One to grow on

SHREVEPORT, La. - Just when the finish line seemed to be fading, the team that couldn't complete a game got what it needed.

Linebacker Darren Mustin intercepted a tipped pass to stall a surging Colorado team and swung momentum in Alabama's favor for the first time in almost two quarters en route to the Crimson Tide's 30-24 win against Colorado in Sunday's Independence Bowl.

Alabama (7-6) capitalized on the turnover, as former Muscle Shoals star Leigh Tiffin booted a 26-yard field goal to give the Crimson Tide a 30-17 cushion with 3:16 to play.

Colorado (6-7) responded with a 45-second scoring strike and had more chance, regaining possession with 1.4 seconds left. But after a short pass, a four-lateral desperation play fell dead near midfield, ending the Buffaloes comeback and igniting a celebration on the Alabama sideline for the first time since Oct. 20.

"I'm proud of our team for the way they competed," Alabama coach Nick Saban said. "Losing the last four games of the season, it could have been hard for them to do what they did."

Alabama almost didn't though. After surging to a 27-0 second quarter lead, the Crimson Tide surrendered 17 unanswered points and scored just once - on Tiffin's final field goal - in the second quarter.

Colorado finally got on the scoreboard after safety Ryan Walter intercepted a John Parker Wilson pass and returned it 35 yards to the Alabama 35-yard line and Buffaloes quarterback Cody Hawkins followed up with a touchdown pass with 2:05 left in the first half.

Then, with the clock ticking down under 15 seconds in the half, Hawkins found Dusty Sprague, who beat Kareem Jackson on a comeback route and trotted into the end zone. That capped a 1:07 drive that set up a 27-14 Alabama halftime lead.

Colorado's Chris Eberhart made it 27-17 with a 39-yard field goal with 3:00 left in the third quarter after hooking a 48-yard attempt wide-left earlier in the quarter.

"Third down was a problem," Saban said. "We couldn't get off the field on third down."

The Tide defense played without Rolando McClain down the stretch. The freshman linebacker, who returned an interception 17-yards to set up Alabama's 6-0 first-quarter lead, left the game with a broken thumb he suffered while diving to break up a pass with just more than five minutes left in the third quarter.

Hawkins finished with 322 yards and two interceptions.

Wilson, however, was named the game's offensive MVP, also matching the record with three touchdown passes, all in the first half, and finishing with 256 yards and one pick. Alabama senior defensive end Wallace Gilberry was named defensive MVP in his collegiate finale.

"It feels great. I'm just glad for the seniors, who can go out as winners and for the players coming back," Saban said. "Winning games like this is great for their development."

Bryan App can be reached at 740-5730 or bryan.app@timesdaily.com.