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No. 1 Alabama rolls past Georgia State, 45-3

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — AJ McCarron completed 15 of 16 passes for 166 yards and four touchdowns in the first half and No. 1 Alabama rolled to a 45-3 victory over Georgia State on Saturday.

The Crimson Tide (5-0) jumped ahead 38-0 by halftime in what might have turned into a name-your-score game against the Panthers (0-5), a first-year Football Bowl Subdivision team.

McCarron led Alabama to touchdowns on each of his five possessions before leaving and set the school record for completion percentage in a game. He completed his first 12 passes, putting him in a three-way tie for the Tide’s third-longest streak.

The four touchdown passes matched his career high and was the seventh time McCarron has reached that number. Alabama outgained the Panthers 477-175 and held them to 15 yards on 22 rushes.

The Tide hasn’t allowed a touchdown in the past three games, giving up only three field goals.

Georgia State ended Alabama’s bid for a second straight shutout with Wil Lutz’s school-record 53-yard field goal to cap the second half’s opening drive. Ronnie Bell’s 34-yard pass to Albert Wilson put the Panthers across midfield for the first time and helped set up the score.

Bell completed 11 of 20 passes for 146 yards. Albert Wilson gained 60 yards on four catches.

Landon Collins started in place of Tide safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, who was suspended indefinitely for violating team rules. He reportedly accepted a short-term loan from an assistant, but the star’s absence wasn’t a problem in the mismatch.

The Tide scored on every possession until freshman sub Adam Griffith missed a 30-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter and only punted once. Numerous subs played on both sides of the ball for Alabama starting before the half.

Backup quarterback Blake Sims wasn’t far behind McCarron’s accuracy. He completed 14 of 18 passes for 130 yards and his second career touchdown, a 10-yard pass to Chris Black that was the game’s final score with 6:18 left in the third quarter.

Alabama scored three touchdowns in the first quarter, capping it with DeAndrew White’s one-handed grab for an 11-yard scoring catch one play after the Tide recovered a fumbled punt return.

Backup tailback Kenyan Drake added a 23-yard catch on a swing pass early in the second quarter. He bounced off a defender near the line of scrimmage and dove into end zone.

Starter T.J. Yeldon ran for 28 yards on the game’s first play and finished with six carries for 51 yards.

Drake finished with five carries for 40 yards. Freshman Derrick Henry gained 50 yards on five carries.

Alabama freshman defensive end A’Shawn Robinson made his first career start in place of Jeoffrey Pagan (shoulder), and plenty of other youngsters and reserves saw significant action.

Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron watches from the sidelines during the second half of an NCAA college football game as Alabama defeated Georgia State 45-3 on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
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