By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
DEC. 3, 2019 | The Auburn-Alabama football game on Saturday was the best and most exciting game we’ve watched on television this year. And for the second time in three years, Auburn upset Alabama on a missed field goal, this time 48-45.
It was rip-roaring from the beginning, including an Alabama 98 yard kickoff return and two interceptions for touchdowns by Auburn, one for 100 yards. Then there was what would have been a game-tying field goal attempt by Alabama with two minutes to go in the game. Dramatically, the normally-easy kick hit the left goal post, bounced away, and gave Auburn the victory.
So for the first time since the College Football Playoffs was initiated five seasons ago, Alabama will not be included this year, since they have been knocked from the top four rankings. Alabama had won two of the last five college championships.
Alabama Coach Nick Saban is dethroned in his own state of Alabama, and Auburn Coach Gus Malzahn is on top of the Iron Bowl again.
There were two major turning points in the game, the first which didn’t seem all significant when it happened near halftime. With Alabama leading 31-24, Auburn was driving, but got stopped shy of the goal with time about to expire. On the last running play of the half, at first, the referees signaled the half had ended. However, on review, they put one second back on the clock. This allowed Auburn to line up for a field goal attempt, which was good, bringing the scores 31-27 at half, a three point margin. And three points was the margin at the end of the game.
The other turning point came soon after the start of the second half. Auburn had scored on another field goal, making the score 31-30. But quickly Alabama got its game going and was roaring back to near the goal line, only a few yards from another touchdown, which would have made the game 38-30, Alabama.
But as the Alabama quarterback was pressured on a run to his right, his pass apparently bounced off the Alabama receiver in the end zone, and into the hands of Auburn defender Zakoby McClain, who caught it at the goal line and was off like lightening for a 100 yard interception, and with the extra point, a 37-31 Auburn advantage. In one play, Alabama had gone from being one point ahead to six points behind. And with the Alabama missed touchdown that seemed like a sure thing, that was a 14 point difference.
This set the stage for the Auburn defenders keeping Alabama away from the goal line in the last few minutes, and brought on the field goal attempt, which squarely hit the goal post and failed. Auburn victory!
The football didn’t bounce Alabama’s way, though they outgained Auburn by 161 yards, and had a 12 minute advantage, 36-24, in time controlling the ball. The 93 points were also the highest total score in the 84 year history of the rivalry.
Another wrinkle: Auburn placekicker Anders Carlson had missed six field goals from 40-plus yards during the season. But Saturday he kicked four, all of them from 40-plus yards!
What a game! Hail the Tigers! War Eagle! Hurrah for the No. 1 team in Alabama!
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
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