Alabama football: Top 10 plays from last season
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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — While ultimately ending in heartbreak, last season offered plenty of memorable plays for Alabama football. With 15 non-offensive touchdowns, there were plenty of highlight-reel moments. There were also big runs against rivals and clutch moments to keep fans on the edge of their seats.
Here is a look at the top 10 plays from the 2016/17 season:
No. 10: Da'Ron Payne's scoop-and-score touchdown against Ole Miss.
With Alabama trailing 24-17 against Ole Miss in Oxford, Miss., the Tide completed its comeback with the help from one of its most unlikely heroes. Linebacker Ryan Anderson hit Ole Miss quarterback Chad Kelly from behind at the Rebels 1-yard line, jarring the ball loose in the path of defensive lineman Da'Ron Payne. The 6-foot-2, 312-pound defensive lineman scooped up the ball at the 3-yard line before fully extending his body to reach the goal line.
Payne's touchdown helped the Tide complete a 48-43 comeback. It also gave him bragging rights for the rest of the season, as Payne didn't let his teammates forget the feat.
“He thinks he’s some kind of world-class athlete when I’m sure that Coach [Nick] Saban probably could have picked up the fumble and walked, took one step and scored a touchdown,” Alabama linebacker Shaun Dion Hamilton joked during the seaosn.
No. 9: Josh Jacobs carries Auburn defense on his back
Any play against Auburn is going to warrant more attention, particularly one that demonstrates a domination of strength. While Josh Jacob's 26-yard run in the fourth quarter of the Iron Bowl had little influence in the Tide's 30-12 win against the Tigers, the running back's strength while carrying six Auburn defenders on his back served as a microcosm of the game.
On the play, Jacobs found a hole and cut past a defender near the line of scrimmage. A pair of Auburn defenders met him 10 yards down the field, but it would eventually take half of Auburn's defense to bring him down 16 yards later.
No. 8: Bo Scarbrough's 85-yard run against Tennessee.
Like Jacob's run against Auburn, Bo Scarbrough's 85-yard run against Tennessee had little impact in the game. The touchdown dash came with Alabama already leading 42-10, but it was impressive nonetheless.
Scarbrough broke a tackle near the line of scrimmage before shoving off a defender 10 yards down the field. After that, the 6-foot-2, 232-pound running back was off to the races, dashing down the left sideline and into the endzone. Scarbrough added insult to injury by sticking his hand in the face of a Tennessee fan who was clearly unamused by the play.
No. 7: Jalen Hurts first touchdown pass
The start of the Jalen Hurts era may have begun on a botched handoff during the first snap of his college career. However, the true freshman atoned for his error two drives later.
Down 3-0 to Southern California midway through the second quarter of the season opener, Hurts found himself facing a third and 13 from the Trojans 39-yard line. Showing what would turn out to be his signature composure, the quarterback rolled to his right and unleashed a bomb to a wide-open ArDarius Stewart in the end zone.
Alabama would go on to win the 52-6 as Hurts passed for 118 yards and two touchdowns with an interception while rushing for 32 yards and two more scores on the ground. More importantly, the game served as a springboard for a season that would see the Channelview, Texas native earn Alabama's third straight SEC Offensive Player of the Year Award.
No. 6: Minkah Fitzpatrick's 107-yard interception return against Arkansas
Minkah Fitzpatrick knew where he was, but he didn’t care. Intercepting a pass 7 yards back in the end zone, he looked up to see a wide open field and his teammate Eddie Jackson waving him on.
That’s all the encouragement the Alabama defensive back would need as went 107 yards untouched for the score.
“As soon as I caught the ball, Eddie had tapped my arm. He was like, ‘Come on,’ and he pointed to the left side of the field – and it was wide open. So I just had to take a chance. I know Coach Saban probably wasn’t happy at first, but I think he was happy with the end result."
Because interception returns are recorded from end zone to end zone, Fitzpatrick’s pick-six was officially listed at 100 yards. However, that didn’t make it any less impressive. In fact, the interception was one of three for him on the day for him and helped him earn the Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week.
