Alabama defensive lineman Da’Ron Payne did the improbable by intercepting a pass and catching a touchdown in a sequence of events.
Sometimes, it’s the most improbable player that ends up turning a game by themselves. In football, it’s hard to imagine a defensive lineman changing the fortunes of the game on both sides of the ball by himself. In the Sugar Bowl, Da’Ron Payne did just that.
Known as one of the best at his position in college football, Payne decided he was going to make some plays that don’t happen often at his position. As Clemson was looking to drive and take the lead in the second half, Payne made big man magic happen.
As a pass got tipped up in the air, Payne picked it off and got moving down the field. He picked up enough yards that he set up the Crimson Tide with great field position. It turns out that Alabama would reward him.
Down on the goal line, they lined him up and he broke off for the corner of the end zone. To make it all the more exciting, Payne would catch the pass and managed to bring both feet down in bounds for the touchdown.
Da'Ron Payne INTERCEPTION!!! #RollTide pic.twitter.com/xoefOa8fYC
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) January 2, 2018
Oh, just 308-pound defensive lineman Da'Ron Payne catching a touchdown. Look at the footwork! pic.twitter.com/hlkr5mTNVW
— SEC Country Alabama (@SECCountryBama) January 2, 2018
Just when it looked like the Tigers might be gaining some momentum, Payne changed all of that. The interception was a moment to remember, but the sequence of events turned even better with his catch.
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Coming into the third game of this rivalry, it was known that it was going to be a defensive battle between the two sides. No one could have expected this, however.
Things fell apart for Clemson from there, as a pick-six would occur on the ensuing drive and the Crimson Tide’s lead would even grow. When Alabama needed a spark, their big man picked them up.
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