Iron Bowl First: Epic Four Overtime Contest Sees Tide Top Tigers, 24-22
The Tide escape with a win and head to Atlanta controlling their own destiny in the CFP race.
By: Dave in Tuscaloosa
Bryce Young celebrates after the Iron Bowl victory, mostly thanks to his late game heroics. Photo via Butch Dill, Associate Press
Late in the annual Alabama- Auburn skirmish known as the Iron Bowl, the odds were stacked against the 3rd ranked Crimson Tide, and all appeared as if the Tide would meet a brutal defeat at the hands of their bitter rivals. Under first year coach Brian Harsin, Auburn had struggled to a 6-5 record in 2021, and had been on the short end of three straight games, two of which they surrendered second half leads. Yet on this evening, all the stars seemed to align on the Plains in Jordan-Hare for an epic upset that would cure all the ills of a tough Tiger season. Auburn led the Tide 10-3 with less than 2:00 to go and had thoroughly shut down Bama’s dynamic offense and its brilliant quarterback, Bryce Young.
Starting talkback Brian Robinson had been held in check and was injured, and its leading receiver, Jameson Williams, had been disqualified in the second quarter due to a targeting call on a punt return. It was Auburn's night, and Toomer’s Corner was ready for an epic celebration not seen in years. Auburn was poised to celebrate its third straight victory over the Tide in Jordan-Hare, and even more importantly, the Tigers were set to end the Tide’s run at a second straight playoff run and its national title defense.
However, there is something special about this version of the Crimson Tide. This gritty bunch of crimson clad warriors are battle tested, having survived close contests the last few weeks against the likes of LSU and Arkansas. Their offensive field general, Bryce Young, had proven that he is a special type of quarterback, showing poise and a calmness in stressful situations that is unusual for a sophomore. A much maligned defense has had a knack for coming up with a key play or two when most needed, and on this night led by linebacker Will Anderson, lineman Byron Young, and a secondary that has been on its heels much of the season, the D played with a brilliance not seen this season, holding a solid Auburn offense well in check and to the tune of 10 points. And the Tide had the greatest college football coach of all time pacing the sidelines, flanked with an experienced and talented coaching staff. The end result would be an epic Iron Bowl victory for Alabama that brought tears to the eyes of both sides...tears of utter joy for the Bama faithful and utter despair to those clad in orange and blue after the Tide survived in 4 overtimes to defeat the Auburn Tigers 24-22.
For the first half, Auburn dominated and held the high flying Tide offense to a total of 68 yards and 0 points at the break. For context, Alabama had almost more penalty yards (64) than offensive yards in the first half. Auburn’s front seven was brilliant, dominating the Bama offensive line to a degree that has not been seen in the Saban era, harassing and sacking Young 5 times in the first half (they would end up with 7 total). There were 11 total punts in the first half between both teams, as Alabama’s defense was brilliant as well, holding the Tiger offense and standout sophomore tailback Tank Bigsby to 95 total yards. The difference on the scoreboard was a lone Auburn 2nd quarter touchdown, as the Tigers took advantage of a short field due to a partially blocked punt and the targeting call against Williams. Auburn quarterback TJ Finley connected on a 15 yard catch and run to Kobe Hudson to complete a 4 play, 39 yard drive to give Auburn a 7-0 lead heading into half. The Tigers would extend their lead to 10-0 in the third quarter after a 33 yard field goal by backup kicker Ben Patton. Alabama moved the ball at times, yet could not pick up critical third and short conversions, including getting stuffed on two 3rd and 1 attempts. In addition, the Tide drove to Auburn’s 20 yard line late in the third quarter, yet a botched hold cost the Tide critical points.
The 4th quarter opened with the Tide driving to the Auburn 39, yet on 3rd and 2, Brian Robinson dropped a pass that would have moved the sticks, and on 4th down Young bobbled the snap and was tackled for a 5 yard loss to kill the drive. Needing a key play, Tide corner Josh Jobe, who had been benched last week against Arkansas, picked off an errant Finley pass, setting up the Tide on its own 42 with 11:50 to play. The Tide drove to the Auburn 12 where their drive stalled. Will Reichard would get Bama on the scoreboard with 8:44 left to play. Auburn would pick up two first downs and after a brilliant Oscar Chapman punt, Bama would start from its own 2 yard line with 4:47 left. Young would drive the Tide to the Bama 46, where on 4th and 1, backup tailback Trey Sanders was stopped short of the first down, giving Auburn possession with 2:00 remaining. Bama was armed with two timeouts remaining, and all Auburn needed to do was pick up a first down and the game was over. On 2nd and 11, Bigsby picked up 10 yards yet was shoved out of bounds by Tide safety Jordan Battle, stopping the clock with 1:47 remaining, saving a precious Tide time out. Bigsby was dropped for a 4 yard loss and after another beautiful punt by Chapman, Bama was pinned at their own 3 with 1:35 left and no time outs. Enter Bryce Young’s Heisman moment.
