This could have been a competitive game a few weeks ago. But then Auburn lost three straight games including blowing leads in the last two games including losing 21-17 to lowly South Carolina. Now starting QB Bo Nix is out for the year. Owen Papoe, our best linebacker, is out for the year. Anders Carlson, our placekicker is out for the duration. The Tigers limp into this game at 6 and 5. Alabama is 10 and 1 having clinched the SEC West. Again for me this is NOT the Iron Bowl. The Iron Bowl is for when the game was played in Birmingham. It's the Auburn-Alabama game.
FIRST QUARTER
Both teams go three and out on their first possessions. Auburn punts from inside their 5 going backwards from their 13. Alabama punts back inside our 5 from midfield as Johnson lets the ball hit the turf.
From the two Auburn gets a first down to the 26 helped by a face guard penalty against Alabama. Another first down to the 36. First down to the 46. Punt from there. Fair catch at the Alabama 14. At least we flipped the field.
Moultry sack back to the seven. But there is a long completion across midfield. Great QB they have.
Our defense holds on third and one around midfield. Punt fair caught around our 11.
Completion to the AU 30. Now punting from the 35. Auburn is committed to running the football but it's tough sledding between the tackles. Out of bounds at the Alabama 35 not a very good punt.
Moving to third and one at the 44. Fourth and less than one. Surprisingly the Tide punts fair caught at the Tiger 25.
SECOND QUARTER
Second and nine and a holding call on us. On third and four Finley is sacked. Finley doesn't have Nix's escapability. Drat! Fair caught at their 29.
First down pass to the 40. But we're in this game but it's early. Bama moves to fourth and 14 and things get a little chippy. I think the Tide is getting frustrated. We are getting pressure on their quarterback. And so far they have not any explosive downfield pass completions. That's the difference. The Tigers on their 26,
First down to the Auburn 40. Punting on 4th and 7. A receiver misses a catch he should have made. Punt into the end zone.
The Tide is three and out. Their QB is misfiring. Auburn feeds the punt near midfield. Still chippy out there. There is clear targeting on the punt receiver. Targeting call is upheld. First down at the Alabama 41. Big completion to Robertson to the Alabama 14. Kobe Hudson 14 yard TD reception at the line of scrimmage and he runs it right in! Wow!
Auburn 7 Alabama 0
From the 24 first down Alabama to their 36. Then Young goes down! Holding on the Tide! Second and 28. Third and 27. Down he goes! Fourth and 35. The Tigers take the ball on Alabama 45.
Three and out on third and four Finely eats the ball. Alabama fields the ball inside their 10. Good time for a turnover down there.
1:23 left. Third and 10 with 46 seconds left. First down run with 38 seconds left. Turnover time. First down incompletion. The half ends.
Auburn leads 7 zip at the half. So far Alabama looks bumfuzzled.
THIRD QUARTER
Alabama goes backwards three and now punting from around their five yard line. The Auburn defense is aroused. Good punt runback to the Alabama 21. Bigsby for five. No gain on a swing pass. Third and five. Incomplete pass. Squat! Ben Patton makes the field goal.
Auburn 10 Alabama 0
Two rushes and an Alabama first down. Their offense looks more energized. But there is a personal foul on the Tide t negate the first down. We move to third and 13. Interception at the Tide 45! That's what I have been looking for. I knew that if we kept getting pressure on Young he would throw one up for grabs.
We need to take advantage here for sure. Five yards on first down. Face mask on Alabama. First down to the Alabama 25. First down running loss. Still tough to run the football. There is a rushing gain. Third and five. Finely in a big sack to take us out of field goal range. Drat! Big play in the game. Fourth and 17 and we're punting. Missed a big opportunity there. Finley leaves the field slightly limping. Punt into the end zone. Missed a golden opportunity for sure. I hope this is not a momentum changer.
Let's not give Alabama the momentum. Their best receiver is out after a targeting call in the first half. Halfway thru the third quarter. Alabama first down out to their 37. Alabama called for holding. We move to third and 8. First down completion. No gain. Second and 10 at the Auburn 45. Third and 8. First down pass inside the Auburn 20. Second and 11. Timeout Alabama. Third and 11. 4th and 11. Their FG attempt is botched by the holder. No good! Auburn retains the lead 10 zip.
From our 20 move to second and 17. LONG short pass to Hunter across midfield but a holding call negates the play. Next play we keep going backwards. Oh, that holding call hurt. Second and 25. The quarter expires as we go in the final stanza Auburn leading 10 to 0.
FOURTH QUARTER
CAN WE HANG ON? I am utterly amazed that we have held Alabama scoreless thru 3 quarters.
10 to 0 Auburn starting the fourth quarter.
We move to 4th down Auburn punting Alabama ball at their 26. Quick first down to their 43. Incompletion. First down pass across midfield. Run to our 40. Third and short. Fourth and two from our 39 AND YOUNG IS SACKED! WOW! A snap on the ground.
But then Finley throws the interception. Alabama ball on their 42. Good play by their DB. Defense has to bow up again.
11:50 left. Uh-oh. Long run down to our 20. First down on the ground. They are gashing us now on the ground. First and goal from the 9. Second and goal from the 7. Third and goal from the 7. YOUNG IS SACKED! The FG is good.
Auburn 10 Alabama 3
8:44 left. Our offense can win this game right here. Big run on first down by Bigsby. A gain of one to the Auburn 48. Third and 7. Another interception. But roughing the passer on the Tide. Finley is gimpy. Auburn is milking the clock We move to third and 13. Finley almost throws another interception. Fourth and 13. Auburn downs the ball on the Alabama one yard line.
4:47 left.
Gain of one. Third and two. First down close to the 40. Incompletion. Second and 10. Un, oh. McCreary is on the turf. 3:18 left. Third and short. Fourth and one. Here's the game if we can stop them. 2:06 left Alabama fourth and one from their 47. Measurement. FIRST DOWN AUBURN. I LOVE IT! AUBURN FOOTBALL.
1:54 left. Second and 11. Ball security is paramount. At the Alabama 47. Now third and two. First down and the game is over. Bigsby is tackled behind the line. 1:43 left with an Alabama timeout. Chapman to punt. The punt is downed at the three. 1:35 left.
Second and 10 from the three. TD is playing the game of his life. Third and 10 from the three. First down pass to the 25. From the 34 completion to the Auburn 45. 53 seconds left from the Auburn 42. Third and 7 from the Auburn 42. 48 seconds left no Alabama timeouts. Fourth and 7. We are down to cases. 43 seconds left. Completion to the Auburn 28. Incompletion to the end zone. 33 seconds left. incompletion. Wow completion in the end zone. Touchdown Alabama. 24 seconds left. Game tied. OH, MY.
Auburn 10 Alabama 10
We are headed for overtime with Alabama having the momentum.
First overtime in this series.
OVERTIME
Both teams score touchdowns in the first overtime.
Auburn 17 Alabama 17
SECOND OVERTIME
Both teams get field goals.
Auburn 20 Alabama 20
THIRD OVERTIME
Determined by a 2 pt. conversion attempt starting in the third overtime.
Auburn 22 Alabama 22
FOURTH OVERTIME
Auburn's pass into the end zone is incomplete.
Alabama gets the completion and wins the game, Tough loss but give Alabama credit.
Auburn 22 Alabama 24
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