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.
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