The 2014 Alabama Game

The Tigers are a 9 1/2 point underdog in Tuscaloosa this year.  Few people think we have a chance.  We'll see what happens.

FIRST QUARTER

The Tigers win the toss and receive, get a break as the KO goes out of bounds at the Auburn 44, but on the first play a flare pass is a lateral to Roc Thomas and he can't handle the ball and Alabama recovers at the Auburn 35.  Five plays later Alabama is in the end zone.

Auburn 0 Alabama 7

The Tigers move smartly down the field from their 25 but have to settle for a FG from the 3.  On the drive we moved the ball on the ground and come up a little short inside the 5.  That was a good drive minus not being able to punch it into the end zone.

Auburn 3 Alabama 7

Alabama mounts another quick TD drive abetted by 30 yards in penalties.  The score comes on a 17 pass to Cooper.

Auburn 3 Alabama 14

The Tigers drive to a 4th and 1 at the Alabama 8.  The big play is a long completion to Duke Williams to the Alabama 17.
Nick Williams sneaks for the first down barely.
After three straight incompletions we have to again settle for the field goal.
Uzomah and Coates both had tough but catchable passes but both couldn't bring in the ball.
We can't have incompletions like that and win this game.

Auburn 6 Alabama 14

Finally a three and out from their 25.
The quarter ends with Auburn at their 45 with 2nd and 10.

THIRD QUARTER

We get to the 5 with a third and two but CAP is dropped in the backfield on a play that was too slow in developing.  Our running success comes from quick hitting the line rather than slow developing plays.  Another FG is good.

Auburn 9 Alabama 14

First Alabama play from scrimmage Whitehead intercepts at the Alabama 32.
After a 2 yard loss Marshall hits Coates for the touchdown.  The turnovers are now even.

Auburn 16 Alabama 14

Our defense holds again sacking their QB on their last play.  The bad news is that their punt pends us at our 10 but still our defense is playing well at the moment.
Our offense has had the ball 5 times.  After the initial turnover we've scored 4 straight times.
We move out to midfield from our 10 but have to punt from there.
Our punt coverage allows their returner to return to their 42 with about 5 minutes left.
Alabama passes their way down to the Auburn 9 and a timeout with 3:02 left in the half.
On 4th and goal from the one Yeldon powers in for the score.

Auburn 16 Alabama 21

Wow!  Marshall hits Coates on a 68 TD pass with 54 seconds and Auburn regains the lead.

Auburn 23 Alabama 21

The Tigers get ANOTHER pick and on a razzle dazzle play and another pass to Coates we are at the one yard line.  The play from scrimmage is stopped and we have to settle for the field.  We go to the half leading Alabama.  The Tigers so far are playing inspired football.

Auburn 26 Alabama 21

Alabama receives to start the half and the Tigers get another interception at the UA 39.
The touchdown comes on a 6 yard pass to Bray.  The second half has started like the first half ended.
11:02 to go in the third..

Auburn 33  Alabama 21

UA moves from their 25 to the Auburn 39 and then there's a 39 yard TD pass to Cooper but the PAT is blocked.  That's the first big pass of the game to Amari Cooper.

Auburn 33 Alabama 27

The Tigers respond.
There is a pass to Bray down to the UA 21.  Both Bray and the defender go out of bounds with the ball but a tie goes to the receiver.  The play is reviewed and I thought sure as the world the refs would give the ball the red shirt.
We have to settle for the field goal once again.

Auburn 36 Alabama 27

About three and a half minutes left in the third quarter.
First play from scrimmage Sims hits Cooper again for 75 yards.
My, my, my.
We've disguised our defenses well but that's two plays where Cooper gets wide open this time running past Mincy.  Sims either has to pass short or hit Cooper long.

Auburn 36 Alabama 34

What a game so far.
After one first down Marshall throws the interception and UA is at the Auburn 31.
The third quarter clock is winding down.
The quarter ends with Alabama having first and goal at the Auburn 13.
This game will go to the finish.

FOURTH QUARTER

15 minutes left.  How will this thing go?
Sims runs around left end 11 yards for the score.
The 2 point conversion is good.

Auburn 36 Alabama 42

Can our offense respond?
14:33 to go.
From the 26 we go back to the 22 and have to punt.  Not good.
Alabama will start at their 28 after a good punt by Carlson.
Now we need a defensive stop.
They march down the field dominating our defense.  It looks their offense is dominating our defense and we can't stop them.
The touchdown pass comes from the 6 as Whitehead could have had an interception but didn't get his head around.  How sad.
The 2 point try fails.

Auburn 36 Alabama 48

Could have stopped that one if Whitehead had turned his head around.
8:05 to go.
There's another long completion from the 31 to the UA 16.
On 4th down the completion to the 8 is short of the first down and Alabama takes over.
When all is said and done we've had to kick 5 field goals and that's the difference in the ballgame.
We have 565 yards but we've had to kick field after field goal.
They take if 92 yards with big runs by their big back Henry.

Auburn 36 Alabama 55

With 20 seconds remaining Auburn gets a consolation touchdown on a 5 yard run by Corey Grant.

FINAL SCORE

Auburn 44 Alabama 55

The ultimate difference in the game is that we have to settle for 5 field goals. Our inability to score touchdowns and having to settle for field goals is the difference in the game. Despite the 55 points our defense played well in the first half and not so good in the second half but it's the offense that should done better to win this game.  Our defense didn't have 4 quarters in it.  End of story.