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Perfect Ending to a Perfect Season
Glendale, Arizona- The 2011 National Championship featured two teams that had not won a National Championship since 1980 and 1939, but that had to change for one team, either the Georgia Bulldogs or the Texas A&M Aggies. Both teams came into the game with undefeated records, and both had many star players that were ready to bring their school a much eluded championship. The Aggies are led by do everything quarterback Ryan Tannehill, while the Bulldogs are led by Heisman Trophy winner AJ Green. The story of the game however would not be about the offense at all, but rather it would be about the performances of the team's defense. At the beginning of the season Coach Bryant said if his defense, dubbed the Lone Star Defense, was not amongst the top 10 in the nation then he would be disappointed, and his defense has been there all year. The are the top rush defense and rank in the top ten in overall yardage in yards per game. The defense would stepped in the game that mattered most to the Aggies.
The Bulldogs won the toss and elected to kick to the Aggies. So the Aggies got the ball to start, but the Georgia defense held them to a three and out. An A&M punt gave the Bulldogs the ball for the first time. After two minimal gains Georgia was faced with a third and eight. Pressure, which would be the story of the game, would cause a forced throw by Georgia. Harris would jump in front of the pass and pick it off, giving the Aggies great field position.
Harris Sets Up his Offense
Following the interception the Georgia defense stepped up and held the Aggies to no yards and forced a field goal attempt. Randy Bullock, Groza Award Winner, drilled the kick and gave the Aggies the 3-0 lead in the first quarter. Georgia got the ball back and was determined to answer the A&M score with points of their own. Georgia made a few plays and got down to around the 30 yard line. On third down Georgia took a shot to the endzone to the Heisman Trophy Winner, Green. FS Ryan Williams was all over it, and almost made an interception, but at least was able to knock it down. Georgia would make the field goal to tie the game at three. Both teams would play some more good defense, and after a series of punts the Aggies would move back into the redzone. On third down Tannehill found Michael wide open on the post route for the touchdown, and the 10-3 lead.
Tannehill to Michael for the Touchdown
Georgia was again down, but this time it was by seven, and again the Bulldogs would answer. After a few big third down conversions Georgia was set up inside the 20 for the first time all game. An nice option play gave the Bulldogs an effortless touchdown to tie the game at 10.
Georgia Ties it at 10
For the rest of the half both offenses could never manage a score, and so we had a 10-10 tie at the half of the 2011 National Championship. Georgia got the ball to start the second half, but the Aggies defense held them to a punt. Neither team could manage much scoring in the third as only the Aggies came away with points and that was just a Bullock field goal. The Aggies would have the ball to start the fourth quarter and knew they needed another touchdown in order to build on their slim 3 point lead. They drove down inside the ten and Tannehill was determined to get his team across the goal line. Tannehill optioned left on second down from the two and fought into the endzone to give the Aggies the 20-10 lead with four minutes left.
Tannehill Wills Himself in the Endzone
Georgia would now need to score, and it would need to be in a hurry. They got going early on the drive with a deep bomb that was well defended, but the WR made a terrific catch to give the Dogs some life. The Aggies defense would get tough, but the Bulldogs would get into the endzone, but it took them some time, and there was two and half minutes left. Georgia was left with decision to either kick it deep or onside kick it. With three minutes left Georgia decided to kick it deep, which was probably the best decision with how their defense had been playing. Texas A&M got the ball and went on a slow march down the field. Georgia was forced to use up all their timeouts as A&M moved closer and closer to victory. Eventually Georgia got a stop, but Bullock hit his third field goal of the game to put A&M up six meaning that Georgia would now have to get a touchdown. Georgia got the ball with just under 30 seconds and in need of a miracle with no timeouts. On the very first play A&M got a sack and that all but ended the game as the clock ate away. The clock expired one play later and the Texas A&M Aggies had won the National Championship.
The Sack Ends the Game
