eFollett Sports NCAA Football, 2009-2009

Tide Rolls Over Texas

With the stage set in Pasadena, only 60 minutes of college football's final act stood between the nation's two top-ranked teams and a National Championship. Unfortunately for Texas, the script could not have played out any further from their game plan. On the Longhorns' first possession, star quarterback Colt McCoy was knocked out of the most important game he ever played by Marcell Dareus. With the engine of the Texas scoring machine idling on the Longhorn sideline, it was time for Plan B. Texas finished the drive with an 18-yard Hunter Lawrence field goal to draw first blood-and added another just a minute later-but the second quarter was all Alabama as the Tide offense exploded. Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram scored 'Bama's first points, barreling into the end zone from two yards out. By the time both teams headed to the locker room it was 24-6 Alabama, capped off by a 28-yard interception return for touchdown with three seconds remaining. The second half would start much differently, however. Texas stepped up defensively, keeping Alabama from making a single first down in the third quarter. With the Tide offense in check, all eyes turned to true freshman QB Garrett Gilbert to get things going. And he delivered, more specifically in the form of a perfectly lofted 44-yard touchdown toss to receiver Jordan Shipley. Gilbert found Shipley again on a 28-yard TD toss midway through the fourth quarter to make it 24-21 and put Texas right back in the game. But that was where the Longhorns' National Title dreams would end. With three minutes left and the ball on his own 7-yard line, Gilbert took the biggest hit of his life. Stripped from behind by linebacker Eryk Anders, the Longhorns lost the ball, and their chance of a miracle comeback. 'Bama would tack on two more touchdowns to close things out by a margin of 37-21 and take home its first National Title in 18 years. ....

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