Playoff- bound Tide swamp Gators
Associated Press
ATLANTA — This was merely an annoyance for No. 1 Alabama, a chance to add another trophy to its overflowing cases.
The Crimson Tide did just enough things wrong to give coach Nick Saban something to complain about for the next month, but it was another dominating victory in the end.
Florida coach Jim McElwain sure was impressed after his No. 15 Gators took a 54- 16 whipping in the Southeastern Conference championship game Saturday. He called it Saban’s best team yet in a dynasty that shows no signs of stumbling.
‘‘ I don’t see a lot of weaknesses,’’ said McElwain, who was Saban’s offensive coordinator in 2008- 11. ‘‘ They’ve really accumulated a lot of speed at some spots where they were always big.’’
Alabama ( 13- 0) unleashed all its weapons against Florida ( 8- 4), scoring on an interception and a blocked punt in the first half, snuffing out the Gators’ last gasp with a goal- line stand in the third quarter, then using a dominant running game to seal the victory.
The Crimson Tide will head to the College Football Playoff for the third consecutive season, most likely returning to Atlanta for a semifinal game Dec. 31. Alabama will be seeking its second consecutive national title and fifth in the last nine seasons under Saban.
‘‘ They have a chance to do something to create a legacy for this team,’’ Saban said. ‘‘ That’s something they should think about, how important that is, what they are willing to do to do it. Because all the teams you play from here on out are really, really good.’’
The Crimson Tide bolted to a 16- 9 lead in the first quarter despite being held to minus- 7 yards and no first downs. Minkah Fitzpatrick returned an interception 44 yards for a touchdown, and Josh Jacobs brought back a blocked punt 27 yards for another. A field goal was set up by another interception, one of three thrown by Florida quarterback Austin Appleby in the first half.
Alabama led 33- 16 at halftime and iced the victory with scoring drives of 98 and 91 yards. The 54 points were the most allowed by the Gators since a 62- 24 loss to Nebraska in the 1996 Fiesta Bowl.
Florida, a 24- point underdog, marched the length of the field on its first possession to score the first touchdown allowed by the Crimson Tide in more than 17 quarters. The Gators had another long touchdown drive near the end of the first half to give themselves a glimmer of hope.
‘‘ It wasn’t perfect,’’ Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster said. ‘‘ We had to persevere, overcome some hard times.’’
The last of those hard times came when Florida drove to the Crimson Tide’s 1 in the third quarter. Jordan Scarlett attempted to leap over the line on thirdand- goal, but he never got off the ground. Linebacker Rashaan Evans blew by his blocker and slammed him for a one- yard loss.
Appleby then threw incomplete in the back of the end zone on fourth down, giving Alabama all the momentum.
The Crimson Tide finished with 174 yards rushing in the second half. The bulk of the carries went to bruising Bo Scarbrough, who had two short touchdown runs.