As a career offensive lineman, UK (4-0) senior left tackle Garry Williams has spent his entire football career listening to various coaches preach about how games are won “between the trenches.”

The cliché is one of football’s most famous ways to describe how important offensive and defensive line play is to a game. But if there was ever one game where Williams thinks the cliché sticks, it’s UK’s matchup with No. 2 Alabama (5-0) on Saturday.

“This has to be the time it counts,” Williams said. “We have to attack. If we come out slow, they’ll kill us. We got to go. Start right now.”

The Crimson Tide has the best rush defense in the Southeastern Conference and third in the nation. In five games, Alabama has not allowed any opponent over 100 rushing yards, including holding Clemson to zero rushing yards. Georgia, with stud running back Knowshown Moreno, was held to 50 yards rushing last weekend.

UK’s stable of running backs finally broke out after a sluggish start, rushing for 188 yards and three touchdowns against Western Kentucky. Senior Tony Dixon scored two touchdowns and junior Alfonso Smith finished with an 11-yard average and one touchdown. Sophomore Derrick Locke ran a kickoff back 100 yards for a score as well.

So with UK’s flashy running backs pushing full steam ahead against Alabama’s top rush defense, Williams knows that UK’s offensive line play is important.

“We have to attack and dominate,” Williams said. “They have an aggressive line, the toughest we’ll face all year. I think they are the toughest line besides ours. But our job is to hit them in the mouth first.”

UK head coach Rich Brooks knows the margin of error is small when it comes to his offensive line play heading into Tuscaloosa, Ala.

“You have to have good footwork, then it’s a physical match,” Brooks said. “You can’t win them all. You hope to win some, stalemate others and lose very few battles.”

While UK’s offensive line will have its hands full on Saturday, Alabama’s own offensive line will be busy as well. UK has only allowed two touchdowns all year, both passing, due to their own physical defensive line. The Cats also rank as the top scoring defense in the nation.

“We’re a physical defense and they’re a physical offense,” senior defensive end Jeremy Jarmon said. “It’s everything we want. A lot of teams have spread us out and tried to throw. Alabama’s will run.”

Junior Glen Coffee and freshman Mark Ingram combine to create a one-two punch behind the Tide’s big offensive line. Coffee averages seven yards a carry, while Ingram averages over five yards a game. UK has only allowed one team to rush for over 100 yards — WKU.

“Alabama is very big and they work well together,” Brooks said of the Tide’s offensive line. “They get on the defensive tackles, then get off and pick up a linebacker. They have impressive technique.”

That doesn’t mean Jarmon thinks UK’s defensive focal point will be slowed Saturday, even with junior linebacker Micah Johnson and sophomore defensive tackle Ricky Lumpkin questionable for the game.

“I know what we are made of,” Jarmon said. “We’ve played guys before that got off to a great start. Alabama is one of the best, if not the best.”

Brooks bristles whenever someone mentions that Alabama is UK’s first big test on the year, but he couldn’t deny the fact that Alabama poses an interesting matchup for the Cats.

“It’ll be a different challenge, not unlike the last couple of years,” Brooks said. “Alabama is functioning, not making mistakes or penalties. Quite a different look from the past three games.”

Which means instead of expecting to spread the ball around, the Cats will be preparing to grind it out against the Crimson Tide.

“Whoever wins this game won it up front,” Williams said. “Whoever attacks the most. The team with the most rushing yards will win.”