It was Tua’s time, and he delivered a title for the Tide

In the storied history of University of Alabama football, make room for the epic midnight tale of Tua Tagovailoa.

In a land where Paul “Bear” Bryant and, now, Nick Saban are exalted royalty and tradition runs deep, they will long celebrate the freshman quarterback from Ewa Beach who came off the bench in the third quarter to author three touchdown passes and rally the Crimson Tide from a 13-point deficit to the College Football Playoff national championship with a 26-23 overtime triumph over Georgia on Monday.

“In this moment it means the world,” Tagovailoa, who was clearly on top of it, told reporters.

Just after midnight at Mercedes Stadium in Atlanta, Tagovailoa let loose a laser-like 41-yard touchdown pass to another freshman, DeVonta Smith, in the end zone that gave the Tide redemption from last year’s national title loss and produced Saban’s sixth national crown (one at LSU), tying the sainted Bryant for the most in college football history.

“I’ve never been happier,” Saban told the ESPN television audience.

And he will never forget who put the smile on his face and the 17th national title in the trophy case — the young Saint Louis School graduate who brought a poise beyond his teenage years to the grandest stage in college football.

“Tua did the job, he gave us a spark,” Saban said.

Tagovailoa, who did not play in the CFP semifinal Sugar Bowl victory or three of the previous four games, was given a battlefield promotion to second-half starter by Saban at halftime after two-year starter Jalen Hurts managed just 3-for-8 passing for 21 yards and no points in the first half.

And Tagovailoa, exhibiting bursts of speed and an ability to power through defenders, quickly set about making Saban prophetic. A 9-yard scramble for a first down on third-and-7 set up his first touchdown, a 6-yard pass to Henry Ruggs III.

“He has the ‘it’ factor,” Hurts told TV interviewers.

Tagovailoa also had the touch, completing 14 of 24 passes — his most attempts in a game — for 166 yards and one interception in addition to the three TDs. He ran 12 times for 27 yards, including a couple of key third-down conversions.

This has certainly been the postseason for quarterbacks from Hawaii. First, McKenzie Milton, a sophomore from Mililani, directs the University of Central Florida to a 13-0 season and Peach Bowl victory over Auburn. Then, Marcus Mariota, he of the self-delivered touchdown pass, leads the Tennessee Titans to their first playoff victory in 14 years.

And, now, it is the turn of Tagovailoa, who followed in Mariota’s footsteps atop Kalaepohaku.

Never was his poise, confidence and quick release more evident than in the overtime period.

Sacked for a 16-yard loss by the Bulldogs’ Davin Bellamy and Jonathan Ledbetter on Alabama’s first play in overtime, appearing to take Alabama out of range for a possible field-goal attempt, Tagovailoa bounced back with the game-winner.

He looked off one defender and then located Smith running past another defender and connected with the TD pass.

“I never would have thought I would be here now,” Tagovailoa told a TV interviewer amid the confetti.

And Alabama’s proud football history and legion of fans will never forget that he was there in the Tide’s hours of need.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@staradvertiser.com or 529-4820.