A Payne-ful End: Clemson's 2017 season ends with a 24-6 loss in the Sugar Bowl
NEW ORLEANS, La. – It was a feeling that hadn’t been felt in some time for Clemson fans.
Not the feeling of a loss, but a loss where the Tigers were dominated throughout the game’s entirety.
Nick Saban and Alabama’s defense had gotten tired of seeing replay after replay of Hunter Renfrow’s national championship-winning catch. A Crimson Tide defense that’s been decimated with injuries came out with a chip on their shoulder.
They wanted not only to prove they belong in the Playoff but also their time as the perennial power in college football is not over.
Clemson’s 2017 season came to an end on New Year’s night after a 24-6 beat down in the Sugar Bowl.
There’s no way around it. It was a beat down, and Alabama made it look way too easy, especially in the trenches.
Alabama’s No. 1 nationally ranked rushing defense was everything as advertised. The Clemson offense that had built its identity on running the football this season only managed to gain 64 yards on the ground.
“We weren’t ready to play, and that starts with me,” said co-offensive coordinator Tony Elliott.
This was the first time Clemson didn’t score an offensive touchdown since Elliott and Jeff Scott took over as offensive coordinators.
Even with a month to prepare for Saban and Jeremy Pruitt, Clemson was pulverized by the speed and pursuit of Alabama’s defense. Film can only show you so much.
They made Clemson uncomfortable from the very start and by “very start” we mean the opening kickoff; when Travis Etienne got rocked on the return. Clemson’s would have liked a fast start, but instead didn’t gain a first down until the second quarter.
When Clemson couldn’t run the ball effectively, it was up to Kelly Bryant’s arm to give Clemson a spark. Bryant struggled by completing 18 of his 36 attempts for only 124 yards.
Field position was the story in the first half. Clemson started its average drive from its own 18, while Alabama got the ball on its own 41. Clemson’s defense did well to hang around the way they did.
A halftime score of 10-3 felt good if you were a Clemson fan because the game seemed like it was out of hand on the field. The Tigers were down seven at the half to Alabama one year ago, so it felt like business as usual.
But that was last year’s team. Even though Deshaun Watson was on the sidelines at tonight's Sugar Bowl, he wasn’t wearing an orange jersey. There would be no late-game wizardry.
Clemson had its opportunities early in the second half to get back in front.
A fumble on Alabama’s first play of the half gave Clemson the ball at Alabama’s 20 with a chance to tie. The Tigers squandered that opportunity when the ensuing drive went four plays for negative five yards and a field goal.
After a Crimson Tide three-and-out, Clemson had all the momentum in the world as it began to gash away at Alabama’s defense. The Tigers got the ball to Alabama’s side of the field and were looking for the go-ahead score.
When Alabama needed to make a play, it brought the Payne.
Anfernee Jennings came screaming off the edge on a second-and-two where Bryant was looking for the deep shot. Jennings hit him as he threw and the ball fell right into the hands of Da’Ron Payne for the interception.
Almost to add insult to injury, Alabama offensive coordinator Brian Daboll brought in Payne on second-and-goal. He drew up a play-action pass where Jalen Hurts found him in the end zone for a touchdown. Hurts finished the day making the throws he needed to make to win the game.
He threw for 16 completions on 24 attempts for only 120 yards, but two touchdowns.
Dabo Swinney knew Clemson had its chance.
“We had some opportunities,” Swinney said. “We got a chance in the second half. We come out, and we get the turnover, and we got a chance. It's a 10-6 game. And we've got the right call, no safety defense. We got a post route probably getting ready to throw it for a touchdown. And we get a sack, fumble, catch, and a penalty.”
On the very next play from scrimmage, Bryant threw his second straight interception to Mack Wilson for a pick-six. The 14-point swing was a kick in the gut to Clemson and basically sealed the deal for the Crimson Tide.
"You have to make the critical plays, and we didn't do that," Swinney said. "We did it last year. We didn't do it this year."
It was a frustrating end for the players and coaches that weren’t supposed to be in this position this year. The attitude in the locker room was one of disappointment, but also a belief in that old saying: “the best is yet to come.”
Saban has been known as a coach who rarely smiles. As he stepped to the podium to raise the Sugar Bowl trophy, there was grin and his hat was on backward. He knew exactly what his team had just accomplished.
They shut down Clemson in almost every way. They looked like the dominant Alabama dynasty we’ve seen throughout the last decade.
Etienne: “They were just themselves.”