Alabama notes: Record-setting day for Alabama's defense

COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- With four interceptions in its 41-23 win over Texas A&M, Alabama now has 12 interceptions through seven games.

Junior safety Eddie Jackson has five of those. Last season, Alabama had 11 interceptions.

"The four interceptions were huge in the game," Tide coach Nick Saban said. "Three scores on defense is unprecedented and probably some kind of record. Minkah (Fitzpatrick) having two is fantastic for a freshman."

The Crimson Tide's 207 interception return yards against Texas A&M is an Alabama single-game record, the third-most in SEC history and the most since Tennessee had 214 versus South Carolina in 1971.

Jackson's 119 return yards on interceptions is the most yards in a single game by an Alabama defender. The previous record high was 98 by Mark McMillian against Chattanooga on Oct. 5, 1991. His 230 on five picks this season are also the UA record for return yards in a season. The previous high was 163 by Hootie Ingram in 1952 on 10 interceptions.

Injury update

Alabama starting center Ryan Kelly left Saturday's contest in the first half with a concussion, and did not return.

Sophomore J.C. Hassenauer replaced Kelly at center.

"Ryan was a little woozy in the first half," Alabama coach Nick Saban said. "We just decided to hold him out in the second half. I think he'll be OK."

Tide running back Kenyan Drake also left the game with a right thigh/quad injury. While running toward the sideline, Drake took a big shot to his right leg. Saban said Drake had a bruised thigh. Drake returned late in the fourth quarter.

Key fourth-and-2

On fourth-and-two in the third quarter, Alabama decided to go for it from Texas A&M's 26-yard line instead of attempting a field goal.

Texas A&M had scored on its previous drive to cut it to 28-20, and Saban didn't want to run the risk of giving the Aggies the ball back without adding points.

The play was to load up the right side and pitch it to Derrick Henry back on the left. Saban called it the flip play.

"You put everybody in the box and act like you're going to run a power," Saban said. "Then you flip the ball out to the guy, and he outruns everybody. It's a good play. It worked well. It's a risky play because if somebody comes off the edge, you get tackled for a loss."

But Saban almost called a timeout.

"The shot clock was down to one," Saban said. "I'm glad we didn't."

Henry picked up the first down with a 6-yard gain, which helped set up an Adam Griffith field goal to push the Tide's lead back to double digits.

Beating top competition

With the win over No. 9 Texas A&M on Saturday and a prior win at No. 8 Georgia on Oct. 3, Alabama owns a 35-13 (.729) mark against the Associated Press top 25, including a 19-7 (.731) record against AP top-10 teams since 2007. This season, the Tide faces off against seven teams in the AP preseason poll, the most ranked opposition of any team in the nation. Alabama finished 5-2 in 2014 against opponents ranked in the AP top 25 after going 3-2 in 2013 and 5-1 in 2012. The Tide held a 4-1 mark vs. top-25 teams in 2011 and went 5-3 against the AP top 25 in 2010.

Alabama is 23-2 in regular season games (does not include bowl games) away from Bryant-Denny Stadium since the start of the 2011 season. The Crimson Tide is 3-0 this season with wins over No. 20 Wisconsin in Arlington, at eighth-ranked Georgia and Saturday's win at No. 9 Texas A&M. Alabama was 5-1 in 2014, 4-1 in 2013, 6-0 in 2012 and 5-0 in 2011. Alabama is 2-0 all time in games at Texas A&M (1988 and 2013).

Game captains

Ryan Kelly, Reggie Ragland and A'Shawn Robinson were Alabama's captains versus Texas A&M on Saturday.

Kelly, a senior, anchors Alabama's offensive line from the center position. Kelly left the game in the first with a concussion. He was replaced by sophomore J.C. Hassenauer.

Ragland, a senior, led the defense with nine tackles (eight solo). Ragland has led the Tide in tackles in all but one game this season. He also added a sack.

Robinson, a junior, finished with four stops and .5 sack.

Scouts, press box notables

Scouts from the Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings and Jacksonville Jaguars were in attendance at Saturday's contest. There was also a representative from the NFL office.

The Capital One Bowl, Texas Bowl and TaxSlayer Bowl had officials in the press box as well.

Kickoff for Alabama-Tennessee

Following Alabama's win over Texas A&M, CBS announced that it would televise the Tide's matchup with Tennessee next week. Kickoff has been scheduled for 3:30 p.m. from Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Contact Anniston Star Sports Writer Marq Burnett at mburnett@annistonstar.com. On Twitter:@Marq_Burnett.

This story was originally published October 17, 2015 at 9:30 PM with the headline "Alabama notes: Record-setting day for Alabama's defense ."