Ty Simpson, Lotzeir Brooks connect for 2nd TD on highlight play to give Alabama lead over Oklahoma
By David Wasson
Published:
No. 9 seed Alabama continued to storm back against No. 8 seed Oklahoma on Friday night in the first round of the College Football Playoff, as Tide quarterback Ty Simpson found receiver Lotzeir Brooks on a 30-yard touchdown connection to make it 24-17.
The score came at the end of a 3-play, 60-yard drive helped by a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty by Oklahoma at the end of an Alabama punt return. Given the shorter field, running back Daniel Hill started the possession with a 30-yard rumble to the Oklahoma 30, and Simpson followed an incompletion with a dime to the twisting Brooks in the end zone.
The connection made Simpson 12-of-22 for 145 yards midway early the third quarter and gave Alabama 24 unanswered points against Oklahoma. The Sooners leapt out to a 17-0 lead early in the third quarter, only to fumble away a punt attempt and uncork a Pick-6 to Alabama to tie it at 17 at halftime.
Alabama (10-3) was making its record 9th College Football Playoff appearance, and its first as a No. 9 seed. Oklahoma (10-2) was hosting a first-round game for the first time, and was in its 5th CFP appearance.
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. He also hosts Gulfshore Sports with David Wasson, weekdays from 3-5 pm across Southwest Florida and on FoxSportsFM.com. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
