Richardson rushed for a career-high 203 yards while quarterback AJ McCarron tossed three touchdown passes in the initial half of play.
In an age where “style points” are imperative, the Crimson Tide made a significant statement and gave the country one final look at “dominance personified” as the 2011 regular season came to an end.
Alabama Aerial Attack
AJ McCarron wasn’t “Joe Montana”…but he was unquestionably efficient and productive.
McCarron finished the afternoon 18-of-23 for 184 yards which included touchdown passes to Kenny Bell, Brad Smelley, and Trent Richardson.
The Alabama offense utilized the tight end position against Auburn as Smelley caught a total of six passes for 86 yards including the aforementioned touchdown.
McCarron was able to spread the ball to a total of seven different receivers on the afternoon while managing to keep the Auburn defense off balance for the majority of the game.
Roll Trent Roll
With runs of 35 and 57 yards, Trent Richardson was able to turn a solid day…into a career day.
The “Heisman hopeful” displayed his amazing talent on a national stage which not only aided Alabama in dismantling their in-state rival, but propelled Richardson into serious Heisman contention.
"To me, Trent's the best football player in the country," Alabama coach Nick Saban said.
In the same fashion that Alabama made a national statement as a team, Richardson made his own personal statement as he concluded the 2011 regular season in “career-besting” style.
The Crimson Curtain
As the 2011 edition of the “Iron Bowl” ventured into the final quarter of play, the Auburn Tigers had a robust 44 yards of total offense.
The Tigers would finish the day with 140 total yards which marked the lowest offensive output by any Auburn team in 15 years.
Alabama put an end to Auburn’s 14 game home winning streak, and severed the “genius” tag that AU offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn had been carrying since the 2010 season.
The daunting Alabama defense held running back Michael Dyer to a meager 48 yards, while relegating AU quarterback Clint Moseley to just 62 yards through the air including several misguided throws.
One of Moseley’s “misfires” included a “pick-six” by Crimson Tide defensive back Dee Milliner with 14 minutes remaining in the final quarter of play.
When the day was done the Tide defense had limited Auburn to a mere nine first downs and only allowed three third down conversions out of a possible 15 attempts.
Statement Complete
Barring something short of “SEC backlash” of catastrophic proportions, the Alabama Crimson Tide will play for the national championship in New Orleans.
The “agenda pushers” and “fly in the ointment” splinter groups will always remain, but thankfully for the sake of Alabama…sanity still runs the show.
While Tim Brando sits in a dark room and attempts to put UAB in the national title game, the people who actually watch football without an agenda will rightfully place the Alabama Crimson Tide in the national championship game.
Alabama/Auburn Team Statistics
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