Working with Alabama's second-team offense and against its second-team defense on Saturday, the redshirt sophomore quarterback engineered an 11-play, 62-yard drive that ate up the final 1:13 of the A-Day game. But his last pass to Kevin Norwood in the end zone fell incomplete.
Trailing 14-10, McCarron had to take the final shot from 28 yards out on fourth-and-11 and just seven seconds left.
McCarron kept the drive going earlier, converting fourth-and-10 from his 49-yard line by hitting Kenny Bell with a 24-yard pass. He then found Eddie Lacy on a 5-yard pass to put the ball on the Crimson 22 with 19 seconds left. His next pass was incomplete, and a 6-yard sack by Brandon Lewis followed. After a timeout came the final play, which resulted in franks and beans for the White.
Defensive numbers
Alabama's strong defensive play Saturday was led by linebacker C.J. Mosley, who topped the White (the first-team defense) with nine tackles (seven solo), a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry. Linebackers Courtney Upshaw, Dont'a Hightower and defensive back DeQuan Menzie had six tackles each. Menzie also had an interception. Hightower, linebacker Jerrell Harris and defensive linemen Damion Square and Chris Bonds had one sack each.
The second-team defense was led by linebacker Chris Jordan and defensive back Ranzell Watkins, each with nine tackles. Defensive lineman Brandon Lewis had five tackles, including a pair of sacks. Lineman Nick Gentry and linebacker Adrian Hubbard had one sack apiece.
Clean game
Only two penalties were called in the game, both against the White, totaling 20 yards.
New players
So how did the defensive additions do? Vinnie Sunseri led all Alabama spring-semester additions with six tackles (four solo), and his roommate, linebacker Trey DePriest, had five tackles (two solo). Defensive linemen Jesse Williams and Quinton Dial each had an assisted tackle.
How'd they do it?
Upon further review, Alabama's safeties, who were wearing black non-contact jerseys still made an impact -- literally. Nick Perry (shoulder) had two solo tackles despite not being allowed to tackle. Jarrick Williams returned an interception 28 yards. Mark Barron had the biggest play of all, returning a fumble 96 yards -- untouched -- for a touchdown. He later recover another fumble for 4 yards.
Record attendance
Alabama's estimated A-Day attendance of 92,310 at Bryant-Denny Stadium set a record for the annual spring game. The record surpassed the 2007 attendance of 92,138 set during Nick Saban's first year. It marked the third time in Saban's five years that the A-Day attendance surpassed 90,000 fan, including last year's attendance of 91,312. The national attendance record for a spring game was set by Ohio State with 95,722 in 2009.
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