Alabama outscored Clemson 24-17 in the fourth quarter
A night of brute strength, determination, and passion was displayed in the third College Football Championship. Two universities from different states met with muscle on the gridiron.
Even after Clemson’s secondary lapse, the fat lady hadn’t sung until Bama chased the Tigers’ onside kick attempt out of bounds with 12 seconds left, which sealed the game as the Tide escaped with a 45-40 victory to claim it’s fourth National Championship Title in the last seven years.
The Tide entered the contest ranked No 2 in the nation and advanced to the champion final by defeating Michigan State 38-0. Top-ranked Clemson took out Oklahoma, 37-17 and entered the championship final for the first time in 34 years.
“We have a lot of great competitors on this team,” said Nick Saban Alabama’s coach. “The leadership on this team has been fabulous. I’ve never been prouder of a bunch of guys.”
Alabama (14-1) won national championships in 2009, 2011 and 2012 all under Nick Sabin.
Junior tight end O.J. Howard, turned quarterback Jacob Coker’s short swing pass into a 63 yard gain at the Tigers’ 14. It eventually set up running back Derrick Henry’s one-yard touchdown carry with 1:07 left to give Alabama a two-touchdown lead, 45-33.
“I really wanted to do the best I could for this team as much as any team I’ve coached, because I wanted them to have a chance to win this game,” said Saban.
For Howard, who caught five receptions for 208 yards and two touchdowns, turned in one of two huge receptions on the night. Coker’s night concluded with 335 passing yards on 16/25 attempts and a pair of touchdowns.
Clemson unfazed by the Alabama’s touchdown, moved 68 yards, in six plays under the guidance of sophomore quarterback Deshaun Watson to close the gap, 45-40 after Greg Huegel’s extra point kick. But its onside kick took a huge bounce and landed out of bounds before Tiger players could reach the ball.
“We’ve just been laying in the weeds for seven years just doing what we do,” Clemson coach Swinney said.
Watson finished 30/47 for 405 yards, four touchdowns, and an interception. He also carried the ball 20 times for 73 yards. Receiver Charone Peake caught six passes for 99 yards. Hunter Renfrow had seven catches for 88 yards, two touchdowns and Jordan Leggett had five receptions for 78 yards and a touchdown.
Alabama’s offense ended the game when Coker took the last snap, kneel as he stretched his arms wide, and fell to the turf as three others players congratulated him.
For Clemson, it was a night when it’s secondary suffered from blown coverages to missed tackles and surrendered big plays.
Alabama scored first when Derrick Henry took a handoff through the right side and back up the middle as he outran Clemson’s defense to the end zone to cap a fifty-yard run. Right after, Clemson responded with back-to-back scoring drives to take a 14-7 lead.
Tiger’s receiver Artavis Scott sparked the drive by returning the kickoff 44 yards to the Clemson 47. From there a mixture of plays was highlighted by Watson’s pass to receiver Hunter Renfrow after Huegel’s kick.
Later, Griffith missed a field goal from 44-yards. Then the Tigers drove 73 yards as Watson fired a pass to Renfrow in the end zone to break up a tie game, 14-7.
Much could be said about the Tide holding Clemson scoreless in the second quarter. Led by its defense, junior cornerback Eddie Jackson picked off Watson at the Clemson 42.
The turnover resulted in a touchdown and was aided when Henry ripped off an 11-yard run while an additional 15 yards was tacked on when linebacker B.J. Goodson was flagged for face masking. That gave Bama a first down at the Tigers 12.
On third and ten, Coker completed a pass to receiver Calvin Ridley at the Clemson two, which gave Alabama a fresh set of downs. Two plays later, Henry ran in for the touchdown. Griffith’s kick knotted the score at 14 with 9:35 left in the second quarter.
The remainder of the quarter left the Tigers scoreless while facing a fired up Bama defense. Including a three and out on its next possession.
Alabama’s linebacker Reuben Foster stopped Tailback Wayne Gallman twice on the same series for a total of eight yards in losses. Linebacker Rashaan Evans dropped Watson at the line of scrimmage for no gain and Huegel’s 31-yard field goal attempt was blocked by defensive lineman D. J. Pettway.
Clemson outscored Alabama in the third quarter to take back the momentum.
But Alabama outscored Clemson 24-17 in the fourth quarter in what captured the win for the Crimson Tide.
Bama tied the game at 24 on a 33-yard field goal before catching Clemson off guard with an onside kick that defensive back Marlon Humphrey caught on the run out of mid-air on the 50-yard line.
Just after defensive lineman, Carlos Watkins tackled Henry for a one-yard loss at the Bama 49, Howard forgave Henry by erasing his loss with a stunning 51-yard touchdown reception as he got behind cornerback Cordrea Tankersley and gave the Tide a lead, 31-24 it would never give up.
“The long scores by Howard and the onside kick were three critical errors,” Swinney said.
Clemson gave its best effort, trading scores with Alabama but timely big plays and unable to come up with an essential stop became the final blow.