The score also tied the school record for most interceptions returned for touchdowns with three in a career. Fitzpatrick would later break the record with a 44-yard interception return against Florida in the SEC Championship Game.
No. 5: Mack Wilson's hit against Speedy Noil
Playing behind a star-studded linebacker unit, freshman Mack Wilson didn’t get much playing time on defense last season. However, the Montgomery, Ala., native made the most of his time on the field during special teams.
Delivering one of the hardest hits in Alabama history, Wilson made his presence know during the game against Texas A&M, stopping Aggies receiver Speedy Noil dead in his tracks at the 13-yard line. Wilson then followed up with another thunderous blow, knocking back Justin Evans in the second quarter.
"That was like attempted murder," Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster said after the game. "Oh my gosh."
No. 4: Hurts' go-ahead touchdown in the national championship
While not playing his best during Alabama’s 35-31 loss to Clemson in the national championship game, Hurts came moments away from becoming the game’s hero.
With Alabama trailing 28-24 and 2:17 remaining in the fourth quarter, Hurts took a snap out of the shotgun at the Clemson 30-yard line. After looking downfield, the freshman escaped pressure in the pocket before tucking the ball for what at the time appeared to be a game-winning touchdown.
Alabama’s defense was unable to hold Clemson on the final drive, allowing Deshaun Watson to win the game on a 2-yard pass to Hunter Renfrow with one second remaining. If not for that, Hurts’ touchdown might have been No. 1 on this list.
No. 3: Jackson's 85-yard punt return against Ole Miss
Alabama appeared to be in line for its third straight loss to Ole Miss after falling into an early 24-3 hole against the Rebels in Oxford. That was until a game-changing punt return from Jackson helped turn the tables just before the half.
Jackson's return came as Alabama trailed 24-10 with 1:24 left in the second quarter. After fielding the punt at his own 15-yard line, Jackson received a decisive block from linebacker Christian Miller at the Alabama 37-yard line. From there, the safety turned on the jets, beating one final Ole Miss defender at the Rebels 35-yard line before dashing untouched into the end zone.
Alabama headed into the half trailing by just one score and came back to beat Ole Miss 48-43. The score was one of two punt returns Jackson brought back for touchdowns last season as he later recorded a 79-yard return against Tennessee.
No. 2: Hurts' game-winning run against LSU
Opposing quarterbacks are supposed to fall apart during night games in Tiger Stadium. Nicknamed “Death Valley,” the venue and its 100,000-plus hostile fans generally give LSU an insurmountable advance, particularly once the sun sets and a day’s worth of bourbon begins to kick in. The deafening noise is enough to strike fear in any quarterback not dressed in purple and gold, especially if he happens to be a true freshman.
The only problem for LSU was Alabama’s true freshman never acted like one.
Locked in a 0-0 tie with the Tigers heading into the fourth quarter, Hurts kept his poise, moving the Tide down the field on a drive that started at his own 10-yard line. Facing a third-and-9 from the LSU 21-yard line, the true freshman provided the game’s only touchdown.
On the play, Hurts rolled to his right before picking up a block from Scarbrough. He then cut inside, avoiding two LSU defenders before skipping into the end zone untouched. The touchdown not only led Alabama to a 10-0 win but also gave the Tide complete control of the SEC West in the process.
No. 1: Jonathan Allen's Superman sack
It took a near super-human play to top this list.
Jonathan Allen made plenty of highlights during a senior season that saw him win the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Award, Ted Hendricks Award and Lombardi Award. However, none were as memorable as his famed “Superman sack” against Texas A&M.
The sack came during the Aggies’ opening drive as Allen pushed aside offensive lineman Colton Prater before leaping over running back Trayveon Williams for an air-born tackle of quarterback Trevor Knight on third-and-14.
“The previous third down I got cut (blocked), so I had it in my mind to go over him the next opportunity I got,” Allen said. “Thank goodness it worked.”
The game would go down as one of Allen’s biggest of the season. The 6-foot-3, 291-pound defensive lineman was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week as he returned a fumble 30 yards for a touchdown and finished with six tackles and four quarterback hurries.