Clemson Tigers vs Alabama Crimson Tide Match Player Stats On Jan 09, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Jan 9, 2017

TAMPA, Fla. -- Deshaun Watson's third touchdown pass of the game, a 2-yard toss to Hunter Renfrow with one second remaining, lifted Clemson to a 35-31 win over Alabama in a classic national championship game Monday night.

The Tigers avenged a 45-40 loss to the Crimson Tide in last year's final at Glendale, Ariz., capturing their first title since 1981.

Watson completed 36 of 56 passes for 420 yards, and the junior quarterback also ran for a touchdown. Four Clemson players -- Jordan Leggett, Mike Williams, Deon Cain and Renfrow -- topped 90 receiving yards.

The Tigers (14-1) scored twice in the final four minutes, and they rallied back after Alabama (14-1) took the lead with 2:01 to play.

Freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts put the Crimson Tide on top 31-28 on a 30-yard touchdown run. Alabama converted a fourth-and-1 from its own 41, then got a double pass from ArDarius Stewart to tight end O.J. Howard for 24 yards. That set up Hurts' wild scramble through the Clemson defense for the go-ahead score.

Watson replied, guiding the Tigers on a nine-play, 68-yard drive for the win.

Earlier in the fourth quarter, Clemson, starting from its 12-yard line, got a 17-yard pass to Leggett and then a 26-yarder to Williams, with a 15-yard penalty tacked on to put the Tigers at the Alabama 16. Watson ran 15 yards to the 1, and Wayne Gallman dived in from 1 yard for a 28-24 lead with 4:38 to play.

Down 24-14 to start the fourth quarter, Clemson got back within three on a 4-yard touchdown from Watson to Williams with 14:00 left.

Twice before, the Tigers had the ball down three in the fourth quarter, but they couldn't get beyond their own 35-yard line each time.

Alabama tight end O.J. Howard, who scored two long touchdowns in last year's championship win against Clemson, came through again Monday, catching a 68-yard touchdown in the third quarter to give the Tide a 24-14 lead.

Clemson had pulled within three points after trailing 14-0 early, but the Tigers left Howard wide open, and Hurts found him for the long touchdown with 1:53 left in the third.

Watson was the key to Clemson climbing within 17-14. Watson set up a touchdown drive with a quick kick on fourth down from the Alabama 43, which was downed at the 5-yard line. After a three-and-out, Clemson got the ball at the Tide 42, and Watson threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Renfrow to pull the Tigers within a field goal.

Alabama linebacker Ryan Anderson forced and recovered a fumble from Gallman on the opening drive of the second half, returning it to the Tigers 16-yard line. Alabama had to settle for a 27-yard Adam Griffith field goal and a 17-7 lead.

Scarbrough, who put away Washington with a 68-yard touchdown in Alabama's semifinal win, was back at it Monday night. His scoring runs of 25 and 37 yards against the Tigers produced a 14-0 halftime lead.

Clemson was held in check early, producing 72 yards on its first five drives, before coming alive in the second quarter. Watson hit receiver Deon Cain for 43 yards on a short screen, then converted a third-and-10 with a 26-yard pass to Leggett. Watson capped the drive with an 8-yard scoring run to pull the Tigers within a touchdown.

Clemson moved the ball in the second quarter well enough to be outgaining Alabama 203-183 at the half, though the Tigers trailed on the scoreboard.

The game's first break came when Clemson decided to go for it on fourth-and-1 at the Alabama 41-yard line in the first quarter. The Tigers pitched wide to Gallman, who was dropped by defensive back Tony Brown for no gain, turning the ball over on downs.

Alabama got 20 yards on a scramble by Hurts. Two plays later, Clemson's Clelin Ferrell was flagged for roughing the passer, and Scarbrough followed with a 25-yard scoring run for a 7-0 lead with 9:23 left in the opening quarter.

Watson fumbled a third-down snap late in the first quarter, and Alabama's Ryan Anderson recovered to set the Tide up at the Clemson 40. The Tigers' defense stepped up, however, and after a penalty, a 2-yard loss and two incompletions, Alabama had to punt.

NOTES: Former Florida coach Steve Spurrier and former Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning, announced earlier Monday among the new class for the College Football Hall of Fame, were on the field for the coin toss before the game. ... Clemson last beat Alabama in 1905. The Tigers won the first three meetings between the schools, but none since, including last year's national championship game. ... Clemson S Tanner Muse was credited with a partial deflection of a first-quarter punt, which still went 25 yards for Alabama.