Auburn is getting used to these wild endings. What’s next?
This may have been the craziest ending to an Iron Bowl ever. Alabama’s last-second 57-yard field goal attempt fell short and was returned by Auburn’s Chris Davis from the back of the end zone down the left side of the field and Alabama’s lack of athleticism on the field goal team was unable to catch him. Davis might as well keep running all the way to Atlanta, because the Auburn Tigers are going to play for the SEC Championship after claiming the SEC West Division title with the win over Alabama.
Auburn needed a touchdown to make overtime a possibility, and they got it by fooling Alabama’s secondary in to closing in on a mobile Nick Marshall. Marshall switched hands and tossed to a wide open Sammie Coates, who sprinted down the field for a 39-yard score to tie the game at 28-28. Alabama still had time to work with though with two timeouts and they started to move down field. The game appeared to end in regulation when Alabama running back T.J. Yeldon ran out-of-bounds on a 23-yard run. The clock appeared to expire but officials took another look and decided to add one more second on to the clock, ruling Yeldon stepped out-of-bounds with that much time on the clock. The extra second turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Auburn fans, who were initially not happy with the call.
Alabama head coach Nick Saban then made what turned out to be a poor decision, opting to try a 57-yard field goal with Adam Griffith. The Tide had been 0-3 on field goal attempts by Cade Foster earlier in the game. The decision not to take one more chance with McCarron on the field may have cost Alabama the win, an SEC title and perhaps a shot at a BCS title. Going for a 57-yard field goal given Alabama’s kicking production this season was certainly questionable, without hindsight. Considering the way a game was won at Auburn two weeks ago, Saban should have taken a chance letting McCarron toss one deep.
The longest play in Alabama history appeared to have saved the season’s ultimate goal for the Crimson Tide earlier in the quarter. Pinned inside their own one-yard line, AJ McCarron heaved a deep ball to Amari Cooper down the left side line, and Auburn’s defenders could not make the tackle to allow Cooper to run uncontested the length of the field for a 99-yard touchdown play in the fourth quarter. It gave Alabama a 28-21 lead before Marshall completed the pass to Coates to tie the game.
Auburn will take on either Missouri or South Carolina in next week’s SEC Championship Game in Atlanta. If Missouri defeats Texas A&M Saturday night it will be Missouri representing the SEC East in the conference championship game.
Wow.