SEC Championship Review: A Complete Game

The University of Alabama football team put together a complete game effort against the University of Florida Gators for the conference championship on Saturday night.

It was the first loss for the Florida Gators in 22 games. The Gators were the returning Eastern Division and SEC Champions.

Moreover, the Florida team finished the 2008 season as the BCS National Champion for the second time in three years. Having an undefeated record coming into this game, they were in contention to challenge for a second consecutive title.

Alabama finished the 2008 regular season undefeated and and Western Division champions. They lost the conference championship to this same Florida Gator team.

The Florida team returned 22 players on defense from the 2008 squad. Those 22 individuals composed the first- and second-string units in full.

Most of the offense returned for the 2009 campaign, as well. Two notable losses included wide receivers Percy Harvin and Louis Murphy.

The Alabama offensive and defensive units were mostly intact from the 2008 team, as well. The notable losses on offense included quarterback John Parker Wilson, All-America linemen Antoine Caldwell, Andre Smith, and All-SEC lineman Marlon Davis. Star safety Rashad Johnson was a key loss to the Alabama secondary.

Despite these losses from both teams, each returned to the SEC championship game as undefeated winners of the respective divisions in the Southeastern Conference. Since the preseason, Florida was ranked No. 1 in all three of the major college polls.

First Quarter Statistics and Breakdown

For the entire year, when Alabama has won the coin toss, Saban has deferred receiving the ball and elected to kickoff to the opponent. Alabama won the toss and elected to receive the kick.

On the first play from scrimmage, QB Greg McElroy completed an 18-yard pass to receiver Julio Jones to the Alabama 40-yard line. This was a clear message that if Julio was going to be in single coverage, the ball would be coming his way.

On the second play from scrimmage, RB Mark Ingram went behind center Vlachos for six yards. Both phases of the offense were in full gear and Alabama was not going to back down from the vaunted Florida front seven.

The first offensive possession ended with a 48-yard field goal from kicker Leigh Tiffin, the highest scorer in the history of the Alabama Football program. The made field goal capped a nine play 47-yard drive that used four minutes and 23 seconds of possession by the Alabama offense.

An Alabama defensive stand on the first Florida offensive possession set the tone for the opposition. Florida went two yards on three plays and punted.

The Alabama offense then took the ball 76 yard in eight plays for the first touchdown of the game. Despite the missed field goal, the touchdown scored in 03:56 on the second possession handed the Gators a nine point deficit with just under six minutes to play in the first quarter.

Florida responded with a 12 play 56-yard drive. Beginning from their own 26 yard line, Tim Tebow directed the Florida offense using a mix of option and play action pass to move the ball to the Alabama 31 yard line. The longest play of the drive was a 19-yard reception to D. Thompson.

For the Florida team, the reality was that it took 05:05 to move 56 yards against the stubborn Alabama defense and the end result was a field goal. The drive drained the clock in the first quarter, leaving only 28 seconds in the first frame.

Second Quarter Review and Breakdown

On the first possession of the second quarter, the Alabama offense went three and out. It was a successful series for the Florida defense. Alabama had the ball only 02:02 and move the ball five yards.

The Florida offense could not get on track on the next possession. A nine-yard gain was negated by a holding call on second down. After four plays, the offense punted the ball back to Alabama. After only 01:36 possession by the Florida offense, the defense was back on the field.

On the next drive, Alabama used 05:47 to move 68 yards in 12 plays. The drive ended in a 34-yard field goal by Tiffin. The Alabama offense successfully score on three out of four possessions.

The Florida offense responds with a 70-yard drive to close in on the Alabama lead. With the touchdown, despite the success by the Alabama offense, the score is only Alabama 12 Florida 10 with 04:31 left in the half.

The problem for the Florida defense is that the 70-yard drive took only 01:32 off the clock and they were right back on the field. Alabama responded with a quick strike of their own, using only 59 seconds, using only two plays to cover 72 yards.

The key play was a quick read by the UA quarterback on a corner blitz. McElroy unloaded the ball to RB Mark Ingram, who let the cornerback through, turned and caught the one-yard pass and scampered 69 yards to the UF three-yard line. Ingram finished the drive with a three-yard run off left tackle.

