Alabama hangs on, 30-24

John Parker Wilson completed 13 of his first 15 passes for 185 yards and three touchdowns and Alabama raced to a 27-0 lead, then held off Colorado, 30-24, in the Independence Bowl on Sunday night.

Colorado’s attempt at a multi-lateral play as time expired collapsed shy of midfield, ending the game.

Alabama (7-6) stopped a four-game losing streak and avoided consecutive losing seasons for the first time in 50 years. Colorado (6-7) finished below .500 for the second consecutive season, but was vastly improved from a 2-10 mark in 2006.

With the Crimson Tide ahead, 27-0, Wilson was in firm control until being chased into an intentional grounding penalty with five minutes left in the first half. He threw an interception on his next attempt, leading to a Buffaloes score, and didn’t complete another throw in the half.

Colorado quarterback Cody Hawkins, meanwhile, recovered from an interception on the Buffaloes’ first play and finished the half nine for 10 for 87 yards and two scores.

Hawkins’ 25-yard pass to Dusty Sprague with four seconds left in the half cut Alabama’s lead to 27-14. Alabama amassed 170 yards in the first quarter and had 285 by halftime, but added only 103 yards in the second half.