NEW ORLEANS — Whereas Kansas State working again Deuce Vaughn recorded one of the crucial electrical performs of the 2022 Sugar Bowl along with his 88-yard landing run within the first quarter, the remainder of the sport was a special story.
In actual fact, in the event you eliminated Vaughn’s landing play, then he completed the sport with simply 45 yards off 21 carries — removed from what was anticipated from one of many high working backs within the Large 12.
On the other aspect of the soccer subject, Alabama was additionally comparatively ineffective within the speeding division. The Crimson Tide was led by Jahmyr Gibbs, who completed the sport with simply 76 yards off 15 carries. Behind him had been freshman Jamarion Miller and Jase McClellan, who completed the sport with 44 and 42 speeding yards, respectively.
‘Department’ing Out
Alabama defensive again Brian Department had his greatest efficiency of the season, ending the sport with 12 complete tackles — together with 4 for a loss and a sack. 11 of hits 12 complete tackles had been solo, and he additionally recorded an interception.
After the sport, Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban was fast to reward Department for his efforts in what was possible his final sport for Alabama.
“Brian Department has performed effectively for us all season lengthy,” Saban stated. “He made some large performs at the moment. The interception was large. We acquired off to an important begin within the second half with an enormous play and two scores within the first two minutes within the second half, which type of broke the sport open. His interception was an enormous a part of that.
“However he is been a really constant performer for us all 12 months. He performs the star place, however he might play security as effectively. He could not end the sport at the moment. He cramped up and we tried to provide him an IV. However nice competitor. Actually good teammate. A man that all the time performs laborious and offers his greatest always.”
The Longest Yard
Kansas State’s fifth drive within the first half was a prolonged one. Over the course of its seven performs for 73 yards, the drive took a complete of 10:32 off of the clock, leaving simply 1:01 remaining within the second quarter at its finish.
The drive abruptly got here to a halt when the ball was turned over on downs on the Alabama 2-yard line. The play was adopted by the Crimson Tide’s longest drive of the sport in a seven-play, 98-yard landing drive that put Alabama up 21-10 at halftime.
It was a vital turning level within the sport, and Crimson Tide linebacker Will Anderson Jr. was very grateful to his protection following the second.
“Simply the brotherhood that was in there, I imply, it was superb,” Anderson stated. “I believe that is why I am so emotional proper now, as a result of all of these guys, they maintain a particular place in my coronary heart.
“They offer me a lot confidence. They imagine in me a lot. They assist me a lot. Greater than what folks know. And simply to be round them, it makes me so comfortable, so I am very excited, I am comfortable for these guys. Everyone stepped up, and I am tremendous pleased with this group.”
A Parting Phrase
Following Alabama’s 45-20 win over Kansas State, Saban was requested to provide a press release to summarize the season and his group’s efficiency. His reply did not disappoint, and we’ll him say it himself in his personal phrases:
“Circumstances do not make you,” Saban stated. “They reveal the type of character that you’ve got. And I believe this group revealed great character, aggressive character, in the best way they ready for this sport and the best way they performed on this sport.
“So you may say the circumstances — and we have had groups on this circumstance earlier than. We did not get within the playoffs. We got here and performed within the Sugar Bowl and we did not play very effectively. And we did not observe very effectively, and we did not put together very effectively.
“However this group did. They went on the market like a group, performed collectively as a group, they usually had been rewarded for it due to what they put into it.”
Tide-Bits
Sport captains for Alabama had been quarterback Bryce Younger, exterior linebacker Will Anderson Jr. and defensive again Jordan Battle, all three of that are everlasting captains for the Crimson Tide as voted on by their teammates … Introduced attendance: 60,437 … Kickoff temperature was 68 levels contained in the Superdome … Vaughn’s 88-yard landing run marked the longest speeding landing given up by Alabama in 20 seasons, and was additionally the second-longest in Sugar Bowl historical past … DeMarcco Hellams led the Crimson Tide with 13 tackles, whereas Department was the one different Alabama participant to report double-digit tackles (12) … Sport officers: Referee – Larry Smith; Umpire – Ken Zelmanski; Head Line Choose – Ryan MacDonald; Line Choose – Jeff Szink; Discipline Choose – Kyle DeBuse; Facet Choose – Gaylon WIlliams; Again Choose – Dennis Morris; Heart Choose – Thomas Riepenhoff; Alternate – Kole Knueppel; Replay Official – David Witvoet; Communicator – Nick Baniel.
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