Final
Wilson helps Alabama snap four-game skid with win over Colorado
Dec 31, 2007 - 7:27 AM SHREVEPORT, Louisiana (Ticker) -- After a disappointing final month to the season, Alabama finished its campaign on a high note.John Parker Wilson threw for 256 yards and three touchdowns as the Crimson Tide got off to a fast start and held on for a 30-24 triumph over Colorado in the Independence Bowl on Sunday.
The win snapped a four-game losing streak for Alabama (7-6), which had been ranked as high as No. 17 on November 3. It also helped the Crimson Tide avoid back-to-back losing seasons for the first time since 1957.
"This was a great win for us and our seniors to go out as winners, and the young guys played with a lot of resolve today and won a great game for the University of Alabama," Alabama coach Nick Saban said.
"With what happened to us the last four games (of the regular season), it really showed a lot of maturity on our part to finish it up the way we did after the Auburn game," Wilson said.
Wilson, who had thrown just one touchdown in his previous three games combined, threw for two in the first quarter as Alabama jumped out to a 20-0 lead with 1:31 left in the opening period.
The Crimson Tide's signal caller threw his third TD pass early in the second quarter - a 31-yard score to Nikita Stover - giving Alabama a 27-0 bulge with 12:20 to go in the first half.
Wilson finished the game completing 19-of-32 passes with three TDs and one interception. After the stellar performance, he is looking forward to keeping it going next season.
"It's humbling. With everyone who has been here, it's really great," Wilson said. "I think this team has a long way to go, but with everything we built this year I am really optimistic.
"It gives us great momentum heading into the offseason. It can give our guys something to build on and propel us to have a good offseason of work."
But Colorado battled back to make it a game at the half, something receiver Tyson DeVree used as a source of pride.
"That is what Colorado football is all about," he said. "We never give up. They came out and hit us in the mouth early, that is for sure, but we fought back hard, and we gave it all we had, but we just ran out of time."
Cody Hawkins threw two touchdown passes in the final 2:05 of the second quarter - the second one with four seconds to play - cutting the deficit to 27-14 at the break.
"We had a little trouble finding our rhythm at the start, and we could not convert third downs," Colorado coach Dan Hawkins said. "We also allowed them to convert third downs in the beginning.
"I think that we needed to settle down and get in the groove."
Trailing, 30-17, late in the fourth quarter, Cody Hawkins connected with DeVree on a 14-yard touchdown to pull the Buffaloes within 30-24 with 3:51 remaining.
"Cody threw a great ball; he really threaded the ball on that play," DeVree said. "I did not run a great route, but he threw a great pass."
However, Colorado did not get another possession until there was one second left and could not manage anything on the final play.
Cody Hawkins was 24-of-39 for 322 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions for the Buffaloes (6-7), who suffered their first back-to-back losing seasons in 22 years.
- INDEPENDENCE BOWL
SHREVEPORT LA
NCAAF FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
ALABAMA 20 7 0 3 30
COLORADO 0 14 3 7 24 FINAL
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: ALABAMA - FG, LEIGH TIFFIN 41 YD, 3:30.
ALABAMA 3-0
ALABAMA - FG, LEIGH TIFFIN 24 YD, 5:47.
