Bitter Defeat; Final: No. 4 Alabama 24, No. 1 Clemson 6
NEW ORLEANS, La. -- Clemson and Alabama's third matchup in the College Football Playoff was not nearly as exciting as the previous two battles. It was an electric atmosphere, but Alabama won the coin toss, deferred, and dictated the pace of play in the Superdome with their defense.
An early indication of the type night that Clemson was in for might have been apparent on the opening kickoff. Clemson's Travis Etienne was hit hard by Trevon Diggs on the return setting the early tone of the game.
The Alabama defense forced Clemson into three consecutive three and outs to start the contest controlling the field position battle. Behind their defense and power run game, Alabama never let Clemson find their rhythm offensively.
After holding the Crimson Tide to an opening series three and out the Tigers yielded scoring drives of 46 and 47 yards giving Alabama an early lead.
On the Tides' first scoring drive, Austin Bryant was flagged for lining up in the neutral zone. Turning a 7-yard loss on 3rd and 2 into a first and goal. Even with the negative play, Clemson's defense stood firm forcing a 24-yard field goal from Andy Pappanastos making it 3-0 Alabama.
Alabama's second scoring drive was aided by the legs of Jalen Hurts and their relentless ground attack. The Tide were gashing Clemson, but the Tigers absorbed punch after punch before Hurts rolled the pocket and found a wide-open Calvin Ridley in the back of the end zone.
Down 10-0 Clemson finally mounted a scoring drive of their own, giving Clemson's defense a much-needed rest.
The Tigers marched 13 plays and 54 yards before stalling. Alex Spence knocked through a 44-yard field goal making it 10-3.
Alabama was again able to move the ball into Clemson's territory, but a flea flicker from Hurts to Calvin Ridley was broken up by a great play from Van Smith. Clemson forced a punt, but the damage was done as the Crimson Tide flipped the field back in their favor.
Clemson's next drive did very little and with 4:16 left in the half, Clemson punted the ball from their own 25-yard line giving the Tide a chance for points before the break.
Alabama went 39 yards on 10 plays before attempting a field goal just seconds before the half.
The first attempt was blocked, but a delay of game penalty gave the Crimson Tide kicker another chance. Pappanastos' second attempt hit off the upright and a Bryant kneel took us to the break with the Tide up by a touchdown.
Clemson received a gift to start the second half as Jalen Hurts fumbled the first snap of the second half giving Clemson the ball at Alabama's 20-yard line.
With new momentum and the ball, the Tigers offense couldn't make anything of the possession, before settling for a 42-yard Spence field goal making it 10-6 Alabama with 12:45 left in the third quarter.
The Tigers quickly forced a three and out, getting the ball back down four with 11:17 remaining in the third quarter.
With a chance to take the lead, Clemson opened up the playbook. The Tigers moved the ball as good as we would see during the game.
Feeling comfortable after a couple of completions, Bryant dropped back, but his hand was hit sending the football into the hands of the 308-pound Da'Ron Payne who rumbled 21 yards with the ball to the Clemson 42 yard line. A 15-yard horsecollar tackle put the Tide at the 27-yard line.
Three plays later, the Tide converted on a 4th and 1 and marched towards the Clemson end zone. Facing a second and goal at the one, Payne entered the game to be a lead blocker but slipped out of the backfield and the big defensive lineman closed the drive that he started with a touchdown reception.
Down 17-6, Bryant's next attempt was bounced off of Cain before being intercepted and returned by Mack Wilson extending the Crimson Tide's advantage to 24-6.
Clemson's struggles continued as the Tigers mounted just 99 yards through three quarters compared to the Tide's 225.
In the final fifteen minutes, Alabama and Clemson traded punts before Clemson mounted one final drive. The Tigers went 75 yards on 18 plays, but couldn't crack the Alabama end zone turning it over on downs as chants of, "SEC, SEC, SEC," poured onto the field.
The Crimson Tide ran off the remaining time on the clock and prepare for an all SEC title game against the Georgia Bulldogs.
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