The Florida offense then moved 65 yards in five plays. The last Florida offensive possession of the half ended with a made field goal, keeping the scoring close for the first half of the game.

Alabama ran out the last 01:18 to end the first half and enter the locker room with a 19-10 half time lead over the defending SEC and National Champions.

In the first half of play, the Alabama offense had accumulated 274 yards of total offense and converted on 11 first downs. Moreover, they had score two touchdowns on a defense that had yielded on 11 touchdowns on the season. It was a remarkable start for the Crimson Tide and a rude awakening for the Gators.

Despite being down only six points after one half of play, the UF football team knew they were in a war that would not be easily won.

The Second Half

The Crimson Tide came out of the tunnel ready for the second half. The defense took the field first, turning away the UF offense after a third down pass to WR Riley Cooper left the ball one yard shy of the first down. With the ball on the UF 38, the wise choice was to punt after a 02:19 offensive possession.

The Alabama offense came out just as they did in the first half. Starting from their own 26 yard line, McElroy lead the Alabama offense on a 74-yard drive that took five plays, used 02:48 of clock and resulted in a touchdown to tight end Colin Peek.

The score came on a 17-yard pass that was thrown perfectly over the shoulder into the outstretched hands of the 6'6" receiver. The score placed the Gators in their largest deficit for the year. Alabama led 26-13 with just under 10 minutes to play in the third quarter.

Discounting the keel down at the end of the first half to drain the clock, Alabama had scored on five of the first six possessions in the game. Three touchdown and two field goals.

The Florida offense was stymied by the Alabama defense once again. On the field for only five plays and using only 02:17, the unit could manage to move the ball only 12 yards.

The Florida punter did his job to perfection, once again, kicking the pigskin 57 yard to the awaiting returner, Javier Arenas.

Though he only advanced the ball eight yards on the return, Arenas took the ball from the four yard line to the Alabama 12 yard line, keeping the offense out of a potentially deep hole.

The next drive will be known as the 2009 SEC Championship drive. Taking the ball from the 12-yard line, with 07:36 left in the third quarter, McElroy drove the Crimson Tide 88 yards in 17 plays. The drive ran over into the fourth quarter, using eight minutes and 47 seconds.

Mark Ingram rushed over right guard for the one yard touchdown. The Crimson Tide scored on six of the first seven possessions. The score stood at 32-13.

In the fourth quarter, despite gaining over 115 yard, the UF offense did not score. Javier Arenas intercepted a Tebow pass in the end zone on the first Florida possession of the fourth quarter, ending any hope of a come back.

On the last drive of the game, Alabama took possession with 07:28 left on the clock. The offense drove the ball 71 yards before snapping the ball in the victory formation to end the game.

Summary

Running back Mark Ingram did what no other player has done to the Florida defense. He scored three touchdowns, gained 113 rushing yards and 76 yards passing for 189 all purpose yards.

Quarterback Greg McElroy was 12-18-0 for 239 yard for an efficiency rating better than 190. The leading receiver for the game was sophomore Marquis Maze (5 catches for 96 yards). He attempted four passes on third down converting on three of the four.

McElroy rushed four times for 20 yards. He threw a key block that allow Trent Richardson to turn a loss into a positive gain, converting a first down. In the red zone, Alabama was five of six; four of the five were for touchdowns.

Alabama finished with 251 yards rushing, not only the most in the season against UF, but the most against any Florida defense in the Urban Meyer Era.

Although Alabama was not credited with a sack, they were credited with 17 quarterback hurries. One incomplete pass by Tebow was due to the rush by Lorenzo Washington. In what was likely a fumble, the replay booth would not overturn the call on the field.

The Alabama defense once again held the opponent to under 100 yards rushing (88 yards). Florida did have 335 yards of total offense. Tebow was 20-35-1 passing.

Time of possession for Alabama, 39:37 and for Florida, 20:23. Alabama held the ball more than 21 minutes in the second half.

For the Alabama team, this was a complete game. A complete domination of the undefeated, No. 1 team in the country. A game like this will be difficult to repeat.

Saban and the coaching staff are already busy preparing this team for a shot at the National Title in college football.

Against Texas, the Crimson Tide may not need perfection, but they will certainly need to play to their potential.