ALABAMA 6-0
ALABAMA - TD, KEITH BROWN 15 YD PASS FROM
JOHN PARKE
Dec 30 11:27 PM
TD COLORADO TYSON DEVREE 14 YD PASS FROM CODY HAWKINS (KEVIN EBERHART KICK)
Alabama vs. ColoradoDec 30 11:15 PM
TD COLORADO TYSON DEVREE 14 YD PASS FROM CODY HAWKINS (KEVIN EBERHART KICK)
Alabama vs. ColoradoDec 30 11:15 PM
TD COLORADO TYSON DEVREE 14 YD PASS FROM CODY HAWKINS (KEVIN EBERHART KICK)
Alabama vs. ColoradoDec 30 11:15 PM- INDEPENDENCE BOWL
SHREVEPORT LA
NCAAF INDEPENDENCE BOWL
TD COLORADO
TYSON DEVREE 14 YD PASS FROM CODY HAWKINS
(KEVIN EBERHART KICK)
ALABAMA 30
COLORADO 24 3:51 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Alabama vs. ColoradoDec 30 11:15 PM - INDEPENDENCE BOWL
SHREVEPORT LA
NCAAF INDEPENDENCE BOWL
FG ALABAMA
LEIGH TIFFIN 26 YD
ALABAMA 30
COLORADO 17 4:36 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Alabama vs. ColoradoDec 30 11:08 PM - INDEPENDENCE BOWL
SHREVEPORT LA
NCAAF END, 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
ALABAMA 20 7 0 27
COLORADO 0 14 3 17 END, 3RD QTR
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: ALABAMA - FG, LEIGH TIFFIN 41 YD, 3:30.
ALABAMA 3-0
ALABAMA - FG, LEIGH TIFFIN 24 YD, 5:47.
ALABAMA 6-0
ALABAMA - TD, KEITH BROWN 15 YD PASS FROM
J
Dec 30 10:42 PM - INDEPENDENCE BOWL
SHREVEPORT LA
NCAAF INDEPENDENCE BOWL
FG COLORADO
KEVIN EBERHART 39 YD
ALABAMA 27
COLORADO 17 3:00 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Alabama vs. ColoradoDec 30 10:35 PM
TD COLORADO DUSTY SPRAGUE 25 YD PASS FROM CODY HAWKINS (KEVIN EBERHART KICK)
Alabama vs. ColoradoDec 30 9:40 PM
TD COLORADO DUSTY SPRAGUE 25 YD PASS FROM CODY HAWKINS (KEVIN EBERHART KICK)
Alabama vs. ColoradoDec 30 9:40 PM
TD COLORADO DUSTY SPRAGUE 25 YD PASS FROM CODY HAWKINS (KEVIN EBERHART KICK)
Alabama vs. ColoradoDec 30 9:40 PM- INDEPENDENCE BOWL
SHREVEPORT LA
NCAAF HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
ALABAMA 20 7 27
COLORADO 0 14 14 HALFTIME
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: ALABAMA - FG, LEIGH TIFFIN 41 YD, 3:30.
ALABAMA 3-0
ALABAMA - FG, LEIGH TIFFIN 24 YD, 5:47.
ALABAMA 6-0
ALABAMA - TD, KEITH BROWN 15 YD PASS FROM
JOHN
Dec 30 9:40 PM - INDEPENDENCE BOWL
SHREVEPORT LA
NCAAF INDEPENDENCE BOWL
TD COLORADO
DUSTY SPRAGUE 25 YD PASS FROM CODY HAWKINS
(KEVIN EBERHART KICK)
ALABAMA 27
COLORADO 14 0:05 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Alabama vs. ColoradoDec 30 9:40 PM
TD COLORADO TYSON DEVREE 4 YD PASS FROM CODY HAWKINS (KEVIN EBERHART KICK)
Alabama vs. ColoradoDec 30 9:28 PM
TD COLORADO TYSON DEVREE 4 YD PASS FROM CODY HAWKINS (KEVIN EBERHART KICK)
Alabama vs. ColoradoDec 30 9:28 PM
TD COLORADO TYSON DEVREE 4 YD PASS FROM CODY HAWKINS (KEVIN EBERHART KICK)
Alabama vs. ColoradoDec 30 9:28 PM- INDEPENDENCE BOWL
SHREVEPORT LA
NCAAF INDEPENDENCE BOWL
TD COLORADO
TYSON DEVREE 4 YD PASS FROM CODY HAWKINS
(KEVIN EBERHART KICK)
ALABAMA 27
COLORADO 7 2:05 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Alabama vs. ColoradoDec 30 9:28 PM
TD ALABAMA NIKITA STOVER 31 YD PASS FROM JOHN PARKER WILSON (LEIGH TIFFIN KICK)
Alabama vs. ColoradoDec 30 9:03 PM
TD ALABAMA NIKITA STOVER 31 YD PASS FROM JOHN PARKER WILSON (LEIGH TIFFIN KICK)
Alabama vs. ColoradoDec 30 9:03 PM
TD ALABAMA NIKITA STOVER 31 YD PASS FROM JOHN PARKER WILSON (LEIGH TIFFIN KICK)
Alabama vs. ColoradoDec 30 9:03 PM- INDEPENDENCE BOWL
SHREVEPORT LA
NCAAF INDEPENDENCE BOWL
TD ALABAMA
NIKITA STOVER 31 YD PASS FROM JOHN PARKER WILSON
(LEIGH TIFFIN KICK)
ALABAMA 27
COLORADO 0 12:20 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Alabama vs. ColoradoDec 30 9:03 PM - INDEPENDENCE BOWL
SHREVEPORT LA
NCAAF END, 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
ALABAMA 20 20
COLORADO 0 0 END, 1ST QTR
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: ALABAMA - FG, LEIGH TIFFIN 41 YD, 3:30.
