Alabama running back Derrick Henry (2) scores a touchdown in the first half during an NCAA college football game against Middle Tennessee, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

    TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — No. 2 Alabama started slow before overwhelming Middle Tennessee to avoid becoming the latest SEC West power to need a great escape.

    Jake Coker passed for 214 yards in the first half and Derrick Henry ran for three touchdowns to lead the Crimson Tide to a 37-10 victory over Middle Tennessee on Saturday.

    The Tide (2-0) started slowly against the five-touchdown underdogs minutes after rival No. 6 Auburn eked out an overtime win over FCS team Jacksonville State. There was no such scare at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

    Coker started for the second straight game and gave no indication he’s going to yield the job to Cooper Bateman, who played the second half against the Blue Raiders (1-1). Coker was 15 of 26 passing with a touchdown but also had a pass intercepted after throwing into double coverage.

    Henry has three TDs in each of Alabama’s first two games and gained 96 yards. Backfield mate Kenyan Drake set up one TD with a 69-yard catch and run and scored on a 14-yard pass from Bateman, gaining 91 yards on five receptions. His 2014 season ended with a broken leg in the Ole Miss game.

    Alabama led just 7-3 early in the second quarter despite two fumbles and a missed field goal by Middle Tennessee, which had four turnovers after scoring 70 points in the opener against Jackson State.

    The Tide got a warmup for a Southeastern Conference Western Division showdown with No. 17 Mississippi, the only team to beat Alabama in the 2014 regular season.

    Alabama dominated the second and third quarters and outgained Middle Tennessee 532-275. The Tide did most of its early damage through the air before Henry finished off drives with two short touchdowns. Then Henry took over with 66 third-quarter yards before joining Coker on the sideline.

    Bateman had the Tide driving in the fourth quarter but had his pass intercepted by Jeremy Cutrer, who returned it 77 yards before getting chased down by freshman tailback Damien Harris.

    That set up Middle Tennessee’s only touchdown, a 15-yard pass from backup quarterback Austin Grammer to Rod Ducksworth.

    Bateman was 11 of 17 for 98 yards with an interception and touchdown.

    Alabama’s kicking woes continued to mar the team’s performance. Adam Griffith missed field goals of 24 and 49 yards and is 0 for 4.

    Ronnie Harrison did block a punt in the end zone for a safety.

    Blue Raiders safety Kevin Byard was ejected for a targeting penalty after a hit on Bateman in the third quarter after making his 16th career interception.

Redshirt freshman Brent Stockstill was 22 of 42 for 174 yards with an interception.