Clemson Wins Redemption National Championship Game

Last night was a rematch of the national championship game between Alabama and Clemson. Last year Alabama beat Clemson 44-40. Clemson players said all year they looked at the banner in their practice facility that said 2016 National Finalist and refused to have another banner saying anything other than National Champions.


Both Alabama and Clemson both punted on their first drives. Clemson's defense line was manhandling Alabama's offensive line putting a lot of pressure on Jalen Hurts and preventing some of the passes that were batted down and luckily not intercepted.


But, on Alabama's second drive the offense was able to drive the ball down the field on Clemson's defense. Jalen Hurts was able to rush for 20 yards on one play. Clemson's defense also helped Alabama's offense with a 15-yard roughing the passer penalty. Alabama capped off a three play 59-yard drive with a 25-yard touchdown run by Bo Scarbrough to give Alabama a 7-0 lead with 9:23 left in the first quarter.  Clemson and Alabama next couple of drives lead to a few punts. Watson didn't look like the same Deshaun Watson from last year's national championship in the first quarter.


Clemson special teams made a big play by blocking a punt that leads to the ball being downed at Clemson own 37-yard line. Deshaun Watson first play was able to rush for five yards. But, unfortunately even with good field position that drive was cut short due to a bad snap by the center tot Deshaun Watson and was recovered by Alabama's defense.


Early in the second quarter, Alabama's offense was once again able to move the ball down the field quickly. The drive started off with a run for 25 yards by ArDarius Stewart to Clemson 49-yard line. Jalen Hurts and Calvin Ridley connected for two plays for nine yards. The five play 74-yard drive was capped off with a 37-yard touchdown run by Bo Scarbrough his second of the day to give Alabama a 14-0 lead with 10:42 left in the second quarter.


Clemson offense finally was able to get things going late in the second quarter. Deshaun Watson threw a pass to Deon Cain Tampa Bay native, that went for 43 yards. Watson later in the drive followed up with a 26-yard completion to Jordan Leggett for 26 yards. Watson was also able to connect with his favorite target Mike Williams another Tampa Bay native for five yards. Watson finished off a seven play 87-yard drive with an eight-yard touchdown run to cut Alabama lead to 14-7.


In the third quarter, Clemson offense received the ball first. Watson and the offense once again turned the ball over. Wayne Gallman was stripped by Alabama's own Ryan Anderson and was returned for 12 yards before being tackled at Clemson's 16-yard line. Luckily Clemson's defense was able only to hold Alabama's offense to a field goal. Alabama now lead 17-7 with 12:25 left in the third quarter.


Clemson offense redeemed themselves later in the third quarter thanks to good field position due to a bad punt that started their offense at Alabama's 42-yard line. Deshaun Watson was able to connect with wide receiver Deon Cain on a 14-yard pass play. Watson capped off a four play 42-yard drive with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Hunter Renfrow to cut Alabama lead 17-14 with 7:10 left in the third quarter.


Alabama offense, however, was able to score again late in the third quarter. Jalen Hurts was able to throw a 68-yard touchdown to O.J. Howard to give Alabama a 24-14 lead with 1:53 left in the third quarter.


Clemson was able to score quickly in the fourth quarter with a four-yard touchdown pass from Deshaun Watson to Mike Williams to cap off nine play 72-yard drive which cut Alabama's lead to 24-21 with 14 minutes left in the game.


Clemson was able to score again with a drive that started from Clemson's own 12-yard line. Watson was able to make a 17-yard completion to Jordan Leggett that took them to their own 43-yard line. The next play Watson completed a 26-yard pass to Mike Williams. They were given an additional 15-yards due to unsportsmanlike conduct by Alabama's Da'Ron Payne which leads to a 1st & 10 at Alabama's 16-yard line. Watson then rushed for 15 yards that set up a first & goal at the one-yard line. Wayne Gallman redeemed himself from the fumble earlier to score on a one-yard touchdown run that gave Clemson their first lead of the game 28-24 with 4:38 left in the fourth quarter.


Alabama answered back with a touchdown of their own. Jalen Hurts made a couple of key passes to Damien Harris, ArDarius Stewart, and O.J. Howard. Jalen Hurts capped off a six play 68-yard drive with a 30-yard touchdown run that gave Alabama back the lead 31-28 with 2:07 left in the game.


