Reserve tosses Alabama to title in overtime
ALABAMA freshman Tua Tagovailoa threw a 41-yard touchdown pass in overtime on Monnday to give the Crimson on Tide a 26-23 victory over Georgia orgia in the US collegiate American merican f o o t b a l l c h a mpi o n s h i p game.
Tagovailoa, a lef t-handnded reser ve quarterback k of Samoan heritage, entered red i n t he s e c ond ha l f a nd tos s e d t h re e touchdow dow n passes, t he last to freshman hman Devonta Smit h to g ive ve t he Crimson Tide t heir f if f t h tit t it le in nine seasons.
“It means the world,” Tagovailoa said. “Who would have ever thought I would be here at this moment?”
Tagovailoa, the most st prolific high school passer in Hawaiian history, replaced star starter Jalen Hurts after Alabama’s Alaba attack sputtered in the first half.
Ta g ov a i l o a c o n - nected o on a 6-yard touchdow touchdown toss to Henry Riggs and a 7 - y a r d t o u c h - dow down pass to Ca Calvin Ridley w i t h 3 : 4 9 rem remaining in reg regulation time to p pull Alabama leve level at 20-20. Th The Crimson Tide ha had a chance to win o on the final play of re regulation but Andy P Pappanastos hooked a potential wi n n i n g 3 6 - y a rd field goal attempt left of the goalpost.
Georgia’s Rodrigo Blankenship kicked a 55-yard field goal on the opening overtime possession to give the Bulldogs the lead and Tagovailoa was sacked for a 16-yard loss on Alabama’s first play.
‘I’ve never been happier’
But Tagovailoa (pictured with the trophy after the game, AFP) responded with the winning throw on the next play, in all completing 14-of-24 passes for 166 yards and running 12 times for 27 yards.
“TT stepped in and did his thing for the team,” Hurts said. “[I told him], play your game. He’s built for stuff like this. It’s unbelievable. I dream about this.”
US President Donald Trump was among a sellout crowd in Atlanta’s domed, $1.6 billion Mercedes-Benz Stadium treated to an epic finish in the trophy decider, a collegiate version of the Super Bowl for the NFL’s main talent development system.
Alabama coach Nick Saban claimed his sixth national crown overall, having taken Louisiana State to the 2003 title.
“The resilience of our team to come back – Tua did a great job, gave us a spark – to overcome the missed field goal and win the game in over-time, I couldn’t be any prouder of this team,” Saban said.
“I’ve never been happier in my life.” The border-state rivals are both members of the Southeastern Conference, whose schools have captured nine national crowns in 12 years. But Georgia has not won the national title since 1980.
Gameday ticket resale prices averaged more than $2,300 for the contest, with Georgia’s campus only 112 kilometres northeast and Alabama’s grounds only about 321 kilometres west.