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COLLEGE FOOTBALL
The Times, Gainesville, Georgia | gainesvilletimes.com
Sunday, December 30, 2018 3B
COTTON BOWL I No. 2 Clemson 30, No. 3 Notre Name 3
Tigers use big second
quarter for easy win
JEFF MCWHORTER I Associated Press
Clemson running back Travis Etienne (9) sprints into the end zone for a
touchdown against Notre Dame in the second half of the Cotton Bowl on
Sunday in Arlington, Texas.
Associated Press
When Clemson’s Dabo Swinney
entrusted a team with championship
aspirations to freshman quarterback
Trevor Lawrence in September, this
is what the Tigers’ coach had in mind.
Lawrence threw for 327 yards and
three touchdowns and No. 2 Clemson
beat No. 3 Notre Dame 30-3 on Satur
day in the Cotton Bowl to reach the
College Football Playoff title game.
The Tigers (14-0) will play either No.
1 Alabama — for a fourth straight
season in the playoff — or No. 4
Oklahoma on Jan. 7 in Santa Clara,
California.
“He’s just so poised. He just sees it.
And he’s got a gift of an arm,” Swinney
said. “But I just love his humility and
how consistent he is with his prepara
tion, day in and day out. Easy, easy
guy to coach. Easy guy to get behind
and support. His teammates love
him.”
Clemson’s overpowering and expe
rienced defensive line, led by ends
Clelin Ferrell and Austin Bryant,
smothered Ian Book and the Fighting
Irish (12-1), holding them to 248 yards.
On offense, freshmen led the way.
Lawrence, making his 10th career
start, was 27 for 39 and did not throw
an interception against a Notre Dame
defense that had been one of the best
on the country. Freshman receiver
Justyn Ross had six catches for 148
yards and two long touchdowns.
“It makes it a lot easier on me when
you just have guys all around you who
are such great players and take that
load off of you. There’s not much pres
sure when you have guys this good
playing around you,” Lawrence said.
The Irish hung around for a quar
ter, with the teams exchanging field
goals. But in the first quarter, Notre
Dame All-America cornerback Julian
Love went out with what coach Brian
Kelly said after the game was a head
injury and Lawrence started taking
apart the Irish.
Lawrence hooked up with Ross
deep down the sideline and the big
receiver beat Love’s backup, Donte
Vaughn, for a tackle-breaking, 52-yard
score early in the second quarter. The
Irish looked as if they might keep it
close to halftime, but they couldn’t
keep Clemson out of their backfield
— even without suspended star tackle
Dexter Lawrence.
In the final 2 minutes, Trevor
Lawrence connected with Ross on a
42-yard score and with Tee Higgins
for a one-handed, 19-yard touchdown
reception — again over Vaughn —
with 2 seconds left in the second quar
ter. Lawrence was 13 for 15 for 229
yards in the quarter.
“I wanted to help our team,” said
Love, who passed concussion protocol
at halftime and returned to the game.
“And in a sense, I let them down in
that regard.”
That made it 23-3 at half and once
again the Fighting Irish looked out
classed against the best of the best.
Not so different from the 42-14 loss
to Alabama in the 2012 BCS champi
onship game or the 44-28 loss to Ohio
State in the 2016 Fiesta Bowl. In fact,
Notre Dame is 0-8 in BCS and New
Year’s Six games since winning the
Cotton Bowl in 1993.
Receiver Miles Boykin insisted this
Notre Dame team was different.
“I thought we played just as athletic
as them and just as fast as them and it
came down to execution and we didn’t
execute today,” he said.
Though to be fair, Clemson has been
doing this to everyone since Lawrence
settled in. The Tigers haven’t had an
opponent stay within 20 points since a
close call against Syracuse on Sept. 29.
That was Lawrence’s first game as
a starter, one he didn’t finish because
of a head injury, and Clemson’s first
after quarterback Kelly Bryant left
the team.
Bryant, a senior, led the Tigers to
the playoff last season and a semifi
nal loss to Alabama. He was pivotal in
an early victory this season at Texas
A&M. But Lawrence is a rare talent, a
potential first overall NFL draft pick.
When Lawrence took over, the ceiling
on Clemson’s potential rose. Now it is
being realized.
“I felt like he gave us the best
chance to win and play at an explosive
level,” Swinney said.
With his flowing blond hair, Law
rence is positioned to become one of
college football’s biggest and most
recognizable stars. It will help to have
receivers such as Ross, Higgins and
Amari Rogers, all underclassmen.
And a runner like sophomore Travis
Etienne, who broke a 62-yard touch
down run in the third quarter.
But Lawrence is the leader. In his
11th start, he will try to become the
first true freshman quarterback to
lead his team to a national champi
onship since Oklahoma’s Jamelle
Holieway in 1985.
“He doesn’t just have a talented
arm. That’s just what you guys see,”
Clemson All-America defensive tackle
Christian Wilkins said. “He’s a cool
customer. He’s never rattled.”
