Description
A comfortable halftime lead turned into a final-minute nail-biter for Alabama, but it captured an SEC championship and kept its undefeated season alive with a 52-46 win over Florida in the 2020 SEC Championship Game in ATL.
Here is a look at some of the school and conference records that were set during the game:
— Wide receiver DeVonta Smith became Alabama’s all-time leader in receiving yards, passing Amari Cooper (3,463 from 2012 to 2014). With 184 yards in the game, Smith now has 3,620 career receiving yards over his four seasons.
— Smith caught 15 passes in the game, breaking the previous school record of 13 he shared from a game at Ole Miss earlier this season, along with two games from Amari Cooper and one from DJ Hall.
— Smith caught his 16th and 17th touchdown catches of the season, the second passing Amari Cooper’s 16 in 2014 as the most in a single season school history.
— Running back Najee Harris became Alabama’s all-time leader in rushing yards, passing Derrick Henry (3,591 from 2013 to 2015). With 178 rushing yards in the game, Harris now has 3,639 over his four seasons.
— Harris scored his 43rd career rushing touchdown in the first quarter, passing Mark Ingram and Derrick Henry (42 each) for most in school history. Harris added his 44th in the fourth quarter.
— Harris scored five touchdowns (three receiving, two rushing), breaking the SEC championship game record of four set by Auburn’s Tre Mason in 2013.
— Harris’ 54 career combined receiving and rushing touchdowns place him second in SEC history behind Tim Tebow (57). Harris passed Kevin Faulk (53) and Herschel Walker (52) during the game, as well as Shaun Alexander (50) for most in school history.
— Alabama’s 35 points in the first half were the most in an SEC championship game.
This game also gave us one of the best “Hit’s of the Year” during the first quarter with the score tied at seven. Alabama was driving when quarterback Mac Jones threw a pass over the middle that was ripped out of the receiver’s hands by Florida DB Trey Dean III.
It was an incredible play by Dean, though for him, one that sadly couldn’t be celebrated. For after the pick, Dean started running back up the field … before getting absolutely leveled by Alabama wide receiver John Metchie III.
The hit was intense (and clean) and the ball popped loose, which was recovered by Alabama’s DeVonta Smith. The Crimson Tide scored on the next play.
This print by Brian Tinney celebrates this historic hit “heard round the world” and is entitled,
“The Hit”
Alabama 52 – Florida 46
December 19, 2020
This print measures 11 x 14 and will fit in any standard size frame of your choosing.