Alabama Defense Too Much For Clemson In “The Trilogy”
This game was considered “The Trilogy”, the third time in three years these two teams have met, but this game seemed to be all ‘Bama. The Crimson Tide held the Tigers to just 6 points all game, and scored 14 of their 24 points in the third quarter.
For Alabama Jalen Hurts was 16 for 24 and threw for 120 yards and 2 touchdowns. On the ground Damien Harris had 19 carries for 77 yards. Calvin Ridley had a nice game, catching 4 passes for 39 yards and a touchdown.
Kelly Bryant was 18 for 36, and threw for 124 yards. Deon Cain had 6 catches for 75 yards in the loss.
Alabama came out and set the tone on defense early, forcing two Clemson punts. On the Tides second possession, kicker Andy Pappanastos nailed a 24-yard field goal to give Alabama a 3-0 lead.
After forcing another Clemson punt, Alabama got the ball back and scored again on a 12-yard passing touchdown from Jalen Hurts to Calvin Ridley. That put the Tide up 10-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Clemson finally responded with a 44-yard field goal from Alex Spence, to cut the lead to 7.
With 22 seconds remaining in the Pappanastos had the opportunity to put ‘Bama up 10 with a 38-yard field goal, but was denied by the left upright. At the half Alabama led 10-3.
On the first play in the second hal, Jalen Hurts miss handled a anp and fumbled the ball. The ball was recovered by Kendall Joseph at the Alabama 20 yard line.
Clemson couldn’t get anything going, but Spence was able to nail a 42-yard field goal to pull within 4.
With 9:18 left in the third, Kelly Bryant was intercepted by lineman Da’Ron Payne and returned 21 yards to set ‘Bama up at the Clemson 42 yard line.
Alabama drove down to the Clemson 1 yardline. As Payne, who just caught the interception entered the game as a fullback, came out of the back field and Hurts dumped a pass off to him for a touchdown. That increased the Alabama lead to 17-6, with 5:40 left in the game.
On Clemson’s next drive, Kelly Bryant was picked off and Mack Wilson returned it 18-yards for a touchdown. Alabama led 24-6 with 5:27 left in the third quarter.
After the third quarter neither defense would allow a score, resulting in an Alabama win, 24-6 in this years Sugar Bowl.
