Clemson claws its way to National Championship

Clemson+Tigers+football+team+runs+down+the+field+at+the+start+of+the+game+on+September+24%2C+2006.

Jim Ferguson [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Clemson Tigers football team runs down the field at the start of the game on September 24, 2006.

As the game grew closer, the odds were stacked heavily in the hands of the Alabama football team. After a long, ugly game, the shadowed Clemson Tigers have turned the tide in collegiate football with a 44-16 victory.

After a first-quarter pick 6 by Clemson, the Tigers stole an early lead. This was immediately matched by a passing touchdown from Tua Tagovailoa. By the end of the first, each team had scored one more touchdown making the score 14-13 Clemson. The Tide had missed their extra point on the second touchdown.

Early in the second quarter, the game was still neck and neck. By the end of the second, Alabama was outscored 17 points to three. This quarter included another pick 6 by Clemson, putting Tua in a hole. At the half, the score was 31-16 Clemson.

The third quarter was the deciding factor with two touchdown passes from true freshman quarterback Trevor Lawrence. The Clemson defense was a FORCE keeping the star-studded Alabama offense to no points in the second half. After three quarters, the final score was decided at 44-16.

The fourth quarter was scoreless and the energy was clearly lost by the shocked Crimson Tide team. Clemson’s sideline had already begun to celebrate their victory. Trevor Lawrence finished with 347 yards and three passing touchdowns, making Clemson the first major college football team to go 15-0 since 1897 when Penn University conquered the same feat.