Needing a big score, Clemson Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson threads the needle to hit wide receiver Hunter Renfrow on a 24-yard touchdown strike.
The Clemson Tigers were in need of a touchdown in the third quarter to make it a game against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2016 National Championship. Clemson would get exactly what it craved on this sweet 24-yard touchdown dart from quarterback Deshaun Watson to wide receiver Hunter Renfrow.
Clemson was given great field position by a terrible 30-yard punt by Alabama’s J.K. Scott. Watson knew he needed to come up big time and threaded the needle marvelous to carve up the vaunted Alabama defense on this abbreviated drive.
What set up this shortened drive was actually a bold play call by Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney. Instead of going for it on fourth and short, he had Watson pooch punt the football deep into Alabama territory. The Crimson Tide did not expect that and were pinned deep because of it.
With Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts looking like a freshman in this game, the Crimson Tide had no choice but to punt. The usually reliable Scott couldn’t get the football on the Clemson side of the 50-yard line.
Since Alabama is well-coached and rarely makes mistakes, Watson seized the moment to give his team some much-needed offensive momentum. It wasn’t the flashiest of passes, but Watson was able to read a near-NFL defense to find Renfrow open between the hash marks.
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Getting points on this Alabama defense has been difficult for nearly every team that has gone up against it this year. Clemson may be the best team Alabama will face in 2016, but the Tigers will need to make the most of their last few possession to have any shot at winning the 2016 National Championship.