SCOTTY MCCREERY won the “American Idol” battle of the fresh-faced country crooners Wednesday, pulling more of a record 122 million-plus viewer votes than competitor Lauren Alaina.

    “I never saw this in my wildest dreams,” said McCreery, a 17-year-old with a strikingly deep, old-soul voice that belies his youth.

    McCreery and Alaina, 16, represent the first all-country finale and the youngest duo ever to compete on “Idol,” which is in its 10th season.

    The exuberant, big-voiced Alaina performed on Tuesday’s final sing-off despite a vocal cord injury that needed medical treatment. She received rave reviews from judges, who said she won the night.

    But the consistently popular McCreery, who’d never been at risk of elimination, claimed the title and a record contract.

    The teenager seemed overwhelmed as he took the stage for a celebratory version of “I Love You This Big,” halting to embrace his parents in the audience, Alaina and others. Then he playfully stuck his tongue out, trying to catch falling confetti.

    His victory continued a recent pattern: He’s the fourth male in a row to win the Fox TV contest, with 2007’s Jordin Sparks, 17, the last female “Idol.”

    Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood, two of the four female winners, have been the winners with the most successful recording careers.

    This season’s vote total was more than three-quarters of a billion, host Ryan Seacrest announced Wednesday. For Fox, it’s affirmation that there’s still life in the series that’s had a long ratings reign as No. 1 but has steadily dipped in weekly viewership and seen its audience age — something that makes advertisers balk.

    Last year’s season-ender, which included Simon Cowell’s farewell, drew 24 million viewers. Through 2008, the winner’s crowning routinely drew more than 30 million viewers.

    Fox didn’t announce the number of votes for the much lower-key contest between winner Lee DeWyze and runner-up Crystal Bowersox in 2010. In 2009, when winner Kris Allen and opponent Adam Lambert duked it out, more than 100 million votes were cast.

    This season, Fox dropped the minimum age for contestants to 15 — Alaina’s age when she auditioned last year — which may also have brought fresh viewer interest.(SD-Agencies)