Saturday’s game between No. 1 Alabama and also No. 11 Florida in The Swamp was a meaningful event, a contest specified equally as much by crucial, momentum-swinging plays as close to misses for both teams.
It appeared in the beginning that the top-ranked Tide would run the Gators out of their very own arena, jumping to a 21-3 first-quarter lead off the passing prowess of Bryce Young (22 of 35 passing, 240 yards, three touchdowns). Yet Dan Mullen’s team virtually fought back from the 18-point shortage, ultimately falling 31-29 after linebacker Jaylen Moody lowered Florida quarterback Emory Jones on the final play of the video game:
ALABAMA HOLDS ON
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports)
That was the last play of the video game, yet there were numerous more that had a better influence on the game, a too-close call for Alabama and Co. early in the 2021 season.
With that said, Sporting Information breaks down the largest plays as well as near misses out on from Saturday’s matchup:
Florida’s missed 2-point conversion
No play had a larger straight impact on the game than Florida’s game-tying effort. By that factor in the video game, Alabama’s defense was not just gassed, however also revealed a complete inability to stop the Gators’ rushing attack.Why after that, did Jones(18 for 28, 195 passing backyards, 77 rushing yards) hold the sphere for as long on the zone-read alternative, right after Dameon Pearce? The slow-developing play allowed linebacker Drew Sanders to get a lick on Jones, and also for Alabama’s defense to ingest up Malik Davis prior to he could obtain a complete head of steam. Hell of a game by Florida However can we speak about this 2 factor
conversion attempt … wtf …– Tim England (@tengland_150)Regardless, the unsuccessful effort entirely
changed the way Alabama approached
its final ownership of the game, as the infraction elected to go conservative in a quote to bleed the clock.Alabama surrenders 26-yard touchdown at end of the fifty percent Florida had 6 first-half drives versus Alabama, which finished in a field objective, interception, turn over on downs and 2 punts. The
Gators’ single goal drive offered a short look of the second half, however, as Davis rumbled his means right into the end area, dragging Alabama protectors in with him. MALIK DAVIS JUST KEPT GOING– CBS Sports (@CBSSports)The touchdown eventually made the rating 21-9– more on that particular in a min– however, extra notably
, gave a much-needed stimulate
for the Gators infraction. It likewise set the tone for exactly how Mullen attacked the Alabama defense in the second fifty percent: Florida outgained the Crimson Trend 245-91 on the ground, likewise eclipsing its death overall (195 yards)by 50 yards.Alabama was almost unable of quiting the run in the second fifty percent, and also everything began with this 26-yard score.Florida’s missed factor after effort It’s very easy to indicate the missed 2-point effort as the game-defining play, however the factor Florida discovered itself seeking the shot is because of a routine point after effort that went wide right.
Following Davis’ 26-yard touchdown, Chris Howard’s effort was off the mark, keeping Florida that a lot better far from the nation’s top-ranked team. Florida wound up closing the distance, yet the missed RUB was the ultimate difference.Florida converts 3rd below its 1 There might not have actually been a much more demoralizing bet Alabama in Saturday’s game than Florida’s third-down conversion, in the third quarter, from its own 1-yard line. The play– an 18-yard catch-and-run from Nay’Quan Wright on third-and-9– at least kept Florida punter Jeremy Crawshaw from kicking near the rear of his end area. Nay’Quan Wright on that particular 99 lawn drive > > > > > >– Tim McRaw(@Gator_Alum) It ended up being the first positive play in an 11-play, 99-yard touchdown drive– just the 2nd versus a Nick Saban protection given that he took over at Alabama in 2007(the initially was available in 2018, versus Texas A&M). It made ball game 28-23, moving Florida to within a touchdown of the Crimson Tide for the very first time considering that it was 10-3 very early in the first quarter.Florida pass interference on>>>
Alabama touchdown drive Alabama had only one goal drive
in the second half, one that obtained a big assisting hand from Florida linebacker Brenton Cox Jr. Youthful was looking to target John Metchie III on third-and-12 from Florida’s 30; his pass was almost obstructed, however&only due to the fact that Cox flattened Metchie on the route.Who can state what would certainly have happened had Cox not strike Metchie on the path? Maybe he would have captured the ball and also stretched simply far sufficient for a first down; maybe he might have opted for a touchdown on the play. Or it might have been an interception. What is particular, nonetheless, is that it kept Alabama to life an additional play; the Trend wound up scoring a touchdown on fourth-and-goal from the 1 to take a 28-16 lead.Bama’s charge on the 1-yard line Last, however not least: Alabama’s final scoring drive of the day, covered
with a 24-yard area objective from Will Reichard, effectively might have been a goal– or a substantial defensive quit for Florida.Before kicking the area goal, Alabama showed up ready to go for it on fourth-and-1, which would certainly have been its second-straight scoring drive to finish on a fourth-down conversion attempt. A false begin by Emil Ekiyor Jr.– in the face of an unbelievably loud Ben Hill Griffin Stadium– made it fourth-and-6, bringing out the area objective unit. The charge wound up keeping Alabama out of the end zone, somehow, as well as kept Florida a goal as well as 2-point conversion away from connecting the game.If Alabama ratings on fourth down, it would likely be the end of the video game, after that as well as there. Or maybe Florida notches the protective stop, goes 99 yards to take the lead and also sends Alabama home with a loss. Once more, who understands what would have happened, or what effect it would have carried the game?The very same might be said for any of Saturday’s plays.
