Bama outlast Clemson to win National title

Alabama unleashed tight end O.J. Howard as a weapon to complement Henry’s power running. All of its speed.

With one big play after another – by both teams – Alabama beat Clemson 45-40 on Monday night in the College Football Playoff title game. As we said before, it pays to play without mistakes. “It won’t be 34 years before we’re going to be back, I promise you that”, Swinney said.

Eddie Jackson came up with a big interception in the second quarter which led to another Henry touchdown, this time from a yard back with help from defensive linemen Jarran Reed and A’Shawn Robinson. The perfectly placed onside kick dropped straight into his arms, and Coker hit Howard on the 51-yard, go-ahead touchdown two plays later. The Tigers’ offense could not make a play, and their defense was no match against Alabama’s offense in the final minutes.

While Watson, a sophomore, will return to Clemson, several underclassmen could opt to leave early.

The Clemson defence was hurt by the loss of cornerback Mackensie Alexander, who limped off the field early after being questionable for the game with a hamstring injury sustained in the Tigers victory over Oklahoma on New Years Eve.

Alabama’s biggest concern? If cornerback Marlon Humphrey would catch the ball. Clemson scored on a pass from Watson to tight end Jordan Leggett with 12 seconds left, but Alabama recovered the onside kick. They pulled within a point with less than a minute left, but instead of kicking the extra point that would have assured a championship, coach Tom Osborne chose to go for the win with a 2-point try. The top-ranked Tigers, though, needed even more against powerhouse Alabama. Clemson kicked their chances of a National Title away to Alabama and led them to win the game with a score of 45-40 and the Championship National Title.

Alabama joins Notre Dame, which won four titles from 1943-49. After all, he’s been busy coaching Alabama to another national championship on Monday night, his fourth there in the last seven years.

Watson gave the Tide all it could handle, throwing for 405 yards and four touchdowns, and conjured up memories of Vince Young’s miraculous performance for Texas in the 2006 Rose Bowl that derailed Southern California’s dynasty. It is the Tide’s 10th national title in the poll era, more than any other school. The Tide and Tigers were tied at 14 at halftime and exchanged leads in the second half.

While the Heisman victor didn’t exactly have his way with Clemson otherwise (at least by his standards), he did finish with 158 yards and three touchdowns on 36 carries.

Howard finished with five catches for 208 yards, the first 100-yard receiving game of his career.

Quarterback Jake Coker finished 16-for-25 for 235 yards. “But the score was pretty close, coach Saban called it, And [we] went out there and did it”.

Saban, knowing it was hard for his team to properly focus, made the point to his players before the game the mark they could leave behind.

Trying to become the first FBS team to go 15-0, Clemson did not crumble under the force of Alabama’s might. The Tigers also surrendered 1,764 yards on kickoff returns – the highest total in the nation.

Clemson Coach Dabo Swinney was upset with the referees after the onside kick.