Alabama football TE Josh Ford addresses punch from Dylan Stewart

Dylan Stewart couldn’t get to Keelon Russell all night, so perhaps he decided to take it out on Josh Ford.

Whatever his motivation, the South Carolina star linebacker, who is among the elite pass rushers in college football, threw a punch at Alabama football TE Josh Ford in the fourth quarter of Alabama‘s 49-18 rout of the visiting Gamecocks on Saturday, Sept. 26. Ford, who did not retaliate, merely grinned when asked about the punch.

“Man, he’s a great player. We had a lot of fun today. I think he punched me three times, but it was awesome, it was a good battle,” Ford said.

Stewart threw a right hand at Ford’s helmet while the two were standing in the north end zone after Alabama had scored on a 1-yard touchdown run by Daniel Hill midway through the fourth quarter. It marked a disappointing end to a frustrating night for Stewart, who not only failed to record a sack of Alabama QB Keelon Russell, but didn’t even make a tackle. His only statistical impact was a single QB hurry. He wasn’t the only South Carolina player to lose his temper late in the blowout, but as the most talented player on the roster, his outburst got the most attention.

UA coach Kalen DeBoer noted that play “got a little chippy at times,” but said he was proud that Alabama’s players “put our team first.”

Reach Tuscaloosa News columnist Chase Goodbread at cgoodbread@gannett.com. Follow on X @chasegoodbread.

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This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama football TE Josh Ford addresses punch from Dylan Stewart