Alabama put an end to their season and 2022 with a dominant performance, beating Kansas State in the Sugar Bowl 45-20. The victory over the Wildcats brings Alabama’s record to 11-2 on the season, giving the program their 10th Sugar Bowl win. The Crimson Tide started out slow, going down 10 points early in the first quarter before rattling off 35 unanswered points. Then they never looked back.
Alabama out-gained Kansas State 496-401 led by a Bryce Young performance that fans have all been accustomed to. In what should be the last time he puts on the crimson and white, Young threw for 321 yards and five touchdowns with a 71% completion percentage. Young almost had as many touchdown passes, five, as he did incompletions, six.
Jermaine Burton led the way for the receivers with three catches for 87 yards and a touchdown. Tight end Cameron Latu was also a favorite target for Young, as his size was a mismatch for the Kansas State defense, pulling in five catches for 54 yards and a touchdown of his own. Wide receivers Ja’Corey Brooks, Kobe Prentice and Isaiah Bond were also recipients of touchdown passes from Young.
Defensively, Alabama had a rough first quarter, giving up over 100 yards rushing to Deuce Vaughn, including an 88-yard touchdown run, and allowing the Wildcats to take an early 10-0 lead. Outside of the long touchdown run, the Alabama defense for the most part kept Vaughn bottled up, only allowing Vaughn to gain 45 more rushing yards the rest of the game.
Safety Brian Branch was by far the most valuable player for the Crimson Tide defense, having an extraordinary game finishing with 12 tackles, four of which were tackles for loss, one sack and one interception. Alabama’s other starting safety, Jordan Battle also recorded an interception, making the Sugar Bowl just the second game this season the Crimson Tide defense had multiple interceptions.
Playing in the Sugar Bowl might not have been where Alabama wanted to end their season, but if it is the last time Bryce Young suits up for Alabama, he went out by way of an epic performance.
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