Alabama Football: Tony Brown out-efforts UGA receiver for first turnover (video)
Alabama football kicked off to Georgia to begin the College Football Playoff National Championship but it didn’t take long for the Tide to get the ball back.
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Georgia elected to start the College Football Playoff National Championship Game by testing Alabama’s secondary on their first drive. That went about as well as one might expect. After two plays that netted the Bulldogs 4-yards, Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm took to the air.
Instead of a big play to receiver Javon Wims, Alabama corner Tony Brown turned the long pass into the first turnover of the game. The ball was underthrown, but Wims had the ball in his hands before Brown ripped it away.
Here’s what the play looked like in real time. Watch Brown simply out-muscle Wims for possession:
A spectacular play from Tony Brown for the INT. Pressure in Fromm's face; he under-threw the ball, had Wims for a big gain pic.twitter.com/I0oUvGneGE
— CFB Chalkboard (@CFBChalkboard) January 9, 2018
Alabama took over on their own 36-yard line and wasted no time marching down the field. Jalen Hurts led his team 42-yards down the field on 11 plays before having to settle for a 40-yard Andy Pappanastos field goal – which he put wide left of the target. Alabama wasn’t able to to capitalize on turnover, but the big play to start the game won’t be forgotten by Fromm or the Georgia offense.
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The Tide are looking to win their fifth championship game under Nick Saban. The Bulldogs, on the other hand, haven’t played for a title in more than three decades. It’s going to be a battle to the final moments, but the Crimson Tide have delivered their opening blow. Can the Bulldogs respond with a defensive play of their own? Or will Alabama pull away, slowly strangling their opponent once more?