The Alabama defense was absolutely suffocating, allowing just 92 total yards to the LSU offense as the Crimson Tide won their second national title in three years, hammering LSU 21-0.
Coach Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide proved why they were the number one defense in the country this season. Holding the LSU Tigers to less than 100 yards of total offense, Alabama won its second national title in the last three seasons. In a game lacking offense other than field goals until the final quarter, Alabama’s defense stepped up and shut down every single aspect of the LSU offense.
After a 49-yard punt return by Marquis Maze, Alabama’s offense got on the board late in the first quarter. After failing to move the ball into the end-zone, Alabama was forced to attempt it’s first of five field goals on the night. Jeremy Shelley connected on a 23-yard field goal to give the Crimson Tide an early 3-0 lead.
LSU blocked the second Alabama field goal attempt shortly into the second quarter. Shelley couldn’t lift the ball high enough, and it was blocked by the LSU special teams, giving LSU the ball back at their own 25-yard line.
Shelley connected on his third field goal attempt from 34 yards to extend the Alabama lead to 6-0 in the middle of the second quarter. Just before the clock expired for halftime, Shelley upped the score once again to 9-0, connecting on a 41-yard attempt.
On the first drive of the second half, Shelley connected on his fourth field goal of the game putting Alabama up 12-0 on their first drive of the second half.
Continuing the redemptive kicking by Shelley, he connected on a career long, 44-yard field goal adding to Alabama’s lead, 15-0, with less than one minute remaining in the third.
Alabama’s defense completely took over by the end of the third quarter. Cameras panning to the LSU sideline showed a team with absolutely no life left in them. The Crimson Tide defense sucked everything out of LSU and left them completely defeated.
Finally, with just over seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Jordan Jefferson and the LSU offense crossed the 50-yard line. The following play, Jefferson was brought down in the backfield and Alabama’s defense stood strong. This would be the only time on the night LSU reached mid-field.
Trent Richardson scored the game’s lone touchdown late in the fourth to completely secure the game for Alabama. He scored on a cutback toward the left sideline to put the game’s final score at 21-0.
The offensive player of the game was Alabama’s quarterback, A.J. McCarron. He completed 23 of 34 passes for 234 yards and was the holder on all five made field-goals by Jeremy Shelley. The defensive player of the game was Alabama’s Courtney Upshaw.
This was the first time a LSU football team was shut-out since Nov. 16, 2002. The opposing team? The Alabama Crimson Tide.
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