บท 35: Clocking Out
"Yo! Yo! Yo!"
Bryant-Denny Stadium erupted in a chorus of boos, as waves of crimson fury surged toward the end zone. Yet Deshaun Watson remained unfazed, dancing in the end zone—literally.
Amidst the crowd's jeers, Watson mimicked the smooth moves from Drake's latest hit, "Hotline Bling," swaying his hips in rhythm. Though his face was hidden behind his helmet, his cheeky swagger and taunting dance were unmistakable.
The louder the boos, the more Watson thrived.
For Clemson, playing on the road, this was the ultimate reward.
Clemson had come prepared for this warm-up game. Though it was only an exhibition, both Saban and Swinney had their own strategies, executing their plans to perfection.
In the first half, Clemson unleashed their full starting lineup, playing with intensity. Alabama's Crimson Tide, on the other hand, fielded their starting offense and backup defense, creating a lopsided confrontation.
Saban had his reasons for this:
First, in the recent scrimmage, the backup defense had performed exceptionally well, allowing only eight first downs in the entire game. They had made Jalen Hurts and the starting offense look clueless, and Saban had high expectations for his backups.
Second, Saban planned to focus on offense in the first half and switch gears to fine-tune the defense in the second. He was luring Swinney into attacking while closely observing Clemson's offensive strategy.
It was a solid strategy, even brilliant.
But Saban underestimated Clemson's determination. From Swinney to Watson, they had come to this game with revenge in their hearts, ready to make up for their defeat in the national championship game in January. From the start, they attacked aggressively.
Watson, living up to his NCAA star billing, was not just a top contender for the Heisman Trophy but also a favorite for next year's number-one pick in the NFL Draft.
Watson hadn't forgotten that this warm-up game was being broadcast nationally, making it a perfect stage to showcase his talents.
Typically, NFL teams don't have time to watch college games live. Scouts gather data and provide reports to coaches and general managers. Unless someone is particularly interested, they rarely watch game footage.
But today was different.
With NFL teams in their off-season after the draft, and training camps yet to start, coaches and players were on vacation. Many had time to tune in, and this ESPN-broadcasted game could easily catch their attention. It was the perfect stage for Watson to shine.
Even warm-up games carry their own significance.
Watson was determined to make the most of it.
As soon as the game began, Watson took control. His dual-threat abilities—both passing and running—were on full display, breaking open Alabama's defense and catching the Crimson Tide completely off guard with his relentless attacks.
"14-0."
With barely any time to catch their breath, Clemson was already up by two touchdowns. Watson's electrifying performance, with one touchdown through the air and another on the ground, set the tone for the game. His celebratory dance in Alabama's end zone was the cherry on top.
Today, Bryant-Denny Stadium was packed to capacity. Facing the runner-up from last season's national championship and their long-standing rival, the entire town of Tuscaloosa had turned out for this game. Though it was just a warm-up, the atmosphere resembled that of a championship match, with a sea of crimson energy coursing through the stadium.
But Watson, brimming with confidence, dominated from the first drive, leaving Jalen Hurts almost forgotten.
The Crimson Tide struggled throughout the first quarter.
But Saban remained calm.
Yes, Clemson was playing exceptionally well. But was Clemson really that much better?
Let's start with Alabama's offense. The root of the problem lay in the ground game. Saban's team wasn't known for its passing, so the running attack was key. Swinney knew this, and without Derrick Henry, Alabama's running back situation was vulnerable. Swinney capitalized on this weakness, choking Alabama's offense from the start.
Clemson's defensive line, made up of four top-tier players, was relentless. Swinney's defensive schemes weren't overly complex, but his defensive linemen were so individually skilled that their collective strength was enough to dominate, even without fancy strategies.
Carlos Watkins, a junior, played defensive tackle.
Christian Wilkins, a sophomore, played defensive end.
Dexter Lawrence, a freshman, was another defensive tackle.
Saban was familiar with Watkins from last year. Watkins was a blue-collar player—solid, dependable, and rarely missed a tackle. Though he lacked explosive power, he was a steady presence on the defensive line.
The real stars, however, were Wilkins and Lawrence, two young players with the talent and strength to be first-round NFL draft picks.
In football, it's not easy to be drafted in the first round, especially as a defensive lineman. It's a testament to how outstanding Wilkins and Lawrence were.
Together, they anchored Clemson's inside and outside, like grim reapers, completely shutting down Alabama's run game. Neither Jacobs nor Clark could make any headway.
As a result, whenever Hurts attempted to pass, Clemson's defense had already read the play, causing Hurts to struggle with accuracy. Alabama's offense was stuck in a rut.
The pressure was creating a vicious cycle.
