Alabama’s defense scored 10 touchdowns this season, and nobody else in the FBS scored more than seven. Late in the second quarter of the Peach Bowl Playoff semifinal against Washington on Saturday, the Crimson Tide figured they’d make it 11.
Alabama’s defense has now scored 11 TDs in 2016, counting this one in the Playoff
Defensive touchdowns are a Bama thing.
Washington quarterback Jake Browning threw what he probably figured was a low-risk swing pass or check-down to running back Lavon Coleman. But the ball came out softly and flew a bit ahead of Coleman, and Tide linebacker Ryan Anderson was waiting for it. Anderson intercepted it and ran 26 yards for a touchdown. It would be 17-7, Alabama.
Anderson’s score was the Tide’s 15th non-offensive touchdown of the year. They’ve also gotten four on special teams, further simplifying life for Lane Kiffin’s offense. Of Alabama’s defensive touchdowns, six have come on interception returns, and five have come off opposing fumbles.
This is Anderson’s senior season, so he’s playing in either his last or second-to-last college game, depending on if Alabama wins. Someone asked Anderson before the Peach Bowl why he wasn’t taking part in the small trend of players skipping bowl games before heading to the NFL. Anderson’s answer was priceless:
“I’m playing for a national championship. I ain’t playing in the Birmingham Biscuit Bowl, you know what I mean? Or the Louisiana Crawfish Bowl, so why would I sit out? This is what I worked all my life for. You know what I mean? This is the ultimate goal. I don’t think you ever have to worry about nobody around here doing that ... We’re playing for a championship. That’s stupid. Maybe if we was playing in the Ragin’ Cajun Bowl or something ... Not with these dudes, man.”
It’s not the Birmingham Biscuit Bowl, but he’s made his mark in the Playoff.
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