The Game

One thing I say. I do not call this The Iron Bowl. I know that Coach Jordan gave the game this name, but I have never liked it and never will. It's the Auburn-Alabama Game.

We have a 1:45 kickoff on CBS. I'm glad it's an afternoon game.

First downs are the key down for Auburn. We can't have 3rd and long. We must mix up the offense. We need to frustrate their running game. We can't stop it, but must slow it down and make the QB beat us. So says Stan White as the game starts.

Alabama wins the toss and receives. The kickoff goes out of bounds. Already we are off to a bad start. Alabama starts from their 40.

The Tide goes 3 and out.

After the punt, Auburn starts at their 20.

First down Auburn.

Lightening strikes! On the first down, Terrel Zachary runs the end around for a touchdown!!! 67 yards. Auburn scores first with 11:40 left in the first. Auburn 7 Ala 0. A 4-play 80 yd. drive.

Auburn stuns the world and recovers an onside kick!!! One first down. But then a holding penalty and we have to back up. After the penalty it's first and 20 on our 45. A pass and it's first down at the Bama 29. The Tigers move to the 11. First down at the 2 after ofsetting penalites and a bull-headed run by Ben Tate. On third from the one Todd connects with Eric Smith. Touchdown Auburn! 12 plays. 58 yards after the onside recovery.

Just beyond midway of the first quarter, 5:42 left, the Tigers are stunning Alabama 14 to 0.

We have another out of bounds kickoff. Alabama starts again at their 40.

The Tide goes 3 and out again.

Auburn starts again on their 18. Tate runs for 5.

Todd overshoots Trott twice on a perfect play call, and the Tigers have to punt for the first time. Would have been a first without a sailing pass by Todd.

Alabama starts on their 42 after a 36-yd. punt.

The first quarter ends with Alabama driving at the Auburn 26.

Auburn 14 Alabama 0 after the first quarter.

Alabama has 37 yards of total offense vs. Auburn's 139.

Alabama runs for a first down to the Auburn 21.

Alabama throws for a first down at the Auburn 8. First and goal.

The Tide runs it in from the 2.

With 13:26 left in the first half it's Auburn 14 Alabama 7. 10 plays. 58 yards.

Our offense needs to pick it back up.

Todd is sacked at the Auburn 32 on third down and Auburn is 3 and out. Alabama starts on their 35 as Auburn kicks away from Arenas. At this point Auburn has had two straight 3 and outs. This has to stop if we have any chance of winning this game.

We need a turnover bad.

The Tide moves inside Auburn territory. Auburn holds! But we start on our 6 after a scramble when Washington drops the punt and they get Auburn for a personal foul in the melee.

The Tigers can't go and we have to punt from our 5. That's 3 straight 3 & outs. This has to stop.

Arenas produces an 11-yd. return after a 51 yard punt and Alabama starts at the Auburn 45.

Alabama moves to the Auburn 34.

Alabama gets a 33-yd TD pass and the game is tied with 5:31 left in the half. The Tigers get Alabama to third down but their QB makes a great throw to their tight end.

Auburn 14 Alabama 14. Our announcers say this has started like the Georgia game where we start strong but fade eventually.

Auburn starts from their 20 as the second quarter winds down. Will our offense get going again.

Auburn begins a drive but TODD fumbles it away. Todd has made mistakes all year. Alabama is on the Auburn 48. Alabama misses a 42-yd FG attempt! Our defense holds after a turnover.

The Tigers mount a drive and move to the Tide 36. Then it's 3 and 13 from the 39 as Todd is pressured. Then it's 4th 7 13 from the 39. The Tigers punt and with 39 seconds left the Tide is on their 13.

The clock runs out.

At the half it's Auburn 14 Alabama 14. So far we have a game. Auburn won the first quarter; Alabama won the second quarter. Can the Tigers hold up in the second half? Probably not. Alabama is the stronger team, and the stronger team usually wins. I will be very surprised if we manage to win this game. If we do have a chance, I predict that Chris Todd will not make the necessary plays. It seems that we would be doing much better with a better quarterback.

Auburn receives to start the second half.

The Tigers start at their 24 after the kickoff.

Tate carries to the 27. Second and 7 just underway in the second half. A short pass to Tate leaves us but a yard short but then unexplicably we try a pass and Tate is tackled for a loss. Here we have an unexplainable play call on 3rd and 1. Why pass?

