Alabama is once again qualified for the College Football Finals. In a duel against the Cincinnati Bearcats for the Cotton Bowl, this Friday (31), the team won 27-6 and confirmed a spot in the most important game of the category.
The opponent in the final will be Georgia, who beat Michigan in the other bracket. The decisive match will be played on January 10th (see information below).
Bi is coming?
Alabama, the reigning champion, is once again in the decision, further expanding the team’s dominance in recent years. Now, if he wins the title, he will become the first to win the cup twice in the history of the College Football Playoff. And based on the performance not only of this semifinal, but also of the season in general, it is not absurd to bet on the mark being broken, regardless of the opponent.
pressure worked
Crimson Tide’s pass rush towards quarterback Desmond Ridder was one of the highlights of the game. The team took down the rival pitcher in the backfield on no fewer than six opportunities and, despite not having forced any turnover, it was efficient in keeping opponents away from the end zone most of the time.
End of invincibility
The Bearcats’ great campaign has come to an end. Cincinnati was the only undefeated team at the College, but it was no match for Alabama’s great team at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic. The team focuses on possible losses this offseason and aims to repeat the good campaign in 2022.
The game
Alabama started dominant. In a drive composed of plays on the ground, the opposing defense proved to be inoperative and could not stop the gains of the hosts. Finally, Bryce Young threw his first pass of the day into the hands of Slade Bolden, who played in the end zone to confirm the first points of the afternoon: 7-0, after the extra point.
ALABAMA STRIKES FIRST ????
Bryce Young ➡️ Slade Bolden#CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/3mp9FSb4YE
– ESPN (@espn) December 31, 2021
But Cincinnati responded — or tried, at least. Desmond Ridder guided the team’s good attack across the field until entering the red zone, highlighting a good pass to Tyler Scott that resulted in 22 yards. The attack, however, stalled and suffered with the quality of the opposing defensive unit. So it was left for Cole Smith to kick a 33-yard field goal to close the gap. 7 to 3.
And the good performance of the owners of the house was maintained in the next drive. The team recovered from a illegal forward pass de Young, converted a fourth down and, led by Brian Robinson’s great performance so far, gained territory all the way to the opponent’s field.
Linebacker Darrian Beavers, however, soon ended the party and sacked Bryce Young to confirm a 3rd & Goal from the 15-yard mark. The result was the team’s first Y-kick – Will Reichard for 26 yards – and a seven-point lead back to 10-3.
The game lost momentum soon after, with three punts forced in a row by the defense. Heading towards the final stretch, Crimson Tide even engaged another good drive towards the attacking field, but Reichard was not so clinical, and the fourth consecutive campaign without points was confirmed, keeping the difference between the teams in a TD.
The match, however, soon heated up. Alabama’s defense forced the first three-and-out of the Bearcats, but ended up seeing JoJo Earl fumble on the return. Despite the confusion, Crimson Tide managed to retain possession, with the recovery of Alab Jameson Williams. As if that wasn’t enough, there was still an unsportsmanlike flag from LB Jaylen Moody, making the team start even further back, from the six-yard mark.
Alabama, however, had little trouble crossing the field, with the spotlight on both Brian Robinson Jr.’s 22-yard dash and the connection between Young and Ja’Corey Brooks, which scored the longest TD of the day, from 44 yards, escaping the mark and playing at the edge of the end zone: 17 to 3 for the hosts, already inside the two-minute warning.
A 44-YARD TOUCHDOWN DIME FROM BRYCE YOUNG ???? pic.twitter.com/QQAEnF0898
– ESPN (@espn) December 31, 2021
With 1m36s on the clock, it was left for Cincinnati to start a quick recovery in order to return the gap to a second-half possession. However, Alabama’s defense was superior once again, with Dallas Turner’s sack on top of Desmond Ridder in a third down.
With two seconds on the clock, Cincinnati still tried a Hail Mary in the last move of the first half, but Ridders was sacked for the second time in a row, this time by Will Anderson Jr., mmn closing the first leg of the semifinal at 17-3 in favor of the home team .
THE TERMINATOR ????
Will Anderson gets the sack to close the half ???? @AlabamaFTBL #CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/yc7RJTDaLF
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) December 31, 2021
Cincinnati came back stronger from the locker rooms. Des Ridder was able, perhaps for the first time so far, to overcome the opposing pressure, and the Bearcats had a good initial campaign. The team entered the attacking field, in an attempt to reduce the disadvantage from 14 to seven points, but stalled once again at the entrance of the red zone. Thus, the team once again risked the Y shot with Smith, now for 37 yards, and reduced the deficit to 11 points. 17 to 6.
A punt exchange later, Alabama tasted its own venom. Bryce Young suffered great pressure from the opposition in a 3rd to 6th and risked a poorly calculated pass in the middle of the field. The result was an interception by safety Brian Cook at the 49-yd-line from home field (see tweet below). Crimson Tide’s defense managed to avoid further damage, sacked Desmond Ridder once more and forced the three-and-out.
PICKED‼️@GoBearcatsFB intercepts Bryce Young to get the ball back ????#CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/wtnj9wF5bh
– ESPN (@espn) December 31, 2021
And if the Bearcats didn’t take their chances, Alabama was more efficient. At the beginning of the last quarter, Robinson Jr. continued to assist the attacking unit with good land conquests, as well as Young showed not to have been shaken by the turnover in the previous campaign.
Thus, Crimson Tide boasted dominance over the opponents and was able to increase the advantage even more: from the 9-yard line of the Cincinnati field, Young completed a connection with tight end Camero Latu, who reached the back of the field and raised the advantage to three ball possessions (see tweet below). Shortly after, Crimson Tide scored another three points on Reichard’s new shot for 43 yards. 27 to 6.
Bryce Young to Cameron Latu for another Bama TD! pic.twitter.com/RcaAg47P65
– ESPN (@espn) December 31, 2021
From then on, it was just a matter of managing the advantage and continuing to admire the great defensive work. Crimson Tide soon celebrated the final whistle and is still in the fight for the second championship. Triumph 27-6.
And now?
As reported, Alabama will face Georgia in the College Football Playoff decision. The final is scheduled for 22:00 (Brasília time) on the 10th, a Monday, at the Indianapolis Colts stadium, Lucas Oil Stadium.
(Photo: Reproduction Twitter / Alabama Football)
