A 4th-and-1 attempt is stuffed, but it’s no matter.
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After snapping its three-year skid in the annual city rivalry game, USC will face Stanford next Saturday in the Trojans’ first trip to the Pac-12 championship game. The Auburn receiver broke into the open field, and the crowd erupted. They block out the noise. Leading by 10 going to halftime, 20-10, Michigan State took firm control of the game right out of the halftime break by driving right down the field on Penn State for an eight-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to build a 27-10 lead. You’ll see a team and a coach that has had to make countless adjustments throughout the season.
Now Alabama is 11-1, showing Super Ball resilience since the Ole Miss loss. The dynasty was over. When all else fails, the defense has been there.
“I’m a little surprised with all the field goals”. The win sends Alabama to the SEC Championship for the second consecutive year and fifth time under head coach Nick Saban.
It’s hard to find a silver lining in a disappointing loss like the one Florida suffered Saturday.
“What Derrick has done for this team because this team needs him to do what he does, I would say he’s made as significant an impact on this team as any players that we’ve ever had”, Saban said.
Despite Henry’s huge total and the final score, the game remained close until the fourth quarter when Bama had a drive that was 10 plays, every one a carry by Henry. “Like I said, we’ve got to watch film and get better for next week”.
Defensively, I think everyone expected coach Will Muschamp to wave a magic wand, insert a healthy Carl Lawson into the lineup, and Auburn would be back to the Dye/Tuberville defensive nastiness level.
Saban was blunt in diagnosing this squad: “Our workhorse is a running back”. “It was a good play, and it counts for seven”.
Like the record books he’s stamping his name in, Auburn won’t soon forget the name Derrick Henry, even if they won’t call him King the way they do at Alabama. But even his role is a departure from years past.
Tennessee’s two-year title run under Phillip Fulmer followed four straight championships by Steve Spurrier’s Gators from 1993 to ’96.
They’re playing for the conference title for the eighth time on Saturday at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
Florida holds a 4-3 edge in the teams’ previous championship game meetings, as does the lower ranked team, which the Gators are. Without him, Alabama’s offense would have struggled more much more than it has due to the inexperience of some key playmakers in the passing game. Griffith is probably most notorious for his infamous “Kick Six” the last time he was at Jordan-Hare.
Instead, the defense and special teams have had to pick up the slack.
Tennessee 53, Vanderbilt 28 • Joshua Dobbs threw two touchdown passes to Von Pearson to lift the host Volunteers (8-4, 5-3) by the visiting Commodores (4-8, 2-6). Griffith was five of five on the day, kicking a 47 yarder and a 50 yarder. For most of the game Auburn stood toe to toe with the mighty Tide, only to squander opportunities away with missed throws, dropped balls and missed tackles. “I’ll visit with him tomorrow and send his paperwork in on Monday”, Bielema said.
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All that said, Henry got himself a pretty good grip on the stiff-arm of the Heisman Trophy, finishing with 271 yards on a ridiculous 46 carries. “I’m proud he’s a Gator”.