THE TAKEAWAY
NOTRE DAME: As 12-point under
dogs, the Irish needed to play their
best and catch a couple breaks. Nei
ther happened. They nearly had a
takeaway deep in Clemson territory
in the first quarter, but a loose ball
was ruled barely out of bounds by
replay review. Love’s injury left them
exposed at corner. And an offensive
line, which had been up and down and
shifting around much of the season,
was no match for Clemson.
CLEMSON: Dexter Lawrence, side
lined by a failed NCAA test for perfor
mance-enhancing drugs, was hardly
missed. The 340-pound junior was on
the sideline, wearing on an orange
sweat shirt with a white tiger paw
logo. Clemson is working on an appeal
for Lawrence and two other players,
but it is unlikely the Tigers will have
them back for the national title game.
ORANGE BOWL I No. 1
Alabama 45, No. 4 Oklahoma 34
■
■ V ^
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VI
LYNNE SLADKY I Associated Press
Oklahoma safety Robert Barnes (20) and cornerback Tre
Norwood (13) tackle Alabama wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (4),
during the first half of the Orange Bowl on Saturday in Miami
Gardens, Fla.
Fast start sends
Crimson Tide
to title game
Associated Press
Tua Tagovailoa threw for
318 yards and four touch
downs and No. l-ranked Ala
bama beat No. 4 Oklahoma
45-34 on Saturday night in
the College Football Play
off semifinal at the Orange
Bowl.
The high-scoring Soon-
ers reached the semifinal
despite a porous defense
that was no match for Ala
bama’s diverse attack, and
the Crimson Tide led 28-0
after only 17 minutes.
Alabama (14-0) advanced
to the national champion
ship game for the fourth
consecutive season and will
play Jan. 7 in Santa Clara,
California against familiar
foe Clemson, which beat
Notre Dame 30-3 in the Cot
ton Bowl. Clemson, ranked
No. 2, and Alabama will
face off in the playoffs for
the fourth year in a row, and
have split two title games.
“They’ve got a great pro
gram and a great team,”
Alabama coach Nick Saban
said. “I’m sure it’ll be a great
challenge for us, and I’m
sure we’ll need to play bet
ter than we did today.”
Tagovailoa’s perfor
mance in the semifinal
argued for a Florida recount
in the Heisman Trophy vote.
He finished as the runner-up
to Oklahoma’s Kyler Mur
ray but won sweet consola
tion by completing 24 of 27
passes, with scores to four
receivers.
“It’s always good to see
your hard work pay off,”
said Tagovailoa, who played
on a sore left ankle.
While Tagovailoa con
nected on his first nine
passes for 184 yards, Mur
ray was sacked twice before
he threw a pass, and his first
completion came with his
team already down 21-0.
Murray had one bril
liant moment, a perfect
deep throw on the move to
Charleston Rambo in the
end zone for a 49-yard score.
He passed for 308 yards and
ran for 109 but took several
jarring hits, including when
All-America nose guard
Quinnen Williams dislodged
his helmet and forced him
from the game for one play
in the fourth quarter.
The Sooners (12-2) were
bowled over by the Crimson
Tide. When Robert Barnes
tried to stop Josh Jacobs in
the open field, the Alabama
running back lowered his
head for the collision and
continued to the end zone
for a 27-yard score while
the Sooners safety spun to
the turf, dazed and briefly
unable to get up.
“Our offense really con
trolled the tempo of the
game,” Saban said.
Bowl results
Friday’s games
Music City Bowl
Nashville, Tenn.
Auburn 63, Purdue 14
Camping World Bowl
Orlando, Fla.
Syracuse 34, West Virginia 18
Alamo Bowl
San Antonio
Washington State 28, Iowa State 26
BOWL SCOREBOARD
No. 10 Florida finishes comeback year
with 41-15 victory in the Peach Bowl
Florida running back Jordan Scarlett (25) runs against Michigan
linebacker Khaleke Hudson (7) during the first half of the Peach Bowl
on Saturday in Atlanta.
Associated Press
Lamical Perine had a 5-yard
scoring catch and 53-yard touch
down run to lead No. 10 Florida’s
strong rushing attack Saturday,
helping the Gators cap their
comeback season with a 41-15
rout of No. 8 Michigan in the
Peach Bowl.
After finishing 4-7 in 2017,
Florida enjoyed a dramatic turn
around in Dan Mullen’s debut
season as coach. Florida (10-
3) closed the season with four
straight wins. Michigan (10-3)
closed a promising season with
two straight lopsided losses.
Feleipe Franks ran and passed
for touchdowns to lead Florida’s
offense. He had a 20-yard scor
ing run in the second quarter and
finished with 74 yards rushing on
14 carries. Franks passed for 173
yards.
Chauncey Gardner-Johnson
led Florida’s defense with two
interceptions, including one
returned 30 yards for a touch
down with less than five minutes
remaining. Gardner-Johnson’s
first interception early in the sec
ond half, when Florida led only
13-10, set the tone for the Gators.
