Josh Ford’s touchdown grab was only part of Alabama’s 49-18 win over South Carolina, but it was the moment that came with a little extra edge.
Late in the fourth quarter, after the game had already swung firmly in Alabama’s direction, South Carolina edge Dylan Stewart hit Ford with a right uppercut in the end zone following a Crimson Tide touchdown. ESPN cameras caught the punch.
Ford didn’t sound bothered after the game. In fact, he brushed it off as part of a heated matchup.
“Man, he’s a great player,” Ford told reporters. “We had a lot of fun today.
I think he punched me three times, but it was awesome. It’s a good battle.”
When asked whether he had said anything to Stewart before the punch, Ford said he was only trying to be complimentary.
“No, I was just like, ‘Man, you’re good, you’re great, a great guy,’” Ford said, adding that Steward evidently did not like to hear that.
Stewart had a rough afternoon beyond the scuffle. He was flagged multiple times and also got into an argument with South Carolina coach Shane Beamer during the game.
Ford’s day was memorable for a different reason. The Oklahoma State transfer, usually known more for his blocking than his hands, hauled in a one-handed touchdown catch in the end zone.
Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer also had plenty to say about the tight end group after the win, pointing to the way the Tide used that position all over the field.
“Yeah, they’re getting very consistent,” DeBoer said. “A lot of different guys involved.
The touchdown, by Josh, that was great to see. That throw on the catch at the end to Marshall (Pritchett) was pretty impressive.
And you know, when you’re running routes and getting tight ends involved that far down the field, usually you think of receivers running some of those routes.“
That shows the confidence and the ability level that those guys have, and that we have in them. And so, you know, we can get the run game going. Tight ends are going to open up in the play action game, and that showed up tonight quite a few times, not just with the tight ends, but also with the receivers as well."
Alabama heads to Starkville next Saturday to face Mississippi State.
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