Bama Tops Auburn in 87th Iron Bowl, 49-27
Alabama handles Auburn and wins 10 games for the 15th straight season.
By: Dave in Tuscaloosa
Bryce Young celebrates an Iron Bowl victory. Photo via Getty Images
Bryce Young saved some of his best stuff for last, and because of that fact, the Tide have now won three straight against their bitter rivals from the Plains. In most likely his final performance in Bryant-Denny Stadium, Young had yet another stellar day (outside one fourth quarter throw, an interception that killed a promising drive that would have iced the game), passing for 343 yards and 3 touchdowns to lead the Crimson Tide to a dominant 49-27 win over the Tigers from Auburn. It was the 15th straight year that Alabama has won 10 or more games in a season, which is an amazing accomplishment for any program and is the longest such streak in major college football history.
Interim coach Carnell Williams’ Auburn Tigers deserve a lot of credit, as they fought hard all afternoon and displayed a dominant rushing attack that the Alabama defense had few answers for. Quarterback Robby Ashford and tailback Jarquez Hunter both went over 100 yards on the ground and as a team, the Tigers ran for 318 rushing yards, the most for a 1A team against the Tide in the Nick Saban era. However,the Auburn passing game only produced 77 yards while the Tide offense proved superior against a tired Tiger defense, racking up 516 total yards in the victory. The Bama offensive line had their best day yet this season as Young had all day to throw the ball and was barely touched. The Tide quarterback will not win the Heisman this year in part due to a mid-season injury and two losses on the season, however there is a legitimate argument that Bryce is having his best season yet in a crimson uniform. Even with the win and a few upsets on Saturday, the losses to Tennessee and LSU by a total of 4 points will most likely keep the Tide out of the College Football Playoffs for the second time in the last three years.
The Auburn game proved to be a perfect representation of Alabama’s season. At times dominating and at times infuriating, the boys in crimson and white found a way to win a contest that was closer than the final score indicated. Auburn played inspired ball and behind a dominant run game made the game interesting by controlling the ball for much of the second half. After exchanging punts on each team’s first possession of the game, Auburn scored first by marching 80 yards in 6 plays, capped off by a nifty 24 yard run from Ashford. Alabama would respond by scoring three straight touchdowns to go up 21-7 midway through the 2nd quarter. Auburn countered on a beautiful Ashford 20 yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 21-14. Young and Alabama would score twice more before the end of the half and went into the locker room leading 35-14. The Tide took the opening kickoff of the second half and marched 72 yards on 9 plays as junior Jace McClellan scored from 3 yards out to stretch the lead to 42-14. Auburn did not allow the Tide faithful to relax, as they controlled much of the second half action. The Tiger offense was efficient, although they managed only 13 points in the second half on a touchdown and two field goals. Kicker Alex McPherson hit his second field goal of the day, a 39 yarder, to cut the Tide lead to 42-27 with 2:08 left. The ensuing onsides kick was recovered by Alabama and the scoring would end when Jahmyr Gibbs went over from 23 yards with 1:48 to play to bring the final score to 49-27.
Auburn finished its season a disappointing 5-7 and now has put their hope in Hugh Freeze as the new head coach. Meanwhile, Alabama is basking in its third straight Iron Bowl win and sits at 10-2, most likely headed towards a New Year’s Day bowl.