Alabama Wallops Washington 24-7
Will Face In CFP National Championship
Will Face In CFP National Championship
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| Alabama wins 2016 Peach Bowl 24-7 UA Photo |
The University of Alabama Crimson Tide is once again headed to the national championship game. The Tide handily muzzled the Washington Husky offense on Saturday in the 2016 Peach Bowl with its vaunted defense, both putting a stop to the Washington offensive machine and scoring its 11th defensive touchdown of the season, the 15th non-offensive score, as it fought its way to a 24-7 victory in front of a sold out 75,996 crowd at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
One couldn't help but swell with pride as Alabama head coach Nick Saban led the Crimson Tide onto the field at the start of the game. One could sense the determination of the team that had been "called out" time and again by Washington fans with the chants and signs, "We want Bama."
Well, they got Bama.
Rather, Bama got them!
Team captains for the Crimson Tide in this College Football Playoff Semifinal were linebacker Reuben Foster, offensive tackle Cam Robinson and defensive end Jonathan Allen. Former Alabama great Reggie Ragland served as honorary captain at the coin toss at mid-field. The Tide won the toss and elected to defer, and Washington chose to receive to start the game.
It was on.
The Bama defense was on-point from the start. Washington elected, unwisely, to take the opening kickoff from their own end zone as was immediately smacked-down as Minkah Fitzpatrick as his devastating hit left the runner sprawled on his own 12-yard line. The tone was set. The Crimson Tide defense was here to play.
While the offense sputtered through much of the contest, Alabama running back Bo Scarbrough provided a Crimson Tide bowl-record 180 rushing yards to spark Bama to the win, bringing the number one team in the nation to a perfect 14-0, while dropping the number four Huskies to a final 12-2 record for the 2016 college football season.
Alabama's winning streak is now at 26 consecutive games, the longest active streak in all of college football. With the win, Alabama has earned its 36th bowl victory, the most in collegiate football history.
Scarbrough was named the 2016 Peach Bowl Offensive player of the game for his impressive performance. He opened the Tide scoring bulldozing his way for an 18-yard score to tie the game at 7-7 in the first quarter, and then put on a burst of speed and versatility to score on a 68-yard run early in the fourth quarter to cap the scoring at 24-7. It was Bama senior linebacker Ryan Anderson, the Peach Bowl Defensive Most Valuable Player, scored Alabama's 11th defensive touchdown of the season in the waning moments of the first half, intercepting a pass and returning it 26 yards for a score. The Crimson Tide also extended its consecutive-game scoring streak to 212 games.
The Alabama defensive sacked Washington quarterback
Jake Browning a total of five times during the game for losses totaling 38 yards, snagged two interceptions
returned for 54 yards and one touchdown. The Bama D also provided seven tackles for losses
totaling 48 yards. It was Tide junior cornerback Anthony Averett leading Bama with six solo tackles, including a 13-yard sack and a forced fumble. Senior linebacker Reuben Foster had nine total tackles with a team-high six assists.
The only Washington score of the game came when the Huskies marched from their own 36-yard line coving 64 yards in eight plays for the touchdown in their second possession of the game to lead the Tide 7-0. The score came on a 16-yard pass from Browning to wide receiver Dante Pettis. Place kicker Cameron Van Winkle added the extra point with 7:56 remaining in the first quarter.
In the first half of the contest, Alabama true freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts completed five-of nine pass attempts for 32 yards while Scarbrough led all rushers with 80 yards and a touchdown on nine carries. Receiver O.J. Howard led all Bama receivers on the day with two catches for 19 yards. For Washington, Browning was 12-of-21 passing for 83 yards with one interception. Tailback Myles Gaskins had six carries for 25 yards and had a team-leading three catches for 31 yards. Pettis had two catches for 23 yards and a touchdown.
Scarbrough's sensational 68-yard touchdown run came after a Washington punt put the Crimson Tide at its own 2 yard line to start the drive. The Huskies' defense stuff the first run attempt, in fact, causing Alabama to lose a yard to the one. It looked bleak. The second play from scrimmage netted two yards to the three. Scarbrough then broke loose for a 12-yard gain giving the Tide a first down and some working room. It was then that he powered his way 68 yards to paydirt, breaking two tackles and weaving his way to the end zone for the score. Adam Griffith's PAT was good, capping the scoring in the game at 24-7 with 11:47 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Alabama's second interception of the game came when strong safety Minkah Fitzpatrick snagged a Browning pass and returned it 28 yards from the end zone pretty much ending the game.
It should be noted that kicker Adam Griffith moved into second place on the UA all-time scoring list. Leigh Tiffin (2006-09) holds the honor of first place with 385 total points. Also, running back Damien Harris became Alabama's eighth 1,000 yard rusher in the Saban era, and has the highest yards per carry.
The Alabama Crimson Tide now advances to the College Football Playoff Championship Game for the second year consecutive year to face Clemson for the second year in a row. The Tigers embarrassed the Ohio State Buckeyes 31-0 last night in the Fiesta Bowl. The CFP Championship Game will be played Monday, January 9th at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
The opening line for the Alabama-Clemson matchup is seven points for the Crimson Tide.
The only Washington score of the game came when the Huskies marched from their own 36-yard line coving 64 yards in eight plays for the touchdown in their second possession of the game to lead the Tide 7-0. The score came on a 16-yard pass from Browning to wide receiver Dante Pettis. Place kicker Cameron Van Winkle added the extra point with 7:56 remaining in the first quarter.
