OPELIKA-AUBURN NEWS u www.oanow.com
SPORTS
TUESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2018
Alabama
Alabama Clemson
u
5B
24 6
Scoring Alabama Clemson
10 0 14 0 — 24 0 3 3 0 — 6
First Quarter » BAMA: FG Pappanastos 24, 5:23 » BAMA: Ridley 12 pass from Hurts (Pappanastos kick), :12 Second Quarter » CLE: FG Al.Spence 44, 10:00 Third Quarter » CLE: FG Al.Spence 42, 12:45 » BAMA: Payne 1 pass from Hurts (Pappanastos kick), 5:40 » BAMA: M.Wilson 18 interception return (Pappanastos kick), 5:27
Statistics BAMA CLE First downs 16 14 Rushes-yards 42-141 33-64 Passing 120 124 Comp-Att-Int 16-24-0 18-37-2 Return Yards 78 65 Punts-Avg. 6-32.16 7-35.0 Fumbles-Lost 1-1 0-0 Penalties-Yards 2-10 4-29 Time of Possession 32:11 27:49
INDIVIDUALs RUSHING » Alabama: D.Harris 19-77, Hurts 11-40, Scarbrough 12-24. » Clemson: Etienne 4-22, K.Bryant 19-19, Choice 5-14, Feaster 4-10, (Team) 1-(minus 1). PASSING » Alabama: Hurts 16-24-0-120. » Clemson: Feaster 0-1-0-0, K.Bryant 18-36-2-124. RECEIVING » Alabama: Ridley 4-39, Ruggs 2-25, Scarbrough 2-16, D.Harris 2-4, Jacobs 2-3, N.Harris 1-22, I.Smith 1-6, D.Smith 1-4, Payne 1-1. » Clemson: Cain 6-75, H.Renfrow 5-31, McCloud 3-1, Feaster 2-(minus 3), Rodgers 1-16, Richard 1-4. MISSED FIELD GOALS » Alabama: Pappanastos 38. PHOTOS BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts (2) and defensive lineman Da’Ron Payne (94) hoist the bowl trophy after defeating Clemson in the Sugar Bowl on Monday in New Orleans. Alabama won 24-6 to advance to the national championship game
SWEET REVENGE Tide overwhelms Clemson in Sugar Bowl, will meet Georgia for title BY ALEX BYINGTON
alex.byington@decaturdaily.com
NEW ORLEANS — Like any good boxing rivalry, it took Round 3 to settle the argument. And it was Alabama’s vaunted defense that delivered the devastating knockout blow. A pair of thirdquarter interceptions by Crimson no. 4 alabama 24 Tide deno. 1 clemson 6 f e n d e r s Sugar Bowl Da’ Ro n National Semifinal Payne and Mack Wilson led directly to 14 consecutive points as fourth-ranked Alabama redeemed last season’s final-second loss with a 24-6 win over No. 1 Clemson on Monday evening inside the famous Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The victory secured an all-SEC national championship game next week in Atlanta against No. 2 Georgia (13-1), which needed double-overtime to knock off No. 3 Oklahoma and Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Baker Mayfield, 54-48, earlier Monday from the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. It’ll be Alabama’s third consecutive national championship game appearance, with the Tide winning its first opportunity in 2015. Alabama’s (12-1) ferocious defense limited Clemson to just 188 total yards, including just 64 rushing yards, thanks to five sacks and nine tackles for loss. But it was the third-quarter interceptions, and the resulting touchdowns, that firmly swung the momentum pendulum in the Tide’s direction. The first interception came directly from heavy pressure from junior outside linebacker Anfernee Jennings, who hit Tigers junior quarterback Kelly Bryant as he was releasing the ball, which popped right into the waiting hands of Payne, who returned it 21 yards to the Clemson 42. Seven plays later, Payne entered the game as a fullback in the jumbo goal-line package and pulled in a 1-yard touch-
RUSTY COSTANZA/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Alabama wide receiver Calvin Ridley (3) celebrates his touchdown reception in the first half of the Sugar Bowl.
Report Card Offense Alabama’s maligned offensive line rose to the challenge and battled Clemson’s touted defensive front all night. It won some battles and lost some, but at least there was balance. The Tide had 141 yards on the ground, 120 through the air.
B
Defense The Crimson Tide dominated nearly the entire game. Clemson had one solid drive to a field goal and capitalized on a short field for another before it got out of hand. The Tide’s Mack Wilson scored on a pick-six and Da’Ron Payne’s interception set up his own 1-yard TD run. Through three quarters, Clemson ran just 42 plays.
A
Special Teams Alabama had better drive starts for most of the night and JK Scott was, well, JK Scott. Kicker Andy Pappanastos missed from 38 yards on a second chance after his first was blocked. He also made a 24-yarder that put the Tide up 3-0 early.
B
OVERALL Alabama looked much more poised than it looked in the Iron Bowl. The Crimson Tide hammered its way into the national championship game for the third straight season.
A-
Schedule TOP: Clemson wide receiver Deon Cain (8) is tackled by Alabama defensive back Levi Wallace. ABOVE: Payne (94), who was used on an offensive play, pulls in a touchdown reception in the second half.
down catch that put Alabama up 17-6 with 5:35 left in the third. On the very next offensive play, Wilson stepped in front of Bryant’s first pass and returned it 18 yards for a pick-six touchdown to go ahead 24-6 8 seconds later.
After a disappointing 3-andout to open the game, Alabama’s offense opened up the playbook on its next series, driving down the field 47 yards on 10 plays before senior kicker Andy Pappanastos put in his lone field goal on a 24-yard try with 5:24 left in the first quarter.
The Alabama ground game awoke on the third series, which led to a 12-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Jalen Hurts to junior receiver Calvin Ridley to go ahead 10-0 on the defending national champs with 12 seconds remaining in the opening frame.
Date Opponent Location/Result Sept. 1 Florida State W, 24-7 Sept. 9 Fresno State W, 41-10 Sept. 16 Colorado State W, 41-23 Sept. 23 Vanderbilt W, 59-0 Sept. 30 Mississippi W, 66-3 Oct. 7 Texas A&M W, 27-19 Oct. 14 Arkansas W, 41-9 Oct. 21 Tennessee W, 45-7 Nov. 4 LSU W, 24-10 Nov. 11 Mississippi State W, 31-24 Nov. 18 Mercer W, 56-0 Nov. 25 Auburn L, 26-14 Jan. 1 Clemson* W, 24-6 Jan. 8 Georgia# 7 p.m. *Sugar Bowl in New Orleans #National Championship in Atlanta