Croyle carries Tide to win over MTSU

The Alabama quarterback suffered a season-ending knee injury in the third game last season, and the Alabama offense sputtered after that.

Croyle threw for 210 yards and a touchdown, and Tim Castille ran for two scores to lead Alabama to a 26-7 season-opening win over Middle Tennessee on Saturday night.

“I was kind of rusty myself for the first quarter or quarter and a half,” said Croyle. “I really didn’t get hit that much, just a couple of times. The game itself was a very big step for our group.”

That group includes running backs Kenneth Darby and Tim Castille, also returning from injuries last season. Castille scored two touchdowns and ran 17 times for 90 yards.

“It was good to see number 34 (Darby) out there making yards. He’s back in the saddle so to speak,” said coach Mike Shula.

Castille admitted he was a little nervous Saturday night.

“I almost felt like a freshman coming out of the tunnel,” he said.

Alabama’s offense sputtered last season after Croyle’s year ended when he injured his knee in the third game. Even with their quarterback back, the Crimson Tide (1-0) started slow again against the Blue Raiders.

Croyle overthrew several receivers early and tossed a first-half interception. Running back Kenneth Darby — who was hampered last season by injuries to his ankle and an abdominal muscle — appeared tentative early, gaining only 16 yards in the first half.

“Obviously it was a struggle at first. Middle Tennessee did a great job,” Shula said.

But on the first possession of the second half, Darby ran five times for 55 yards and Croyle threw a 13-yard scoring pass to Tyrone Prothro.

Later in the third quarter, Croyle completed a 24-yard pass to Matt Caddell to help set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Castille.

With the exception of one long scoring drive in the first half, Middle Tennessee (0-1) could not move the ball much against a stingy Crimson Tide defense that held the Blue Raiders to 34 yards rushing and 157 yards of total offense.

“We got beat by a good defensive football team,” said Middle Tennessee Coach Andy McCollum.”We were backed up a lot. … Trying to convert third and long or second and long was tough.”

More than 300 refugees from Hurricane Katrina attended the game, thanks to some Alabama fans who donated their tickets at a Red Cross shelter in Tuscaloosa. Alabama gave $1 from every ticket sold to the hurricane relief effort.

Neither team could muster much offense in the first half and, appropriately, the first points of the game came on a defensive play. Alabama went ahead 2-0 with 3:49 to play in the first quarter when Mark Anderson tackled Blue Raiders quarterback Clint Marks in the end zone for a safety.

The teams swapped touchdowns in the second quarter. Alabama scored on a 1-yard run by Castille, while Marks connected with Nick McAfee on a 14-yard pass for Middle Tennessee’s only score.

Alabama played the game without starting kicker Jamie Christensen and three reserves, quarterback Mark Guillon, running back Aaron Johns and strong safety Marcus Carter. Shula said the players were suspended for one game for violating team policy, but did not give details. The four dressed for the game, but did not play.

Ryan Saxby replaced Christensen. He kicked a 32-yard field goal and missed a 45-yard attempt.