Crimson Tide tames Tigers in thriller

[January 12, 2016]  (The Sports Xchange) - Alabama won a fourth national title in seven years with a thrilling 45-40 victory over Clemson on Monday, the victory built on a quartet of long-range scoring plays and the recovery of an onside kick in the fourth quarter.

Heisman Trophy-winning running back Derrick Henry sealed the outcome with a one-yard touchdown run with 1:07 remaining, stretching Alabama's lead to 45-33.

The Tigers battled to the end in a wild fourth quarter that featured a combined 40 points.

Quarterback Deshaun Watson's 24-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jordan Leggett with 12 seconds remaining brought Clemson within a score but the ensuing onside kick went out of bounds.

Alabama tight end O.J. Howard had five catches for 208 yards and two touchdowns. Henry ran 36 times for 158 yards and three touchdowns, including a 50-yard burst to start the scoring.

He was not able to get free much in the second half but quarterback Jake Coker connected on scoring passes of 53 and 51 yards to Howard after the break. Coker finished 16-for-25 for 335 yards.

Alabama's fireworks on offense were enough to offset a brilliant effort from Watson, who dazzled with his arm, his legs and dizzying improvisation skills.

He completed 30-of-47 passes for 405 yards and four touchdowns, and he ran 20 times for 73 yards.

After several big-bowl blowouts, Alabama and Clemson put a whopper of the topper on the college football season in front of 75,765 at University of Phoenix Stadium.

Howard's second score came after defensive back Marlon Humphrey recovered a high-bouncing onside kick toward the right sideline.

POP KICK

After a 33-yard Alabama field goal tied the game at 24-24, Humphrey caught the ball cleanly at the 50-yard line.

"We call it pop kick," Alabama coach Nick Saban told reporters.

"I thought we had it in the game anytime we wanted to do it. I made the decision to do it. The score was tied... and we were tired on defense. We weren't doing a great job of getting them stopped.

"I felt like if we didn't do something to change the momentum of the game that we wouldn't have a chance to win it."

Alabama, which lost in last season's playoff semi-finals, was not done exerting its special teams superiority.

Clemson used a 31-yard field goal to get within 31-27, but Alabama kick returner Kenyan Drake carved through the coverage on the ensuing kickoff, taking it 95 yards and stretching out the ball to hit the pylon for a touchdown with 7:31 left.

"I think special teams may have been the difference in the game," Saban added. "The onside kick and the kick return for the touchdown kind of changed the momentum of the game.

"I've never been prouder of a group of young guys."

The Tigers had won 51 consecutive games when leading after three quarters but could not hold on against Alabama after taking a 24-21 lead into the final period.

Saban won his fourth national title at Alabama and fifth overall. Only former Crimson Tide coach Bear Bryant (six) has won more than four national titles during the wire-service era (since 1936).

(Editing by John O'Brien)

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