Georgia Bulldogs v Alabama Crimson Tide: College Football Playoff national championship – live! | Sport

Georgia 13-9 Alabama, 3:02, 3rd quarter

That was a 67-yard run from Cook. On 1^st 10, Bennett says he’ll take care of the ball himself, running for four yards. On 2^nd & 6, a facemask call on the defense makes it 1^st & goal at the Alabama 2. White runs in it and Georgia is in front! And the extra point is good!

Georgia 6-9 Alabama, 3:02, 3rd quarter

Okay, I’m calling this a momentum shift. Cook goes off on first down for Georgia who takes it from the Georgia 20 all the way to the Alabama 13! It looked like he was about to give us the game’s first touchdown right then and there.

For the record, Georgia’s Jalen Carter is given credit for that huge block.

Georgia 6-9 Alabama, 3:23, 3rd quarter

This time around Georgia’s defense forces Robinson into a single-yard loss. The next pass, Young throws just a little too low for Brooks to scoop. 3^rd & 11. Young throws and almost finds Hall for what would have been a massive play.

Okay, maybe I jinxed the Alabama offense. They have to settle for a field goal… and don’t even get that! The Bulldogs block it! Holy heck!

Georgia 6-9 Alabama, 4:32, 3rd quarter

Robinson Jr. fights for his life to squeeze out three additional yards. He then finishes the job by picking up a new first down on the next play.

Georgia 6-9 Alabama, 5:33, 3rd quarter

You’ll never guess who gets the ball for the next carry and picks up six yards on first down. That’s Brian Robinson Jr.?

Alabama’s offense looks better this half. The commentators are crediting their offensive line and I’ll take their word for it.

Georgia 6-9 Alabama, 6:01, 3rd quarter

1^st & 10. Young finds Holden for two yards then Robinson Jr. yet again for six. On 3^rd and 2, a surprisingly open Robinson Jr. is able to make it to a first down before being tackled. He’s turning into the go-to guy this second half.

Georgia 6-9 Alabama, 7:26, 3rd quarter

Alabama calls Robinson Jr.’s number once again and he picks up eight yards. On 2^nd & 2, Young completes a pass to Traeshon Holden for three yards and a new first down.

Young finds Holden and then Brooks to get to a 3^rd & 3 situation. Young finds Trey Sanders who looks like he’s going to be short until he falls down for a first.

Georgia 6-9 Alabama, 10:22, 3rd quarter

Robinson Jr. picks up a yard! They’re at their 3-yard line.

He does better on the next play, breaking through the Georgia defense and hitting the 19-yard line before finally being halted.

Georgia 6-9 Alabama, 11:03, 3rd quarter

Camarda’s punt is downed at the Alabama 4. This might end up being a rare football game actually decided by the players’ feet.

Georgia 6-9 Alabama, 11:12, 3rd quarter

On 1^st & 10, a back-to-work Bennet throws incomplete to Bowers. That will make it 2^nd & 10. This time Bennett finds McIntosh who picks up a very difficult three yards. On 3^rd & 7, Bennett throws incomplete and never mind that thing I said about that interception being a huge shift in this game because it’s all for naught.

Punting time again.

Georgia 6-9 Alabama, 12:05, 3rd quarter

Robinson Jr. picks up three yards. Oh, there’s a big play but it’s the wrong kind for Alabama! Young attempts to throw a bomb and it lands right in the hands of Georgia’s Christopher Smith at the Alabama 43. Huge, huge shift here.

Georgia 6-9 Alabama, 12:46, 3rd quarter

Bolden makes a fair catch of Camarda’s punt at the Alabama 7. That’s a lot of ground to make up on a day where big passing plays have been hard to come by.

Georgia 6-9 Alabama, 12:46, 3rd quarter

An intentional grounding call on Bennett crushes the Georgia drive before it even gets a chance to begin. Cook picks up 11 yards to reduce a 2^nd & 19 to a 3^rd & 8 but Bennett’s pass is incomplete.

We’re going punting again!

Georgia 6-9 Alabama, 14:33, 3rd quarter

Georgia is starting at their own 25, where White picks up 11 yards on first down and then 18 yards on the next first down.

Georgia 6-9 Alabama, 15:00, 3rd quarter

And our second half starts with… a touchback. Par for the course.

The science teacher roommate has peaced-out, not entirely unreasonably given that first half, so it’s just you and me for this second half, which should be kicking off shortly.

Nevermind this is actually kind of a banger. I am a Swiftie and feel no pleasure in saying this.

We are now being subjected to the world premiere of a Katy Perry video for reasons that will forever remain a mystery to me.

Last night was the first time as a US sports fan that I ever rooted for a tie in my life and you know what? It changed my life. Maybe it’s time I started to look into the other kind of football as well.

Halftime thoughts

Well, the game really turned on the Jameson Williams injury. He will be out for the entire game, which anyone watching pretty much could have been guessed the second the injury occurred in real time.

The other news has been the combination of offensive struggles/defensive excellence that has led this to be a showcase to the two kicking teams. One imagines that this will change in the second half, but who could have predicted that the first half would have been this free from fireworks?

Halftime!