In the first half of the contest, Alabama true freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts completed five-of nine pass attempts for 32 yards while Scarbrough led all rushers with 80 yards and a touchdown on nine carries. Receiver O.J. Howard led all Bama receivers on the day with two catches for 19 yards. For Washington, Browning was 12-of-21 passing for 83 yards with one interception. Tailback Myles Gaskins had six carries for 25 yards and had a team-leading three catches for 31 yards. Pettis had two catches for 23 yards and a touchdown.
Scarbrough's sensational 68-yard touchdown run came after a Washington punt put the Crimson Tide at its own 2 yard line to start the drive. The Huskies' defense stuff the first run attempt, in fact, causing Alabama to lose a yard to the one. It looked bleak. The second play from scrimmage netted two yards to the three. Scarbrough then broke loose for a 12-yard gain giving the Tide a first down and some working room. It was then that he powered his way 68 yards to paydirt, breaking two tackles and weaving his way to the end zone for the score. Adam Griffith's PAT was good, capping the scoring in the game at 24-7 with 11:47 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Alabama's second interception of the game came when strong safety Minkah Fitzpatrick snagged a Browning pass and returned it 28 yards from the end zone pretty much ending the game.
It should be noted that kicker Adam Griffith moved into second place on the UA all-time scoring list. Leigh Tiffin (2006-09) holds the honor of first place with 385 total points. Also, running back Damien Harris became Alabama's eighth 1,000 yard rusher in the Saban era, and has the highest yards per carry.
The Alabama Crimson Tide now advances to the College Football Playoff Championship Game for the second year consecutive year to face Clemson for the second year in a row. The Tigers embarrassed the Ohio State Buckeyes 31-0 last night in the Fiesta Bowl. The CFP Championship Game will be played Monday, January 9th at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
The opening line for the Alabama-Clemson matchup is seven points for the Crimson Tide.
| Game Stats | WASH | ALA |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 194 | 326 |
| Pass Yards | 150 | 57 |
| Rushing Yards | 44 | 269 |
| Penalty Yards | 3-10 | 11-66 |
| 1st Downs | 14 | 16 |
| 3rd Downs | 6-17 | 4-14 |
| 4th Downs | 0-0 | 0-1 |
| TOP | 29:15 | 30:45 |
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| Alabama running back Bo Scarbrough ESPN photo |
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| Adam Griffith now 2nd on UA all-time scoring list UA Photo |
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| Nick Saban arrives at the Georgia Dome UA Photo |
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Alabama-Washington Post-Game Press Conference
Nick Saban, Bo Scarbrough & Ryan Anderson
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Alabama-Washington Post-Game Press Conference
Nick Saban, Bo Scarbrough & Ryan Anderson
Watch the post-game press conference following the University of Alabama 24-7 victory over the Washington Huskies. The interview with head coach Nick Saban, running back Bo Scarbrough and linebacker Ryan Anderson is courtesy of Tide TV.
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| Click HERE to watch press conference |
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Cry Of "Cheap Shots" Heard From Tide & Huskies
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| Alabama's Reuben Foster UA Photo |
Several players in Saturday's College Football Playoff Semifinal between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Washington Huskies were saying that the other team was "taking cheap shots" late in the game. Both sides got flagged, but in one instance 2 Bama players were the only ones called out by the referees.
No doubt it was a poorly called football game. Then entire nation could see the final second starting to tick off the game clock when the referees whistled the play dead and sent the Tide back five yards. Nick Saban wasn't happy and the television viewing audience could read his lips telling one official there was still one second on the clock. Surprised he didn't use that "certain" finger to count.
In every game there are bad calls, but several on Twitter said that they won't complain about about Southeastern Conference officials again after watching this poorly-called contest. Yes, penalties weren't called on both teams at times when there definitely infractions, however it did seem that Alabama was receiving a little more attention from the referees.
Reuben Foster was quite vocal about it afterward, saying, "I was very surprised man. If you're about to lose, take it like a man. Don't cheap shot somebody just to get them kicked out of the game." And that could have happened if the refs had deemed it a flagrant offense.
Of course Washington claimed it was Alabama players taking the cheap shots and trying to intimidate them and cause a fight. One Husky lineman claimed he was just coming to the aid of "little brother getting picked on."
In the closing minutes of the game, referees threw four flags for unsportsmanlike conduct. Three of those were on Alabama players.
Safety Ronnie Harrison said that Foster had "like five linemen around him slinging him everywhere" and that he was coming to his assistance. Both left the game early to cool off.
Jonathan Allen was the other Tide player to get flagged, and it was the first one. He said he was going to the assistance of one of the players, and said, "I'm trying to defend my players." He continued with, "I'm not going to let somebody take advantage of my players."
Foster spoke of getting himself under control, not to overreact so as not to get ejected from the game. He said he knew it would affect his eligibility of the championship game. He said the did, though, get "fired up," and was bothered by the fact that he had four Washington players around him and that "the referees weren't doing nothing about it."
He said the "talk", however, didn't start in the closing moments of the game. He said it was going on throughout. He said they were saying a lot, but didn't repeat any of what he heard. He did say, however, it was "a lot of disrespectful stuff." He said it was his fault that he let it get to him. He said, "I should have realized what their mindset was on, and that was to get us ejected out of the game."
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Alabama Women's Basketball Opens SEC Play Today
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| UA Photo |
The University of Alabama Crimson Tide women's basketball team (12-1) will open Southeastern Conference play today in Columbia, South Carolina when it takes on the sixth-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks. The game is scheduled for a 1 p.m. CT tip off and will be broadcast live on ESPN2 with Tiffany Greene and Deb Antonelli calling the action.
