FIVE KEY PLAYS THAT DEFINED ALABAMA’S SEASON
Iron response
Opponent: Auburn The situation: Auburn hit on a big touchdown pass late in the third quarter to cut the Crimson Tide’s lead to 31-21 and seemed to give the Tigers some much-needed momentum.
Key moment: Tua Tagovailoa and the Crimson Tide offense responded and needed just over a minute and three plays to deflate the Tigers. First, Tagovailoa hit DeVonta Smith for a 20-yard gain. Next, Najee Harris broke loose on a 15-yard run. Tagovailoa capped the three-play drive with a 40-yard touchdown completion to Smith to make it 38-21. Auburn failed to score again and Alabama won 52-21.
Hurts so good
Opponent: Georgia
The situation: With starter Tua Tagovailoa out of the game after sustaining an ankle injury, backup quarterback Jalen Hurts entered the SEC Championship Game in the fourth quarter with the Crimson Tide trailing by a touchdown.
Key moment: Hurts took over for Tagovailoa and led the Crimson Tide 69 yards on 16 plays for the game-tying score. On Alabama’s next possession Hurts went to work again, leading the Crimson Tide 52 yards on just five plays and scored on a 15-yard run for the game-clinching score.
Shrug it off
Opponent: LSU
The situation: Entering the ninth game of the season, Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had yet to throw an interception. He threw his first one against the Tigers late in the second quarter, sending the home crowd into a frenzy and finally giving LSU some life.
Key moment: On the Crimson Tide’s next possession after the interception, Tagovailoa showed no signs of being gun shy, connecting with Jerry Jeudy on a 29-yard completion to get Alabama in scoring position. On the next play Tagovailoa hit Irv Smith Jr. on a perfectly thrown fade route for a 25-yard touchdown to put the Crimson Tide up 16-0 and quiet the Tiger fans.
That was fast
Opponent: Texas A&M
The situation: With Jimbo Fisher at the helm for the Aggies, Alabama entered the matchup expecting to be challenged. The week before, A&M hung with second-ranked Clemson and came up just short of pulling off the upset, losing 28-26.
Key moment: On the second play of the Aggies’ first possession, the Crimson Tide brought pressure on quarterback Kellen Mond, who avoided the sack by flicking the ball to a receiver in the middle of the field. Linebacker Mack Wilson dove in front of the receiver and just managed to snatch the ball in the air before it hit the ground for the interception, giving Alabama the ball on the Aggies’ 30. On its first play, Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa hit a diving DeVonta Smith for a touchdown and a quick 7-0 lead and set the tone for the rest of the day.
Tua era begins
Opponent: Louisville
The situation: Tua Tagovailoa showed what he was capable of in the second half of last season’s national title game. So it was not surprising he won the starting job entering the 2018 season. All eyes were focused on the sophomore in the Crimson Tide’s first game to see him in action as the starter.
Key moment: On his first dropback of the game, Tagovailoa was sacked for a six-yard loss. He responded by completing his next four passes for 67 yards, including an 11-yard touchdown pass to Jerry Jeudy for a quick 7-0 lead. Tagovailoa finished with 227 passing yards and two TD passes.