And we have a 6-9 game where there hasn’t been a single touchdown. Just what one expected from the best two teams in college football, right?

Georgia 6-9 Alabama, end of the first half.

Great punt there from Alabama, which is a weird thing to type. White picks up 4 yards as the clock continues to tick. White picks up another yard and it looks like Georgia is playing this conservatively. Alabama calls a timeout with 22 seconds left in the half.

When play resumes, it’s a 3^rd & 5 situation. White manages to pick up a first down but there’s not much time left here to do anything and everybody just waits around until the end of the first half.

Given the score, that feels like an appropriate way to end the first two quarters of play.

Georgia 6-9 Alabama, 1:40, 2^nd quarter

It’s a 3^rd and 5 situation and it feels like a crucial one here as halftime looms. Young uncorks a rather great throw that Bolden nearly completes for a catch. Game of inches. Here comes the punt team again. Jackson makes a fair catch at the Georgia 10.

Georgia 6-9 Alabama, 1:45, 2^nd quarter

Young throws to Agiye Hall who makes the catch and then smartly eludes the defense for a 24 yard gain that takes Alabama to the Georgia 43.

Given a fresh set of downs, Robinson Jr. picks up two yards. 2^nd & 8. Young throws incomplete. Just like that, we get another third-down situation and… our first timeout of the game. This one’s courtesy of Georgia.

Georgia 6-9 Alabama, 2:39, 2^nd quarter

After a touchback, Alabama starts at their own 25. Brian Robinson Jr. gets the ball first and he picks up three yards. 2^nd & 7. Young throws incomplete. 3^rd & 7. On the next play, an offsides penalty on Georgia turns it into a more manageable 3^rd & 2 situation.

Georgia 6-9 Alabama, 3:09, 2^nd quarter

Dallas Turner sacks Bennett for a four-yard loss. Just like that, 1^st and 10 has become 2^nd & 14.

Make that 3^rd and 14 after Bennett’s next throw lands incomplete. Bennett finds Kearis Jackson for an eight-yard gain that at least gives Georgia a chance for (you’ll never believe this) a field goal attempt. Podlesny’s 49-yarder looks like it’s going to curve away but it manages to hit the uprights to cut the Alabama lead to three.

Georgia 3-9 Alabama, 5:11, 2^nd quarter

Bennett throws incomplete to Adonai Mitchell on 1^st & 10. 2^nd & 10, Bennett finds Bowers, who drags several defensive players with him, until he can get six yards. 3^rd & 4, Bennett finds Mitchell who picks up 11 yards. Georgia’s at the Alabama 34.

Georgia 3-9 Alabama, 6:23, 2^nd quarter

Georgia has to feel good about its defense limiting Alabama to field goals, but it won’t matter if they can’t score themselves. Reichard’s kickoff isn’t great, it goes for 56 yards. They will start at their own 35. James Cook gets the first touch on this drive, picking up four yards.

On the next down, Bennett connects with McIntosh for ten yards which means, obviously, a first down. Solid start, this.

Georgia 3-9 Alabama, 7:07, 2^nd quarter

Robinson Jr gets it to the Georgia 6. Alabama is threatening for the game’s first touchdown… except Young throws incomplete and then gets sacked for a massive loss. 13 yards! Georgia holds Alabama to yet another field goal attempt. Reichard’s 37-yarder is good and Alabama at least pad their lead.

Georgia 3-6 Alabama, 8:49, 2^nd quarter

Slade Bolden catches, fumbles and returns the resulting punt. Alabama start at their own 26. Young finds Ja’Corey Brooks for a five-yard gain. On the next play, Young finds Cameron Latu who just goes off and very nearly takes it all the way to the end zone before being brought down at the Georgia 8.

Georgia 3-6 Alabama, 10:36, 2^nd quarter

After a false start penalty, Bennett throws incomplete to Pickens in a 1^st & 15 situation. Bennett throws complete to the wonderfully named Ladd McConkey for a three-yard gain. Bennett finds Cook, who gets 3 yards on 3^rd down. Georgia, however, needed 12. Punt time, again.

Georgia 3-6 Alabama, 11:12, 2^nd quarter

A penalty takes back yards on what would otherwise have been a huge return from Georgia, a 30-yard run from McIntosh. They will instead start at their own 20.

Georgia 3-6 Alabama, 11:46, 2^nd quarter

It’s hard to concentrate on the game after seeing something like that. Young finds Bolden for nine yards. Young throws incomplete on the next play. 3^rd & 1.

Nope, false start on Alabama and that’s a five-yard penalty. 3^rd & 6. Young finds Bolden, but not for enough yards to get that first down. So, it’s time for another field goal. Reichard’s 45-yard attempt is good and Alabama takes the lead.

Please please do not show that injury replay again, ESPN.

They do, but at least it’s not a close-up.

Georgia 3-3 Alabama, 12:28, 2^nd quarter

Camarda’s kickoff puts them at their own 25. Jameson Williams makes a huge first down catch on the 35 but immediately goes down on his own with a leg injury before being brought down. My science teacher roommate caught it on replay and her diagnosis is not great. Injury time-out, obviously.