After two incompletions, Young hit John Metchie for 22 yards and a 1st down at their own 25 with 1:18 remaining. Young would scramble for nine yards and hit freshman wideout Ja’Corey Brooks (who had two prior catches this season yet was called into play after Williams was ejected) and the Tide was set at the Auburn 45 with a minute remaining. After a three yard scramble and two incompletions, Bama faced a 4th and 7 from the Auburn 42 with 52 seconds remaining. The line held up and Young delivered a strike to tight end Jahleel Billingsley for 14 yards to the Auburn 28 with 38 seconds to play. After an incompletion, Young delivered a dime to Brooks in the corner of the end zone for a 28 yard touchdown strike to even the game at 10.
For the first time in Iron Bowl history, the game went into overtime. The teams traded touchdowns on their first possessions, traded field goals on their second, and it came down to the new rule where after two overtimes, teams start at the three for two point conversions with one play to score until a winner is determined. Both teams connected on their first attempt, and on their second, Finley’s pass in the back of the end zone was broken up by Bama freshman Kool-Aid McKinstry. Young followed by connecting with John Metchie on their two point conversion, ending the game with a 24-22 Tide victory that sent Bama nation into delirium.
For the game, the defenses shone brightly as Bama would be held well under its average of 501 yards and 44 points per game, although they did outgain the Tigers 388 to 159 ( Auburn had been averaging 427 yards and 30 points per game). Young finished 25-51 for 317 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception. Brian Robinson was held to 71 yards on 16 carries, yet Metchie had a tremendous game, hauling in 13 passes for 150 yards and the winning 2 point conversion. For the Tigers, Finley finished 17 of 26 for 137 yards, 2 touchdowns and an interception, and Bigsby was kept in check as he carried the ball 29 times for just 63 yards. Bama picked up 18 first downs to Auburn’s 11, yet the Tide, who led the country in 3rd down conversions, struggled in this category, picking up only 8 out of 20 attempts.
Hats off to Auburn, who controlled the game up until the very end. They showed a fight and grit that should pay dividends for years to come, however their inability to finish games in November and a bitter defeat to their rivals will make for a very long, cold winter on the Plains. In addition, recruiting has been slow for the Tigers, as according to 247Sports, Auburn currently ranks 33rd nationally and 12th in the SEC (ahead of only Ole Miss and Vanderbilt) for the 2022 cycle. Although Brian Harsin deserves, and will get, time to get his own system in place, the Auburn faithful have labeled this season as a disappointment and time will tell how effective Harsin and company can be in the SEC West.
Van Tiffen’s kick in the 1985 Iron Bowl to propel Alabama to victory
Meanwhile, this Iron Bowl victory (well, the last 2:00 and overtime) will long be remembered as an instant classic and will rank among Tide faithful’s favorite victories over the Tigers. Just a bit short of classics such as Bear’s 315 in 1981 and Van Tiffen’s 52 yard walk off kick in 1985, the first overtime game in Iron Bowl history takes some of the sting away from the 2010 Cam Newton show in Bryant Denny and Kick Six from 2013 (this one will surely have a cool name as well). Bryce Young has a Heisman moment to boast and heading into next Week’s SEC title tilt with top ranked Georgia, Bama’s playoff hopes, for now, are alive. The task of taking down the Georgia Bulldogs is huge indeed, and if Bama’s offensive line cannot protect Young or open holes for the running game and if Brian Robinson, who is suffering from a pulled muscle against Auburn, cannot play, it’s going to be a long afternoon in Atlanta for the Tide. However, if Alabama can muster similar defensive results like what we saw against Auburn and offensive production like the one against Arkansas, perhaps the Tide can give Georgia a game. They will be coming into the game with confidence and as a battle tested team that has shown toughness, resilience, and a nose for victory. On to Atlanta!