The Tigers are 3 and out after failing on a 3rd and short on a strange play call. Alabama starts on their 20. That last playcall leaves me baffled.

Alabama is 3 and out. The Tide punts to the Auburn 24. Both teams start the half going 3 and out. A good physical going on.

Todd connects with Darvin Adams for an electrifying 71 yd. TD pass!!! Two plays. 47 seconds.

Auburn 21 Alabama 14. So far we have a ballgame.

Alabama gets a good return from Arenas and starts at their 46.

AUBURN STOPS Alabama TWICE ON 3RD AND THEN 4TH AND 1. WHAT A DEFENSIVE STAND AROUND MIDFIELD! We stop Ingram twice with only a yard to go!

The Tigers are 3 and out and we are punting from near midfield. There you have a good Alabama defensive stand. THEN Arenas makes a huge punt return to the Auburn 33.

Our defense holds Alabama to a 28 yd. FG. Our defense bends but does not break. So far we still have a ballgame.

Auburn 21 Alabama 17 with 5:32 left in the third.

Alabama kicks off our of bounds and we start at our 40.

Todd is intercepted as another pass sails on him. Todd throws too high. As I said earlier, Chris Todd dooms us.

A complete pass and Alabama is at the Auburn 25. Auburn jumps and the Tide moves to the Auburn 20. A run to the 16. A run to the 13. A loss leads to 3rd and 11. The Tigers hold AGAIN. Alabama kicks the field goal.

Auburn 21 Alabama 20 with 24 seconds left in the 3rd quarter. Despite the Arenas runback and the Todd turnovers, Auburn is hanging in this game. Two turnovers and Auburn is till leading in this game. So far our defense is playing its best game of the year.

Washington runs the kickoff back to the Auburn 35. A holding penaly moves us back. We are at first 20 from our 25 leading 21 to 20 heading into the 4th quarter. I am very pleased with our effort. If we had a better quarterback, we would win this game. In this case, I doubt it.

After one first down, Auburn has to punt. Durst punts to the Alabama 3. Two false starts pushes Ala back. After a pass to the 7, Auburn punishes their QB and he goes down at the 5. An incomplete pass and Ala is punting from their end zone. Another great stand by the Auburn defense!

Washington fields the punt and Auburn starts at the Ala 44 yard line.

With 10:37 left in this game, Auburn still leads 21 to 20.

Two plays and Auburn backs up 6 yards.

Todd is sacked at the Auburn 40 and Auburn goes backward 17 yards on this possession. We can't block the rush.

The punt rolls dead at the Alabama 21. We had good field position but went backward. OK. What happens now? Can the Auburn defense do it again? I don't see this game ending 21 to 20. I think a turnover is the only thing that will save us, for our defense won't hold up the rest of the game with 8:27 left.

Alabama moves to their 37 after a pass to Jones. A sack and Ala backs up 5 yards. A pass to Ingram nets 10 yards. Ala is 3rd and 5. A pass to Jones is just enough for the first down. Richards runs for 2 yards. A pass to Jones yields a first down at the Auburn 39 with about 4 minutes left. A short run by Richardson moves the ball to the 35. The clock is running down to about 3:40. A pass to Jones and there's a first down to the Auburn 28. We must get a turnover. Ala is moving the ball on short passes. Ingram goes up the middle for a yard with 2:44 to go. A pass to Richardson takes the ball to the Auburn 11. It will take something special for Auburn to hold on. Richardson runs to the 7. This is a real gutcheck for our defense. It's hard to believe we can hold Ala to no points. Richardson runs inside the 5. Ala goes to third down from the 4. They can get a first down inside the 1. They fake the run and pass for the TD to Roy Upchurch. With a minute twenty-four left, Auburn loses the lead for the first time in the game. Alabama makes what should be the winning TD drive using up over 7 minutes on the clock. We intercept the point after attempt.

Auburn 21 Alabama 26

With 1:24 left we need a miracle.

Auburn starts at our 25. We have no chance with Chris Todd. McCalebb drops a pass at the 30. After one first down, we are left with a Hail Mary situation with 10 seconds to go. We see poor clock management by Auburn in this last possession. With one second to go, Auburn is at the Alabama 37. The pass is swatted away in the end zone and Alabama wins 26 to 21.

Great peformance and effort by Auburn. There are no moral victories, but our effort gives hope for the future, that this coaching staff is here to stay. Auburn puts forth the great effort and makes it a game to the end. Alabama does what they have to do to win.