SEC Championship Game Recap

Alabama won a shootout against Florida 52 – 46 to win the SEC Championship Game and complete an undefeated regular season. Alabama’s offense was unstoppable and in the end they scored enough to outlast the Gators. Florida gave the Alabama defense fits, particularly in the second half, but they couldn’t get enough stops to win the game.

The big stars did not disappoint on Saturday night, Mac Jones, Devonta Smith and Najee Harris put on a show for the Crimson Tide, and Kyle Trask and Kyle Pitts made several big plays for the Gators. The result was an entertaining game with plenty of big plays.

Alabama Builds A Big Halftime Lead

Alabama’s offense was rolling in the first half. The Crimson Tide scored touchdowns on five of six first half possessions. The result was a dominant half that saw the Crimson Tide score 35 points and build an 18 point lead. Even the one drive they didn’t score on doesn’t really count as a miss because they got the ball back on the play they lost possession.

With the game tied at seven, Florida’s Trey Dean intercepted a Mac Jones pass and began to return the interception. As he made his way downfield, he did not see Alabama receiver John Metchie bearing down on him from the outside. Metchie delivered a big hit that separated Dean from the football, allowing Devonta Smith to make the recovery and get the ball back for Alabama. On the very next play Jones would hit Smith for a 31 yard touchdown that took the air out of the Florida defense. In a matter of seconds Florida went from having made a stop, to giving up a touchdown.

Alabama racked up 391 yards of offense on 51 plays in the first half. The Crimson Tide ran and passed equally effectively and did as they wished basically the entire half. Alabama was averaging 7.7 yards per play and all of the concerns that existed about Florida’s ability to slowdown the Alabama offense were coming to fruition. On the other end, Florida was moving the ball effectively as well, but they mixed in a punt and a field goal with their two touchdowns, setting up Alabama with a 35 – 17 halftime lead.

Florida Closes The Gap

The third quarter was the best for Florida in this game. The Gators got the ball first in the second half and quickly found the endzone after a four play 75 yard drive. The drive was capped by a beautiful Trevon Grimes catch over Patrick Surtain who had good coverage on the play. Grimes tracked the ball well, jumped infront of Surtain to make the catch and sprinted into the endzone for the 50 yard touchdown.

After the Grimes’ touchdown a defensive struggle ensued, lasting all of three possessions. Florida forced a turnover on downs after a six play Alabama drive fizzled out at the Florida 37 yard line. Alabama got a quick stop on the next possession after 4 plays netted Florida 16 yards. Alabama’s six play drive came to a halt at the Florida 43, ending with another punt. This was the only time in the game that three consecutive drives ended without a score.

After the short defensive showdown, Florida went to work and closed the third quarter with a 12 play 80 yard drive that cut the Alabama lead to 35 – 31. The methodical drive took nearly five minutes off the clock and ended with a three yard touchdown run. What looked like it could turn into a blow out win for Alabama was a close game again, with an entertaining fourth quarter on tap.

Alabama Holds On In The Fourth

There was only one possession in the fourth quarter that was not an attempt to blatantly run down the clock and did not end with a score. Unfortunately for Florida, they blinked in the final quarter and Alabama did not. The Crimson Tide opened the quarter with a Najee Harris touchdown following a ten play 75 yard drive to retake control of the game. With Alabama extending the lead to 11, the pressure was on Florida to respond.

The only stop of the fourth quarter, came on the first play of the next Florida possession. True freshmen pass rusher Will Anderson beat the Florida tackle and got around the edge to sack Kyle Trask, forcing a fumble that teammate Tim Smith would recover. The Alabama defense set up the offense with excellent field position and more importantly took a valuable possession away from Florida. The Gators’ defense actually held Alabama to a field goal that extended the lead to 45 – 31.

Florida’s offense responded with the Kyles. Trask hit Pitts with three passes totaling 62 yards and moved the ball to the Alabama one yard line. The duo accounted for 62 of the 75 yards on the drive, leading to a one yard touchdown that cut the lead to 45 – 38. Florida was back in scoring range but they needed a stop.

On their next possession, Alabama moved the ball quickly behind three Najee Harris runs that set up the offense at the Florida 15 yard line. With the Florida defense selling out to stop the run, Alabama called a play action pass to Devonta Smith who beat one on one coverage easily for an Alabama touchdown. Smith’s touchdown put Alabama ahead by 14 again with just five minutes to play.

Florida’s offense rallied yet again. They drove the length of the field, but Alabama made them work and run three minutes of clock in the process. From the Alabama 22, Trask lobbed a pass over the defense for Pitts, who leaped to secure the touchdown for Florida. Dan Mullen went for two and the Gators converted, setting up a situation where Florida could win with an onside kick and a touchdown. Florida’s onside kick attempt came up well short as Devonta Smith corralled the ball and Alabama ran out most of the lock before punting. Florida only got one play off, which resulted in a sack that ended the game.

In the end, Alabama’s offense was too much for the Florida defense. Though Florida scored plenty of points of their own, Alabama’s defense got more stops and held on for the win 52 – 46.

Impact going forward

Alabama’s dominance in the SEC and college football overall continues. The Crimson Tide won back the SEC Championship and are headed to the Playoff as the number one seed. They will be a heavy favorite against Notre Dame and should be favored in the National Championship if they make it. Nick Saban’s team is the premiere program in college football and has showed no signs of slowing down.

Florida has made progress under Dan Mullen. The Gators have had three straight successful seasons and got past Georgia to qualify for the SEC Championship Game. Mullen is an excellent in-game coach and it showed as his team went toe to toe with the best team in the country. It remains to be seen if Mullen can recruit well enough to put Florida on the same level as Alabama. Considering where they were when Mullen got there, the Florida program is in good hands.

Alabama Crimson Tide SEC Champs Gear

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