Saban, however, recognized the problem wasn't just Clemson's defense—it was Alabama's own mindset. Both Jacobs and Clark were trying too hard to live up to the legacy of Derrick Henry, the team's legendary running back from last season. They knew they couldn't fill his shoes, yet they were still trying, leading to poor decision-making and frustration.
Jacobs, in particular, was growing agitated—still too young.
The current situation was as much Alabama's fault as it was Clemson's brilliance. Saban remained cool-headed, observing the bigger picture.
As for Alabama's defense?
The main issue was Watson's growth. Alabama's defense couldn't decipher Watson's tactics, and his dual-threat abilities—both passing and running—were giving them fits.
Watson was a game-changer.
Back in the end zone, Watson wasn't done yet. After his dance, he pushed away his celebrating teammates and sprinted toward Alabama's sideline, running along the edge of the field like a plane with its wings spread, helmet off, arms outstretched.
"Fly, fly high! Soar into the sky!
Quick, Josephine, jump into my flying machine! Fly, soar high!"
Across the field, Humphrey stared in disbelief. "What's he singing? A rap?"
Lance pondered for a moment. "It sounds like a rock version of 'Quick, Josephine, jump into my flying machine.'"
Humphrey was speechless.
Lance continued, "You know, that song Rose was singing at the end of Titanic when she was lying on the door, staring at the sky."
"..." Humphrey's face turned red. "I want to punch him. Don't stop me."
Lance shrugged, showing no intention of stopping him. "I won't mind."
Humphrey: Aren't you supposed to stop me? I was already prepared for you to hold me back!
Lance smirked, "But if you're going to punch someone, aim for the head. A few punches won't hurt him. It's better to win the game and force that rooster to lower his proud head. That'll be more fun."
Humphrey nodded vigorously, his clenched fists relaxing. "Yeah, you're right. We'll crush his arrogance on the field and show him whose home turf this is."
However—
Watson wasn't done showing off.
Alabama's offense still hadn't scored, but Clemson, led by Watson, was back in the red zone.
In football, the red zone is the area within ten yards of the end zone, similar to the penalty box in soccer.
Both teams crowded together, with the offense's space shrinking, while the defense had less ground to cover. This often gave the defense a slight advantage, making their plays more concentrated and aggressive.
Alabama's defense finally showed some fight, holding Clemson to a critical third down stop.
Clemson now faced a fourth-and-four situation.
The stadium erupted.
Under normal circumstances, Clemson wouldn't go for it on fourth down. If they failed, Alabama would take possession right there. Most teams would choose to kick a field goal, take the three points, and extend their lead. That's what 99% of teams would do 99% of the time.
Especially since Clemson was already leading.
But Swinney didn't do that.
Precisely because Clemson was leading, Swinney decided to take a risk.
He went for it on fourth down.
With little time left in the first half, even if they failed, Alabama wouldn't have much time to mount a drive. Swinney figured it was worth going for it, draining the clock, and limiting Alabama's offensive chances. And if they succeeded, Clemson could head into halftime with a three-touchdown lead.
It was a bold, provocative move.
Bryant-Denny Stadium roared with boos and cheers, waves of support crashing against the walls of the stadium.
In response, Watson once again showed his talent and poise. Using a play-action fake, he ran behind his running back as a decoy, then kept the ball himself. His running back knocked Alabama linebacker Allen off his feet, and Watson powered through the crowded defense into the end zone.
Touchdown!
It was unbelievable, a perfect play not just in strategy but in execution. Under immense pressure, Watson delivered a strong performance, capping off the first half with his second rushing touchdown.
The ESPN commentators were
stunned.
"Wow, Watson is on fire! This first half has turned into his one-man show."
"Wait, is he...?"
Pasch, the commentator who had called Alabama's scrimmage, was smiling as he watched Watson's antics.
"Haha, Watson's just... He just made a 'clocking out' gesture in the end zone, taunting Alabama."
"The Crimson Tide's response in the second half—"
Pasch paused, remembering Alabama's number 23 from the scrimmage, and his expression turned playful.
"That should be interesting."
In the end zone, Watson high-fived his teammates, swaggering and shouting, "Clock out! Time to clock out! Good job, everyone! We're done!"
"21-0."
Clemson wasn't just up by three touchdowns—they were shutting out Alabama.
In Watson's mind, the game was over. They could clock out and go home. Without even glancing back at Alabama's sideline, he and his teammates casually turned and walked away.
Humphrey, watching this unfold, was furious, his face red with rage. Then he heard Lance's lazy voice behind him, "Get ready, time to clock in."
That familiar, typically annoying tone suddenly sounded almost... pleasant?
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