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Alabama's Amari Cooper gets edge on Gators' Vernon Hargreaves

 
Amari Cooper scores one of his three touchdown for Alabama before finishing with 10 catches for 201 yards.
Amari Cooper scores one of his three touchdown for Alabama before finishing with 10 catches for 201 yards.
Published Sept. 21, 2014

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — In the highly anticipated matchup between Alabama WR Amari Cooper and Gators CB Vernon Hargreaves, Cooper emerged the victor, but Hargreaves earned Alabama's respect, coach Nick Saban said.

Cooper, a junior from Miami, had 10 receptions for 201 yards and three touchdowns. Hargreaves, the sophomore who is a Wharton High School alumnus, had six tackles, three solo.

"We figured that Will (Muschamp) would match him up with (Cooper), but we were going to try to get the ball to Coop," Saban said. "One big play we had called back because we were in an illegal formation, which is another example of lack of discipline and lack of attention to detail kind of penalty.

''Coop did a great job in the game. We have a lot of respect for their No. 1 guy (Hargreaves). He is a very good player. But when you have matchups like that with two good players, I think when you analyze the whole thing, both guys will end up making some plays."

INJURY UPDATE: Florida's offensive line troubles continued. RT Trenton Brown suffered a high ankle sprain, but could return against Tennessee in two weeks. LT Chaz Green, a Tampa Catholic alumnus, was out of the game for a period with a leg injury, but returned.

"It's tough because we have a certain chemistry together, but when guys get hurt, guys have to step up and play," C Max Garcia said.

RB Mark Herndon suffered a knee injury, but Muschamp said he's unsure of the severity.

TURNOVERS KEY: Florida had three key turnovers to score 21 points, and two bay area players were key. Gulf High alumnus Leon Orr forced a fumble on Alabama's first drive of the second quarter and Lakewood's Dante Fowler recovered it. Neiron Ball tipped a pass on the opening drive of the second half, and LB Antonio Morrison made an interception to set up a 14-yard touchdown run. And DB Keanu Neal had a 49-yard fumble return for a touchdown in the first quarter.

However, the Gators' secondary struggled with pass protection for a second straight week — giving up the fourth-longest pass play in school history — 87 yards from QB Blake Sims to RB Kenyan Drake.

"The coverage, we've got to adjust," Neal said. "We've got to communicate with each other. When they motion, we've got to know where to go and we didn't do that well today."

DID YOU KNOW: Derrick Henry, the Alabama sophomore running back who rushed 20 times for 111 yards and the game-changing touchdown to give the Tide a 28-21 lead, grew up in Yulee — and was a huge Gator fan.

Contact Antonya English at aenglish@tampabay.com or (813) 226-3389. Follow @TBTimes_Gators