Georgia leads Alabama 13-0 at halftime of the national championship game. Here are three things to know if you've missed the action.
Georgia leads Alabama 13-0 at halftime of the national championship game. Here are three things to know if you've missed the action.
1. Georgia mixed it up to start … unsuccessfully
Despite having a pair of star backs in Sony Michel and Nick Chubb, Georgia came out gunning — throwing the ball on its first seven offensive plays. The results were hardly spectacular. Georgia failed to register a first down in its first two series, and freshman quarterback Jake Fromm was picked off on his third attempt when Alabama’s Tony Brown ripped the ball out of the arms of Javon Wims. The run game eventually gave Georgia the half's only touchdown as Mecole Hardman scored with just seconds remaining before halftime.
2. A penalty was huge
Alabama registered the game’s first points, or so it appeared. Andy Pappanastos hit a 35-yard field goal, but a penalty negated the kick. That pushed the ball back to the 23-yard-line, meaning Alabama had to try a 40-yard kick. Pappanastos missed this one badly, following suit with his season — the senior had hit 12 of 13 attempts inside 40 yards on the season, but had made just half of his eight attempts from 40 yards or more coming into the contest.
3. Alabama couldn’t manage much offensively
Aside from a 31-yard run from quarterback Jalen Hurts midway through the second quarter, Alabama’s offense struggled to move the ball against a stout Georgia defense. Hurts hit just three of eight passes before the break for 21 yards. The Tide also had trouble on third down, converting just one of six times.