Alabama Pulls Away To Win Iron Bowl

Of Alabama’s 76 offensive snaps, Henry ran the ball on 46 of them, a school record.

Alabama outgained Auburn, 465 to 260, while the Tide rushed for 286 yards and passed for 179. That’s all, folks. Goodbye, upset bid.

Despite only playing at Auburn for one season, Newton is a legend at Auburn.

The No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide clinched the SEC West Division and a berth in the SEC Championship Game next week with a 29-13 win over rival Auburn Saturday. “I want to win this game'”. That’s exactly what the Tide did by beating Auburn, the program’s ninth straight victory since falling to the Rebels. Saban is looking more and more like a coach who has produced his second Heisman back. Bama turned some guys loose throughout the game, but the Tigers rarely connected. “They’ve responded every possible way that you could ask them to”.

Even as Auburn’s defense helped keep those yards from turning into points, though, the Tigers’ offense continued to sputter.

AUBURN | There was no late magic this time, no particular play that will be discussed into dust two years from now.

Auburn answered less than a minute later on a 77-yard pass from Jeremy Johnson to Jason Smith, who tipped it twice before catching it. After that Alabama leaned heavily on its running game.

Derrick Henry carried a huge load vs. Auburn. Trent Richardson was the previous record-holder with 1,679 yards in a single season.

He faked the handoff to the Crimson Tide’s Heisman Trophy hopeful Henry, then with 147 of the 271 yards he would amass. But each time, Henry shook off the offer.

“It’s awesome, because when I screw up he picks me up”, Jake Coker said.

Alabama is not looking to let up, but they can not afford to overlook the Tigers. He will update five contenders weekly.

By beating Idaho 56-34 last week, the Tigers have become Bowl eligible.

Alabama has more recent national championships, yes, but Auburn will always own a tiny corner of the Tide mind. Fellow tailback Mark Ingram is the only Tide player to win one, in 2009.

Despite losing to arch nemesis Alabama in the 2015 Iron Bowl, 29-13, Auburn Tigers running back Peyton Barber told Al.com’s Brandon Marcello that he doesn’t feel that Alabama was “the better team”. On the ensuing possession, Auburn again gouges deep into Alabama territory, and again comes away with only a field goal.

Defensively, I think everyone expected coach Will Muschamp to wave a magic wand, insert a healthy Carl Lawson into the lineup, and Auburn would be back to the Dye/Tuberville defensive nastiness level. After their earlier loss to Ole Miss, the college football world wondered if the end of the Alabama dynasty was near. “Certainly, that play reminded me of the play they made against Georgia the same year they made the kick return against us, but it was a good play and it counts for seven”. “This year we have struggled at times more, there some things we have done well and some things we haven’t done as well”.