ATLANTA, Ga.– One can bring up all the medical setbacks and a slow start to this season, but everything fell in place for sophomore running back Bo Scarbrough on a big time stage.
Washington’s head coach Chris Petersen and his group were prepared for a running quarterback, however, the Huskies got smacked by a 230-pound freight train from Tuscaloosa in a 24-7 loss to Alabama.
Td! Bo Scarbrough #AlabamavsWashington pic.twitter.com/D2jRlSLfXq
— InsideBamaRecruiting (@RTRnews) December 31, 2016
Scarbrough ended Alabama’s final game in the Georgia Dome with a career day, amassing 19 carries for 180 yards and two touchdowns. In front of a record-setting Peach Bowl crowd, he blasted Washington’s front seven to a tune of 9.5 yards per carry. His 68-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter provided flashbacks of ex-Tide standout and Heisman winner, Derrick Henry. Scarbrough would muscle out of a tackle, set up a cutback block to the inside and then accelerated to the painted grass, generating screams from Alabama fans.
Bo!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/z3RwMBgwZJ
— InsideBamaRecruiting (@RTRnews) December 31, 2016
He totaled seven first down runs and eight runs of 10-plus yards, en route to earning Offensive Player of the Game honors. With a smile on his face, head coach Nick Saban was excited to talk about the young man that’s been emerging for the Crimson Tide as of late.
“Bo’s been playing pretty well for us the last three of four games,” Saban said. “We wanted to play him more. He’s hard to tackle. He’s big and powerful. He’s playing with a lot of confidence and he did a great job for us.”
Lester Cotton, a sophomore offensive tackle, is also a native of Tuscaloosa. When speaking on his friend’s performance, Cotton said he saw the Scarbrough from Northridge High School.
“That’s the Bo we needed tonight,” Cotton said. “Bo played a big part in the offense because when he got the ball, they (Washington) were scared to hit him. They didn’t want to touch him.”
Prior to Scarbrough finding his groove, true freshman Josh Jacobs took on much of the backup duties behind Damien Harris. After seeing Tuscaloosa’s version of Paul Bunyan rack up nearly 200 rushing yards, Jacobs said Scarbrough really stepped up and showed the world who he is.
“I’m happy for him,” Jacobs said. “It’s no better stage for him to do it and he did it on a big stage.”
Senior tight end O.J. Howard was the Tide’s secret weapon during last season’s run through the College Football Playoff. Scarbrough caught the wave Saturday night and Alabama returns to the national championship game.
Stephen M. Smith is a senior analyst and columnist for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @Smsmith_TDALMag.
