By: Dylan Edelman
In the first few minutes of the action, Clemson cornerback A.J. Terrell intercepted a short pass and returned it 44 yards for a pick-six. Clemson’s lead was short-lived when Alabama wide receiver Jerry Jeudy scored on a 62-yard pass from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, tying the game at 7-7. As the quarter progressed, Travis Etienne, Clemson RB, scored on a 17-yard run while Alabama retaliated with a 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end Hale Hentges. After a failed PAT, the Crimson Tide trailed 14-13 at the end of the first quarter.
At the start of the second quarter, Alabama gained a 2-point lead 16-14 when kicker Joseph Bulovas made a 25-yard field goal. For Alabama, this was the beginning of the end. Etienne scored two more times for Clemson. The first was a 1-yard run (20-16) then a 5-yard pass from QB Trevor Lawrence (27-16). Near the end of the first half, the Tigers dominated, making a 36-yard field goal and expanding their advantage, 31-16. The second half only strengthened Clemson’s desire to dominate. In the middle of the third quarter, wide receiver, Justin Ross scored on a 74-yard pass, increasing the lead 37-16. With 21 seconds left in the third, Clemson scored yet again. On a 5-yard pass to wide receiver, Tee Higgins, the Tigers secured their legacy 44-16. Both teams entered the game 14-0 and top-ranked Alabama was a 5 1/2-point favorite. Under the seasoned coaching by Nick Saban, Alabama (14-1) had never lost by more than 14 points, but this year Clemson (15-0) domineered in every aspect of the game. After seizing the lead in the second quarter, the Tigers never looked back. Clemson’s true freshman QB Trevor Lawrence is a force to be reckoned with, throwing for 347 yards. In total, Clemson accounted for 482 yards of offense in only 63 plays. By using strategically big plays and capitalizing on Alabama’s turnovers, the Tigers became the first team in modern college football history to finish a season with 15 wins and 0 losses, making them the first team to do so since UPenn in 1897.
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Dylan EdelmanWilson Senior Archives
February 2020
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