Clemson had one more shot to achieve their goal they set at the beginning of the season win the national championship. C.J. Fuller had 20-yard kickoff return which gave Watson and the offense good field position to start at their own 32-yard line. Deshaun Watson made a big completion to Mike Williams for 24 yards that took them to Alabama's 39-yard line. Deshaun Watson made another big completion to Jordan Leggett for 17 yards to get them to Alabama's nine-yard line. The next play Watson tried to throw a pass to Mike Williams but, Anthony Averett held him and was called for a pass interference at Alabama's two-yard line which set up a 1st & goal at the two-yard line. Deshaun Watson capped off the game-winning drive with a nine play 58-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown pass to Hunter Renfrow. Clemson won the game 35-31. This was Clemson's second National Title in school history.


Deshaun Watson was able to complete 36 of 56 passes for 420 passing yards, 43 rushing yards, and four total touchdowns. Wayne Gallman had 46 rushing yards and one touchdown. Hunter Renfrow had ten receptions for 92 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Jordan Leggett had seven receptions for 95 receiving yards. Mike Williams had eight receptions for 94 receiving yards and one touchdown. Deon Cain had five receptions for 94 receiving yards. Artavis Scott and C.J. Fuller had 130 kick return yards combined. Clemson defense had seven tackles for loss and five pass deflections.


Jalen Hurts completed 13 of 31 passes for 131 passing yards, 63 rushing yards, and two total touchdowns. Bo Scarbrough rushed for 93 yards and two touchdowns. O.J. Howard had four receptions for 106 receiving yards and one touchdown. Alabama's defense had four sacks, six tackles for loss, and one pass deflection.

Green Bay Packers Annihilates the New York Giants

The game began looking as if it would be a defensive game. The New York Giants' first drive started off pretty decent, but the Green Bay defense was able to stop it. New York made a peculiar decision to punt the ball the rather than kick the field goal despite being at the Green Bay 38 yard line. I think the weather might of had something to do with the decision to punt the ball. Green Bay looked horrible on their first drive, running three plays for eight yards where they were forced to punt the ball back to the Giants' offense.

On the second drive for the Giants, Eli and Sterling Shepherd were able to connect on two passes for 39 yards during the drive. Eli also was able to connect with Victor Cruz for one pass for seven yards. Paul Perkins was able to catch a pass from Eli for six yards. Even though the Giants were able to move the ball down the field for nine plays and 54 yards they only were able to get a field goal out of it.

After several punts by both teams, the Giants were able to move the ball on the Packers defense once again. Eli was able to connect with Will Tye on a 51-yard pass. Eli followed that play up with a six-yard pass to Victor Cruz. You could hear the New York fans at Lambeau Field shout out Cruz in harmony. But, once again all New York could do was kick a field goal once again. The score was now 6-0 in favor of the New York Giants with 7:24 left in the second half.

 For the first time, the Green Bay Packers was able to get a good field position from a decent return from Michael Hyde on a punt return that set up Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay offense at the Giants' 38 yards. Aaron Rodgers showed his appreciation to Hyde's good return by throwing a 31-yard pass to Davante Adams for 31 yards. The next play, Ty Montgomery was only able to run two yards until Oliver Vernon tackled him. On the third play of the drive, Aaron Rodgers was able to throw a 5-yard touchdown in the back of the end zone to Davante Adams. Rodgers had all day in the pocket. The Packers now lead the Giants 7-6 with 2:24 left in the second quarter.

You would think Eli and the Giants offense would answer back with a touchdown of their own. If you thought that, you thought wrong because they went three and out. Aaron Rodgers got the ball and was able to do what Aaron Rodgers does best, throw Hail Mary passes that leave everyone scratching their head asking how did he complete that pass. Rodgers threw a Hail Mary to Randall Cobb that somehow slipped through everyone hands and dropped right into Cobb's hand as if it was a late Christmas present for another Packers touchdown. The Packers lead 14-6 to end the half.

The Packers received the ball first in the second half but were unable to get anything going leading to a quick punt. The Giants answered back with a three and out and a quick punt of their own. Green Bay was able to get the ball moving based off the run game from Christine Michael for 27 yards. But, they were stopped on 4th &1 by the Giants defense for a turnover on downs at their own 42-yard line. The Giants offense quickly answered with a 41-yard touchdown pass from Eli to Tavarres King. The Packers now lead 14-13 with 5:16 left in the third quarter.

