Football vs. Georgia Postgame Notes
1/8/2018 11:58:00 PM | Football
GAME CAPTAINS: Alabama's captains for tonight's game with Georgia were center Bradley Bozeman, linebacker Rashaan Evans, defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick and linebacker Shaun Dion Hamilton.
ALABAMA IN THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF: Alabama has now appeared in seven College Football Playoff games and three national championship games in four trips to the CFP since its inception in 2014, all of which are CFP records. The Tide's five wins are the most by one school all-time in the playoff. Dating back to the BCS era, the Tide has now appeared in six national championship games in the last nine seasons – 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017 – and won five national titles (2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017) under head coach Nick Saban.
SECOND-HALF COMEBACK TIDE BIGGEST SINCE 2010: Alabama outscored Georgia 19-3 over the final 23:08 of regulation and the overtime period to win its 17th national title. The comeback was its largest when trailing in the second half since it found itself behind 20-7 in the third quarter to Arkansas on Sept. 25, 2010.
EVANS, SCOTT MAKE SEVENTH CFP APPEARANCES FOR THE TIDE: Alabama senior linebacker Rashaan Evans and senior punter JK Scott both appeared in the seventh College Football Playoff game of their careers tonight. The pair are the only Alabama players to participate in every one of the Tide's CFP games since the inception of the playoff in 2014 and the only four-year players from any school in the history of the playoff.
Defensive Notes
TURNOVERS, TURNOVERS, TURNOVERS: Alabama's two interceptions tonight gives the Tide at least one forced turnover in 42 of its last 44 games dating to the start of the 2015 season. During the current run, the Crimson Tide has forced 74 turnovers (51 interceptions, 23 fumbles) and returned 17 of those miscues for touchdowns.
CAREER HIGH IN TACKLES FOR WILSON: Sophomore linebacker Mack Wilson's team-leading 12 tackles tonight is a new career high. Wilson's previous career best was six against Clemson in the Allstate Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1.
FIRST CAREER INTERCEPTION FOR DAVIS: Defensive tackle Raekwon Davis' 19-yard interception return in the third quarter tonight was the first pick of the sophomore's career. Davis also contributed five tackles, including one sack, to the Tide defensive effort this evening.
Offensive Notes
TAGOVAILOA HAS CAREER GAME: Freshman quarterback Tua Tagovailoa set career highs in completions (14), attempts (24) and yards (166), leading Alabama on offense to its come-from-behind victory. He also tied his career best touchdowns with three, which he had earlier in the season against Mercer.
SCORING STREAK CONTINUES: Alabama's school record consecutive games scoring streak was extended to 227 games against Georgia tonight with Tua Tagovailoa's third quarter six-yard touchdown pass to Henry Ruggs III. The Crimson Tide was last held off the scoreboard in a 9-0 loss to Auburn on Nov. 18, 2000.
CAREER HIGH IN RECEPTIONS FOR RUGGS III: Freshman Henry Ruggs III set a new career high in receptions with three catches tonight, one of which went for a touchdown. His previous high was two against Clemson in the Allstate Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1.
RIDLEY NOW TIED FOR SECOND ON UA CAREER TOUCHDOWN RECEPTION LIST: Calvin Ridley's 12-yard first-quarter touchdown catch tonight was his fourth of the season and 18th of his career. The catch moved Ridley into a tie with Dennis Homan (1965-67) for second place on the Alabama career touchdown receptions list. Amari Cooper (2012-14) is the UA career leader with 31 scoring catches.
RIDLEY THIRD ON NCAA ACTIVE GAMES WITH A RECEPTION LIST: With his 10-yard first quarter reception tonight, junior Calvin Ridley now has at least one reception in all 44 games of his Alabama career and ranks No. 3 in consecutive games with a reception among active players in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
Special Teams Notes
SCOTT ALABAMA'S CAREER PUNTING LEADER: Senior punter JK Scott's six punts tonight gives him a UA record 243 attempts for his career. P.J. Fitzgerald (2006-09) held the previous record with 238. Scott ends his career as Alabama's career leader in punt attempts (243), punting yards (11,074) and punting average (45.6).
