Alabama beats Clemson 45-40 for national title
GLENDALE, Arizona – Alabama’s four touchdowns of 50 yards or more keyed a 45-40 win over Clemson in the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship Game.
The biggest of the big plays came after Clemson had pulled within four at 31-27. Alabama running back Kenyan Drake broke a 95-yard kickoff return around the edge of Clemson’s kick coverage unit for a touchdown to give the Crimson Tide a two-score lead.
The kick return came not long after Alabama broke a 24-24 deadlock thanks to another great special teams play. Kicker Adam Griffith pooched an onside kick to the right side of the field. There was no Clemson player in the area and Tide cornerback Marlon Humphrey caught it at the 50.
Two plays later, tight end O.J. Howard caught a 51-yard touchdown pass from Jacob Coker to give Alabama the lead.
Howard, who entered the game with 33 catches for 394 yards, had five catches for 208 yards and two touchdowns. His five catches were the second-most he’s had in any game this season and Monday night was the first time he broke the 100-yard barrier. He also had a 53-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter when Clemson forgot to cover him along the Alabama sidelines.
After Alabama made the game 38-27, Clemson responded with an eight-play 75-yard drive that ended with a touchdown pass from Deshaun Watson to Artavis Scott. The Tigers subsequently missed the two-point conversion and couldn’t stop Alabama on its next drive thanks to a 63-yard catch and run by Howard after he got to the corner of the Clemson defense and sprinted into the red zone.
Running back Derrick Henry scored with 1:07 left to give the Tide the winning margin.
Watson’s incredible performance propelled the Tigers throughout the game. He threw for 405 yards and ran for 73, becoming the first FBS quarterback to throw for 4,000 yards and run for 1,000 in a single season.
Henry, the Heisman Trophy winner, finished with 36 carries for 158 yards and three touchdowns. Two of his scores were of the one-yard variety and he opened the scoring with a 50-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.
For more Alabama news, visit TideSports.com.
For more Clemson news, visit TigerIllustrated.com.
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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!
