Tide had seven first-time starters on defense, but wasn’t challenged by an offense that averaged 13.8 points last season. The first down totals best told the tale of the lopsided game: Alabama 30, San Jose State 7.
