Alabama vs. Clemson: Crimson Tide lock down Tigers in Sugar Bowl win

E.Jay Zarett

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Alabama vs. Clemson: Crimson Tide lock down Tigers in Sugar Bowl win image

Alabama is headed back to the championship game.

The Crimson Tide topped the Clemson Tigers 24-6 at the Sugar Bowl on Monday night at the Superdome and will face the Georgia Bulldogs for the national title Jan. 8.

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Jalen Hurts threw for two touchdowns, while the Alabama forced two crucial turnovers en route to the win.

Clemson registered just 188 total yards and rushed for only 64 yards in the contest. Tigers quarterback Kelly Bryant was just 18-of-36 on pass attempts and threw a pair of interceptions.

Alabama and Clemson had met the last two years in the national title game, with the Crimson Tide topping the Tigers 45-40 in 2016 and Clemson returning the favor with a 35-31 win last year.

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Sporting News provided live updates throughout Monday’s game. Here’s how Alabama came away with the win. 

No. 1 Clemson vs. No. 4 Alabama

Final score: Alabama 24, Clemson 6

12:21 p.m.: Alabama runs out the clock and secures the win. 

12:18 p.m.: Clemson goes on a 17-play, 75-yard drive but fails to score when Bryant throws an incomplete pass out of the end zone on fourth down. Alabama will take over and run out the clock.

12:13 p.m.: Clemson converts on a fourth-and-1 and it’ll have it on the Alabama 6 with just over two minutes to play.

12:02 p.m.: Hurts throws an incomplete pass on third down and Alabama punts with just under seven minutes to play.

11:52 p.m.: Bryant is almost picked off again but his pass falls incomplete. Clemson punts and Alabama takes over at its 41.

11:46 p.m.: Alabama punts after a three-and-out. Clemson gets the ball back trailing by 18 with 10:59 to play.

11:41 p.m.: Clemson picks up one first down before Bryant throws three straight incompletions and the Tigers punt.

11:31 p.m.: Hurts nearly scrambles for a first down on a third-and-13 but steps out of bounds and Alabama punts to start the fourth quarter.

End of third quarter: Alabama 24, Clemson 6

11:20 p.m.: Bryant is sacked twice and Clemson punts. Alabama gets the ball back at its 47 with 1:45 left in the third quarter.

11:13 p.m.: Touchdown, Alabama. Kelly Bryant’s first pass of the drive is picked off by Alabama linebacker Mack Wilson, who returns it 18-yards for a touchdown. The Crimson Tide’s lead has swelled to 24-6 with 5:27 to play in the third quarter.

11:06 p.m.: Touchdown, Alabama. Hurts completes a 13-yard pass to Calvin Ridley, moving the Crimson Tide to the goal line. Two plays later, Hurts finds defensive lineman Da'Ron Payne —who just registered the interception — in the end zone to give Alabama a 17-6 lead.

11:03 p.m.: Alabama elects to go for it on a fourth-and-1 at the Clemson 18. On the play, Damien Harris takes a handoff and dives over a pile for a gain of four to keep the Alabama drive alive.

11:00 p.m.: Turnover, Clemson. Bryant drops back to pass on a second-down play in Alabama territory. He’s hit as he throws, the ball pops out and Alabama lineman Da'Ron Payne picks it off. Alabama will gain possession at the Clemson 27 with 9:12 to play in the quarter.

10:55 p.m.: Alabama follows Clemson’s score with a three-and-out and punts. The Tigers will take over on their 32.

10:50 p.m.: Field goal, Clemson. Bryant runs for no gain and is sacked one play later as the Tigers settle for a 42-yard field goal to cut their deficit to 10-6.

10:47 p.m.: Turnover, Alabama. Hurts bobbles an exchange on a read-option play and he fumbles the football. Clemson linebacker Kendall Joseph recovers it and the Tigers will take over at the Crimson Tide 20.

10:45 p.m.: We’re back for the second half at the Superdome. Alabama will start the period’s opening possession at its 22.

Halftime: Alabama 10, Clemson 3

10:20 p.m.: Alabama advances all the way to the Clemson 20 but comes away with no points. Jalen Hurts is sacked for a 5-yard loss on second down before coming up just short of the marker on a run one play later. Andy Pappanastos comes on and misses a 38-yard field goal as Alabama ends the half with a 10-3 lead.

10:07 p.m.: Clemson picks up one first down but fails to move the chains again. It punts and Alabama will start its drive at its 41 with 4:06 to play in the half.

9:59 p.m.: Alabama moves into Clemson territory but fails to score as Hurts’ pass to Bo Scarbrough comes up well short of the first-down marker. The Crimson Tide punt and the Tigers will take over at their 10.

9:49 p.m.: Field goal, Clemson. Clemson picks up two more first downs to move to the Alabama 28 before its drive stalls. Alex Spence comes on and kicks a 44-yard field goal to cut the Tigers’ deficit to 10-3.

9:44 p.m.: Bryant escapes pressure and scrambles for 20 yards, moving the chains for Clemson for the first time tonight. 

End of first quarter: Alabama 10, Clemson 0

9:34 p.m.: Touchdown, Alabama. Hurts escapes the pocket, keeps his eyes downfield and finds a wide open Calvin Ridley in the end zone for a 12-yard score. The Crimson Tide lead 10-0.

9:28 p.m.: Make it three straight three-and-outs for Clemson. Deon Cain drops a pass from Bryant on third down and the Tigers punt. Alabama will take over at the Tigers 46. 

9:23 p.m.: Field goal, Alabama. The Crimson Tide get on the scoreboard first with a 24-yard field goal from Andy Pappanastos after Hurts throws an incomplete pass on third down. Alabama leads 3-0 with 5:23 left in the first quarter.

9:20 p.m.: Clemson keeps Alabama out of the end zone when it brings down Bo Scarbrough behind the line of scrimmage on a third-down run. The Tigers, however, are called for an offside penalty, extending Alabama’s drive.

9:18 p.m.: Georgia wins the Rose Bowl in double overtime. The winner of this game will face the Bulldogs in the championship game. 

9:15 p.m.: Hurts picks up the game’s first first down when he fakes a handoff, keeps it himself and runs for 19 yards, moving Alabama to the Clemson 34.

9:12 p.m.: Bryant’s pass on third down is deflected at the line of scrimmage and the Tigers punt for the second straight possession. Neither team has picked up a first down so far.

9:06 p.m.: Damien Harris registers two short runs and Jalen Hurts throws an incomplete pass as Alabama’s first drive also ends in a punt. 

9:03 p.m.: Kelly Bryant throws an incomplete pass on third down and Clemson punts. Alabama will start its first drive at its 46.

9:01 p.m.: We’re underway at the Sugar Bowl. Alabama wins the toss and defers. Clemson will start the game’s opening drive at its 17. Travis Etienne took a big hit on the kick return.

7:45 p.m.: Alabama-Clemson Round Three will kickoff in about an hour at the Superdome.

E.Jay Zarett