ALABAMA 3-0
ALABAMA - FG, LEIGH TIFFIN 24 YD, 5:47.
ALABAMA 6-0
ALABAMA - TD, KEITH BROWN 15 YD PASS FROM
J
Dec 30 8:49 PM
TD ALABAMA MATT CADDELL 34 YD PASS FROM JOHN PARKER WILSON (LEIGH TIFFIN KICK)
Alabama vs. ColoradoDec 30 8:46 PM
TD ALABAMA MATT CADDELL 34 YD PASS FROM JOHN PARKER WILSON (LEIGH TIFFIN KICK)
Alabama vs. ColoradoDec 30 8:46 PM
TD ALABAMA MATT CADDELL 34 YD PASS FROM JOHN PARKER WILSON (LEIGH TIFFIN KICK)
Alabama vs. ColoradoDec 30 8:46 PM- INDEPENDENCE BOWL
SHREVEPORT LA
NCAAF INDEPENDENCE BOWL
TD ALABAMA
MATT CADDELL 34 YD PASS FROM JOHN PARKER WILSON
(LEIGH TIFFIN KICK)
ALABAMA 20
COLORADO 0 1:31 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Alabama vs. ColoradoDec 30 8:46 PM
TD ALABAMA KEITH BROWN 15 YD PASS FROM JOHN PARKER WILSON (LEIGH TIFFIN KICK)
Alabama vs. ColoradoDec 30 8:35 PM
TD ALABAMA KEITH BROWN 15 YD PASS FROM JOHN PARKER WILSON (LEIGH TIFFIN KICK)
Alabama vs. ColoradoDec 30 8:35 PM
TD ALABAMA KEITH BROWN 15 YD PASS FROM JOHN PARKER WILSON (LEIGH TIFFIN KICK)
Alabama vs. ColoradoDec 30 8:35 PM- INDEPENDENCE BOWL
SHREVEPORT LA
NCAAF INDEPENDENCE BOWL
TD ALABAMA
KEITH BROWN 15 YD PASS FROM JOHN PARKER WILSON
(LEIGH TIFFIN KICK)
ALABAMA 13
COLORADO 0 5:09 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Alabama vs. ColoradoDec 30 8:35 PM - INDEPENDENCE BOWL
SHREVEPORT LA
NCAAF INDEPENDENCE BOWL
FG ALABAMA
LEIGH TIFFIN 24 YD
ALABAMA 6
COLORADO 0 9:13 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Alabama vs. ColoradoDec 30 8:20 PM - INDEPENDENCE BOWL
SHREVEPORT LA
NCAAF INDEPENDENCE BOWL
FG ALABAMA
LEIGH TIFFIN 41 YD
ALABAMA 3
COLORADO 0 11:30 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Alabama vs. ColoradoDec 30 8:13 PM
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