Green Bay started off in great field position thanks to Christine Michael returning the ball to Green Bay's 37 yard line from a 31-yard return. Aaron Rodgers made several clutch passes that set up a 30-yard touchdown to Randall Cobb. The Packers now lead 21-13 with 2:53 left in the third quarter.  After New York's punt, the Packers were able to kick a field goal to increase their lead to 24-13 to end the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, the Green Bay Packers kept their foot on the gas. Aaron Rodgers lead a ten play 80-yard drive that lead to a 16-yard touchdown from Aaron Rodgers to Randall Cobb. The next Giants drive Eli did what Eli does best, turn the ball over. Eli was sacked by Clay Matthews where he fumbled the ball; and Matthews recovered to give the Green Bay offense the ball back. Green Bay's offense ran nine plays for 55 yards that lead to a one-yard touchdown by Aaron Ripkowski. The Packers lead 38-13 with 2:43 left in the fourth quarter. The Giants offense was able to move the ball down the field to the Packers 13-yard line before Eli threw an interception to Damarious Randall that lead to a 79 interception return before getting knocked out of bounds at the Giants 29 yard line to seal the game. The Packers defeated the Giants 38-13.

Aaron Rodgers was able to complete 25 of 40 passes for 362 passing yards, and four touchdowns. Davante Adams had eight receptions for 125 receiving yards and one touchdown. Randall Cobb had five receptions for 116 receiving yards and three touchdowns. The defense was able to force two turnovers.

Eli Manning was able to complete 23 of 44 passes for 299 yards, one touchdown, and two turnovers. Tavarres King had three receptions for 73 receiving yards and one touchdown. Will Tye had four receptions for 66 receiving yards. Sterling Shepard had four receptions for 63 yards. Odell Beckham had a disappointing four catches for 28 yards. Odell also dropped a surprising three passes.

The Green Bay Packers will travel to Arlington, TX to face the high-powered Dallas Cowboys offense next Sunday in the NFC Divisional game. Dallas beat Green Bay 30-16 in their lone matchup this season in week six. The Packers will more than likely be without Rodger's favorite receiver Jordy Nelson.

Temple's Late 2nd Half Push Still Isn't Enough to Beat SMU

 Last night the Temple Owls took on the SMU Mustangs in Dallas, TX. Temple got off to a hot start with a pair of threes from Obi Enechionyia and Shizz Alston, and a layup from Ernest Aflakpui, giving them an 8-2 lead with 17:18 minutes left in the first half. SMU answered back quickly with a 38-14 run to end the half. Ben Moore, Ben Emelogu, Shake Milton, and Sterling Brown made a plethora of layups, free throws, and jump shots to contribute to their massive run. SMU lead 40-22 to end the first half.

In the second half, Temple opened up with a 14-7 run with 16:39 left. Temple was now only down 47-36. Obi Enechionyia, Shizz Alston, Alani Moore, and Ernest Aflakpui were contributors to the run. SMU quickly answered back with a 12-5 run of their own with 11:18 left in the second half. Semi Ojeleye, Jerry Foster, and Ben Moore were key contributors to the run by making free throws, jumpers, and a few dunks. After that run, SMU lead 59-41. Temple tried to fight back once again with a 13-5 run to cut the lead to 10 points with 6:32 left in the second half. Quinton Rose, Shizz Alston, and Damion Moore helped spark that run. SMU went on a 16-11 run to win the game 79 to 64 against Temple.

The SMU Mustangs shot 48% from the field, whereas the Temple Owls only shot 39% from the field. SMU was able to make seven three-point shots, and they shot 36% from the three point line, whereas Temple made 10 three point shots and they shot 33% from the three point line. SMU made a bulk of their points from the free throw line. SMU made 24 free throws and had a free throw percentage of 70%. Temple only made seven free throws and shot 70% from the free throw line. SMU out -rebounded Temple 42 to 25. However, Temple did outplay SMU in the assists category having 16 assists to SMU 14 assists. Surprisingly, Temple also surpassed SMU in the second-chance points category 12 to 10 despite being out-rebounded.

Temple only had three players in double figures. Obi Enechionyia had 16 points, four rebounds, and one assist. Shizz Alston had 16 points, three assists, and two rebounds. Quinton Rose had 13 points, five steals, one assist, and one rebound.

SMU had four players in double figures. Semi Ojeleye had 19 points, nine rebounds, two assists, and one block. Ben Moore had 18 points, seven rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and one steal. Shake Milton had 18 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and two steals. Jarrey Foster had 13 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and one rebound.

Temple is now 0-3 in AAC conference play. They hope to get their first conference win against East Carolina University on Saturday at home. On the season, Temple's record is 9-7.