Alabama Wins in a Rush

Kenneth Darby rushed for 145 yards and a touchdown, and Alabama ran through gaping holes and missed tackles for 338 yards of rushing offense in a 37-14 win over South Carolina on Saturday.

It was a rare road win for Alabama Coach Mike Shula. Since he took over in 2003, the Crimson Tide (3-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) had beaten only Mississippi State and Kentucky away from Tuscaloosa.

Alabama had 489 yards of offense, its biggest total under Shula.

For first-year South Carolina Coach Steve Spurrier, it marked the first time he has started 0-2 in the SEC. In Spurrier’s 12 years at Florida, he lost more than two SEC games only once (in 1992).

The Crimson Tide came into the game believing it would use its new passing attack that averaged 271 yards in the first two games. But it quickly shifted gears when it became apparent the Gamecocks (1-2, 0-2) couldn’t stop the run.

Alabama gained 185 yards rushing in the first half, better than the Tide’s totals in each of its first two games.

No. 7 Georgia 44, Louisiana Monroe 7 -- Danny Ware rushed for 109 yards and Martrez Milner caught three passes for 79 yards and a touchdown for the Bulldogs at Athens, Ga.

Playing three quarters for Georgia, D.J. Shockley completed 13 of 20 passes for 246 yards and a touchdown and added a 28-yard touchdown run.

Ware started at tailback for Thomas Brown, who was out because of a separated shoulder.

Vanderbilt 31, Mississippi 23 -- Jay Cutler threw for 314 yards and ran for another 58 in Nashville, and the Commodores are 3-0 for the first time since 1984.

Jeff Jennings ran 24 times for 103 yards and three touchdowns, the last with 1:26 left to make it an eight-point game.

Mississippi State 21, Tulane 14 -- In Tulane’s season opener, delayed by Hurricane Katrina, Mississippi State used Jerious Norwood’s late 17-yard touchdown run to beat the Green Wave in Shreveport, La.

Tulane played its first game nearly 350 miles from home after the storm ravaged New Orleans.

Auburn 63, Ball State 3 -- Kenny Irons and Brad Lester rushed for two touchdowns each and Lester returned a kick 93 yards for another touchdown, helping the Tigers roll to a victory at Auburn.

Brandon Cox completed 16 of 19 passes for 171 yards and a touchdown for the Tigers (2-1).