(AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Alabama didn’t play like champions until the final drive of the game, but the final drive is all they needed. The Crimson Tide survived the Auburn Tigers 26-21, in a heart stopper at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Auburn jumped on Alabama 14-0 in the first quarter thanks to every trick play in the book. Courtesy of a nifty reverse by wide receiver Terrell Zachery, an on-sides kick courtesy of Wes Byrum, and plenty of fairy dust courtesy of the “magic hat,” Auburn seemed to have enough tricks to make David Blaine blush.
One could say, in typical “Iron Bowl” fashion…nothing went according to plan. The Auburn rush defense had all the answers for ‘Bama running back Mark Ingram. The Tide star, who averages over 120 yards per game, was held to only 30 yards on 16 carries.
If nail biting is one of your favorite hobbies, this game was ideal.
The contest was knotted at 14 at the half, and many thought ‘Bama would simply wear Auburn down in the latter portion of the game. However, this game was all about the experts being wrong…and the second half was no exception.
Instead of Alabama reclaiming the game and walking away with a victory, Auburn came out firing. Chris Todd found Darvin Adams on a 72-yard touchdown strike to give the Tigers a 21-14 advantage in the third quarter.
Leigh Tiffin would connect on field goals of 27 and 31 yards, to close the margin to 21-20. The sun was setting over Jordan-Hare Stadium, and the final period would be the final chance for Alabama.
With state, conference, and national title hopes hanging in the balance, Tide quarterback Greg McElroy orchestrated…“THE DRIVE.”
(AP Photo/Dave Martin)
With the running game soured by the Auburn defense, McElroy and Julio Jones drove 79 yards and washed away more than seven minutes of clock. McElroy completed his final seven passes, four of them to Jones…including three critical first down receptions.
With just over a minute left in regulation, and the ‘Bama season on the line, the Tide faced a critical third down at the Auburn 4-yard line. After changing the original play call, a run to Trent Richardson, ‘Bama called…”Cody-5” to save the season.
Typically designed to be a run play behind Terrence Cody, the play was instead a roll out pass to running back Roy Upchurch. With everyone in the stadium expecting run, Greg McElroy found Upchurch for the go ahead touchdown.
(AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Following a failed 2-point conversion, Alabama led 26-21 with only a minute and change remaining in regulation.
On the final play of the game Auburn quarterback Chris Todd lofted a “Hail Mary,” but the ball was spiked to the ground by linebacker Rolando McClain. When the ‘Bama defense needed to stand tall…they responded.
Alabama has now won back-to-back games in the series, and now leads the overall series, 40-33-1.
Scoring Summary
AUB Terrell Zachery 67 yd run (Wes Byrum kick)
AUB Eric Smith 1 yd pass from Chris Todd (Wes Byrum kick)
AL Trent Richardson 2 yd run (Leigh Tiffin kick)
AL Colin Peek 33 yd pass from Greg McElroy (Leigh Tiffin kick)
AUB Darvin Adams 72 yd pass from Chris Todd (Wes Byrum kick)
AL Leigh Tiffin 27 yd FG
AL Leigh Tiffin 31 yd FG
AL Roy Upchurch 4 yd pass from Greg McElroy (failed 2pt pass)
Individual Stats
RUSHING
AL: Trent Richardson 15-51, Mark Ingram 16-30, Greg McElroy 4--8
AUB: Terrell Zachery 1-67, Ben Tate 18-45, Onterio McCalebb 5-23, Mario Fannin 1-14, Kodi Burns 2-5, Chris Todd 5--3
PASSING
AL: Greg McElroy 21-31-218-0, Mark Ingram 0-1-0-0
AUB: Chris Todd 15-25-181-1, Kodi Burns 0-1-0-0
RECEIVING
AL: Julio Jones 9-83, Colin Peek 3-53, Trent Richardson 3-31, Mark Ingram 3-21, Roy Upchurch 2-15, Darius Hanks 1-15
AUB: Darvin Adams 4-138, Mario Fannin 4-20, Ben Tate 4-17, Emory Blake 1-7, Eric Smith 1-1, Terrell Zachery 1--2
NOTE: Coming soon…’Bama/Florida…THE REMATCH!
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