The National Championship Game

We've waited a long time for this game. It's been over a month since we beat South Carolina to win the SEC Championship. Some Auburn fans have been waiting since 1957 for this opportunity. I am typing these words minutes before kickoff. It's time to decide the National Championship. Here we go from Univ. of Phoenix stadium in Glendale, Arizona on ESPN.

FIRST QUARTER

The Ducks take the ball to start the game and we hold them to 3 and out. Chris Davis is injured on the opening kickoff. The Tigers pick up one first down before punting. Both offenses look sluggish to on their first possessions.

Oregon tries to mount a drive. Two screens are successful for a first down. On a third and 8 Auburn intercepts! Demond Washington gets the pick.

The Tigers are on the Duck 47. But on the second play Cam throws an interception.

Oregon is back on their 47. Oregon picks a first down crossing midfield. The Ducks are driving first down at the AU 32. Their running back James looks so small as he slivers thru the line. It looks we get penetration but their back squeezes thru somehow. Oregon is moving with small but steady gains. First down at the AU 20. Fairly gets a huge rush and Auburn gets another pick! Zac Etheridge does the honors.

AU is on their 14. After one first down, we have to punt. Their defensive front is beating our offensive line.

Oregon starts on their 29 after a good punt. The Ducks mount an impressive drive. They are threatening as the quarter ends with no score. Oregon is 3rd and 2 on the Auburn 3.

End of the first quarter: Auburn 0 Oregon 0
At this point Oregon is starting to look like the better team. Our offense has yet to get untracked. Their defense is dominating our offense and they've got their offense going on this drive.

SECOND QUARTER

Nick Fairly sacks their QB on the 11. Oregon settles for the short FG.

Auburn 0 Oregon 3

It's time for our offense to do something. Oregon dominated in yardage in the first quarter. Our announcers say their defense is confusing our offense. Perhaps we are lucky to be trailing only 3 to 0 but we've just started the second quarter.

The Tigers start on the 18. Here is our first real drive of the game. From the Duck 34 Cam hits Kodi Burns for the touchdown. Auburn takes the lead. Our offense looks like it's supposed to.

Auburn 7 Oregon 3

After a good kickoff coverage, the Ducks go 93 yards in 4 plays with a long post route good to the AU 12 as Thorpe gets beat. Oregon scores and gets the 2-pt coversion.

Auburn 7 Oregon 11

The Tigers mount an impressive drive, but on a 4th a goal from the 1, Cam can't deliver the pass to an open Eric Smith. But not to fear. The Tigers with Mike Blanc tacke the Oregon runner in the end zone for a safety!

Auburn 9 Oregon 11

The Tigers mount another drive with Cam hitting a wide-open Emory Blake for a 30-yrd TD strike.

Auburn 16 Oregon 11

End of half: Auburn 16 Oregon 11
Auburn seems to have a bit of momentum going into the half and we get the ball to start the second half. The defense has stood up so far with 2 turnovers and a safety. Who wants to win this game? It's up for grabs at the half.

THIRD QUARTER

The Tigers drive for a FG on the first possession. We end up with one too many third and longs.

Auburn 19 Oregon 11

The Ducks drive across midfield running their slippery back James. Our defense needs to bow up. It does and Oregon punts into the end zone.

The Tigers 3 and out as Cam misses a wide open Adams on third down. Oregon takes possession after the punt on their 27. Good punt. Cam has not been very sharp tonight on his passing. We've had some close calls.

The Ducks move right down the field to a first and goal at the 3. THEN our defense holds on 4 plays at the 1. This Auburn defense is winning this football game so far.
Oue defense is playing its best game of the year.

AU is on our 1 after the defensive stand with 2:26 to go in the third quarter. The quarter ends with AU at our 25.

End of third quarter: Auburn 19 Oregon 11

FOURTH QUARTER

Auburn is 15 minutes away from the National Championship. Can we do it?

The Tigers have to punt with slippery footing continuing to plague us. Oregon starts at their 16.

Our defense does it again. You can't say enough about the defense so far. We've given up some plays but have held Oregon to only 11 points so far. We get the ball back on our 21 with 11 minutes left.

We punt it back and Oregon starts on their 15 with 6:34 left. This is a big possession for our defense. Oregon averages 49 points a game. They have only 11 so far in this game.

Incomplete pass. 2nd and 10. Incomplete pass. 3rd and 10. First down pass at the 27 at the sideline.

From the 27 an incomplete pass. Complete pass for about 6. 3rd and 4. Big tackle for a loss!!! and Oregon has to punt. Carter blows up that play.

To get to the point. Late in the game Oregon ties the game with a touchdown and a 2-point conversion.

It's 19-19. But Auburn drives for the winning 20-yrd. FG by Wes Byrum thanks to a dazzling runs by Mike Dyer, one of them to the 1 foot line. The winning FG comes on the last play of the game with 2 seconds on the clock.

AUBURN WINS THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!

Freddy and I talk after the game. He's coming home tomorrow.

AUBURN WINS THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!