The Wolverines faced the
unenviable task of having four
top starters, including top rusher
Karan Higdon and leading tack
ier Devin Bush, skip the game to
focus on the NFL draft.
After giving up 567 yards in a
crushing 62-39 loss to Ohio State
to close the regular season, Mich
igan’s defense again couldn’t play
up to its No. 1 ranking.
Florida compiled 427 total
yards, including 257 on the
ground. Perine led the Gators
with 76 yards rushing. Jordan
Scarlett ran for 59 yards, includ
ing a 1-yard scoring run.
Michigan led 7-3 after Shea
Patterson’s 9-yard scoring pass
to Donovan Peoples-Jones in the
first quarter — the Wolverines’
only touchdown. Patterson threw
two second-half interceptions and
completed 22 of 36 passes for 236
yards and a touchdown.
JOHN BAZEMORE I Associated Press
Trailing 13-10, Michigan’s first
possession of the second half
began at its 48.
The excellent scoring oppor
tunity was only a prelude for
disappointment.
The Wolverines gained one
first down before Patterson’s
deep pass over the middle was
intercepted at the 3 by Gardner-
Johnson, whose 47-yard return to
the Michigan 44 set up the Gators.
Speedy Kadarius Toney gained
30 yards on a fourth-down, end-
around run to the Michigan 5.
Franks’ 5-yard touchdown pass to
Perine pushed the Florida lead to
20-10.
Michigan had two apparent
touchdowns negated following
video reviews by officials.
BELK BOWL: Bryce Perkins
threw three touchdown passes
to Olamide Zaccheaus, Virginia’s
defense dominated and the Cava
liers beat South Carolina 28-0 in
the Belk Bowl on Saturday for
their first bowl win since 2005.
Perkins completed 22 of 31
passes for 208 yards and ran for
81 yards as the Cavaliers (8-5)
ended the ACC’s longest bowl
drought.
Zaccheaus, named the game’s
Most Outstanding Player, had
12 catches for 100 yards. Jordan
Ellis ran for 106 yards and a
touchdown, helping Virginia hold
the ball for more than 42 minutes.
The Gamecocks were shut out
for the first time since 2006, when
they lost 18-0 to Georgia.
The Cavaliers’ 14th-ranked
pass defense put the clamps on
a hot South Carolina offense that
had averaged 38.2 points per
game over the past five games.
Jake Bentley had thrown for 16
touchdowns during that span,
including a 510-yard, five-TD
performance against No. 2 Clem
son, but struggled without wide
receiver Deebo Samuel, who
elected to bypass the bowl game
to begin preparing for the NFL
draft.
Bentley was limited to 218
yards on 17-of-39 passing and was
intercepted twice.
Saturday’s games
Peach Bowl
Atlanta
Florida 41, Michigan 15
Belk Bowl
Charlotte, N.C.
Virginia 28, South Carolina 0
Arizona Bowl
TUcson, Ariz.
Nevada 16, Arkansas State 13, OT
Cotton Bowl Classic
Arlington, Texas
CFP Semifinal, Clemson 30, Notre Dame 3
Orange Bowl
Miami Gardens, Fla.
CFP Semifinal, Alabama 45, Oklahoma 34
Monday’s games
Military Bowl
Annapolis, Md.
Cincinnati (10-2) vs. Virginia Tech (6-6), Noon (ESPN)
Sun Bowl
El Paso,Texas
Stanford (8-4) vs. Pittsburgh (7-6), 2 p.m. (CBS)
Redbox Bowl
Santa Clara, Calif.
Michigan State (7-5) vs. Oregon (8-4), 3 p.m. (FOX)
Liberty Bowl
Memphis, Tenn.
Missouri (8-4) vs. Oklahoma State (6-6), 3:45 p.m. (ESPN)
Holiday Bowl
San Diego
Northwestern (8-5) vs. Utah (9-4), 7 p.m. (FS1)
Gator Bowl
Jacksonville, Fla.
NC State (9-3) vs. Texas A&M (8-4), 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Ihesday, Jan. 1
Outback Bowl
Tampa, Fla.
Mississippi State (8-4) vs. Iowa (8-4), Noon (ESPN2)
Citrus Bowl
Orlando, Fla.
Kentucky (9-3) vs. Penn State (9-3), 1 p.m. (ABC)
Fiesta Bowl
Glendale, Ariz.
LSU (9-3) vs. UCF (12-0), 1 p.m. (ESPN)
Rose Bowl
Pasadena, Calif.
Washington (10-3) vs. Ohio State (12-1), 5 p.m. (ESPN)
Sugar Bowl
New Orleans
Texas (9-4) vs. Georgia (11-2), 8:45 p.m. (ESPN)
Monday, Jan. 7
College Football Championship
Santa Clara, Calif.
Clemson (14-0) vs. Orange Bowl winner, 8 p.m. (ESPN)
Saturday, Jan. 19
East-West Shrine Classic
At St. Petersburg, Fla.
East vs. West, 3 p.m. (NFLN)
American vs. National, TBA (NFLN)
Associated Press
