Clemson stuns Alabama

Championship game comes down to last-second touchdown catch

TAMPA, Fla. — College football’s first national championship rematch was a fitting sequel to the original, with an unusual twist at the end.

Deshaun Watson and Clemson dethroned the champs and became the first team to beat Nick Saban’s Alabama dynasty in a national title game, taking down the top-ranked Crimson Tide 35-31 on Monday night in the College Football Playoff.

Watson found Hunter Renfrow for a two-yard touchdown pass with a second remaining to give the Tigers their first national championship since 1981.

A year after Alabama won its fourth title under Saban with a 45-40 classic in Arizona, Clemson closed the deal and denied the Tide an unprecedented fifth championship in eight seasons.

The lead changed hands four times in the fourth quarter, but Watson got the ball last.

Likely playing in his final college game, the junior quarterback threw for 420 yards and three touchdowns, including the winner.

A pass interference on Alabama made it first-andgoal at the two-yard line with six seconds left.

Time for one more play to avoid a tying kick and potential overtime.

Renfrow slipped away from the defence at the goal line and was alone for an easy toss. It was the walk-on receiver’s second TD catch of the night.

The Associated Press Clemson’s Hunter Renfrow, right, catches the winning touchdown pass behind Alabama’s Tony Brown during the second half of the NCAA championship game on Tuesday in Tampa, Fla.