Tampa-bred stars shine in title game

TAMPA —

exited the field at Raymond James Stadium, leaving the celebration of Clemson’s national championship behind him Monday night. But only for a moment. The Clemson junior receiver, playing in his last college game, just couldn’t get enough of the fans and revelry after the Tigers’ first national crown in 35 years.

So he turned back to the field and did his own rendition of the Green Bay Packers’ Lambeau Leap, jumping into the seats and the awaiting arms of adoring fans in the north end zone.

Call it the Ray-Jay Jump, if you will. Scott was loving the moment, basking in the adulation.

“I love to engage with the fans. They support us so well,” Scott said. “The least you can do is just have a little fun. I’m never gonna get these memories back, man. You gotta live it up. You never know when we’re going to be back to the national championship, so I had to enjoy my time.”

It was an emotional week for Scott, the Tarpon Springs East Lake High product who had several big kickoff returns during Monday’s dramatic 35-31 victory over Alabama.

He came home to play in the Tampa title game, but first he had to attend the funeral of his grandfather, John Battle.

“It’s been crazy with my COMMENTARY grandfather passing away, but I know he was watching us . . . . I’m thankful that it happened at this moment,” Scott said of winning the title. “I’m just so happy that we won this championship, and I talked about it at my grandfather’s funeral that, for me, this was for him.

“He was a tough dude, but it happens.”

Scott had plenty of support from his teammates all week, including fellow Tampa product

who was another key factor in Clemson’s win.

Cain caught a 43-yard pass that led to Clemson’s first touchdown and then also had several big plays during the team's secondhalf surge that erased the Tide's lead.

“I just wanted to contribute as much as I [could] to this game,” Cain said. “I just wanted to come in and focus on playing a great game and actually winning it, finishing it this time.”

Cain, who attended Tampa Bay Tech, felt his contribution in front of the hometown crowd this season was even more special after missing the first matchup with Alabama last season.

“I wasn’t able to do it last year, so now that I’m here I just wanted to take full force on it,” said Cain, who ended up with five catches for 94 yards in the big game. “It feels great, man. My family and friends all here … a great experience for me and for them to all experience at the same time.”

Cain said the Tigers’ confidence never wavered in the final minutes after Alabama had taken a 31-28 lead with 2:07 left to play.

“I was just like, ‘Hey, this is what we came here for,’” he said. “It’s the national championship game. There’s gonna be ups and downs, so really we just got together as an offense and said, ‘Hey, we gotta go down here and score,’ and that’s what [we did.]” Tigers quarterback

2-yard touchdown pass to

was the game winner and it set off the Clemson party, with purple and orange confetti raining down on the field.

“It feels great because last year the confetti was going down on Bama and now it’s coming down on us,” Cain said.

“Just thank God for the experience and we’re just going to embrace it more when we get in that locker room.”