This time, Alabama football claimed the Jordan-Hare magic to win Iron Bowl | Goodbread
AUBURN − This time, the Jordan-Hare miracle belonged to the visitors.
For all trouble Alabama football has historically faced when visiting its archrival Auburn, the Crimson Tide got a measure of Karma back on Saturday.
A fourth-and-forever pass with just 32 seconds remaining from Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe to Isaiah Bond — a 31-yard prayer that just isn't supposed to be answered for Jordan-Hare visitors — delivered a 27-24 Alabama win. Auburn had nine defenders trying to stay with Alabama's receivers in the end zone, because anything other than a TD pass would have resulted in an Auburn victory. But somehow, Milroe found Bond with just a little space to squeeze in the game-winning points.
"I must as admit," coach Nick Saban said, "we were fortunate."
Indeed.
In the 88th edition of the Iron Bowl, Alabama got its version of the Kick Six.
The heavily-favored Crimson Tide was unable to stop the Auburn rushing attack, particularly in the first half, and it very nearly proved to be its undoing. If one were to get an inside peek at the Crimson Tide's defensive game plan for this bitter rivalry, that was likely at the top of the list. It was no secret that Auburn's passing attack has struggled in its first season under new coach Hugh Freeze, nor one that Alabama's defense features a pair of menacing edge pass rushers and two cornerbacks capable of lock-down man-to-man coverage. This was never going to be Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne's game.
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Turned out, it was Jalen Milroe's, and with a bang at the end.
The third-year sophomore was outstanding in passing for 259 yards and a pair of touchdowns, plus another 107 yards on the ground on 18 carries. It was Alabama's fourth-consecutive Iron Bowl win, the first time it's strung four victories together in the series since 1978-1981.
If the mandate to stop the run wasn't obvious enough to the Crimson Tide defense entering the game, it became plenty clear when the Tigers ripped off rushes of 56 yards (Damari Alston) and 42 yards (Jarquez Hunter), each of which set up touchdown drives for a brief 14-10 Auburn lead. The Crimson Tide run stoppers, solid if not spectacular this season as the nation's 27th-ranked defense against the run entering play, looked downright hapless at times in the first half.
But where the Crimson Tide's run defense failed, a little good fortune stepped in. Auburn punt returner Keionte Scott muffed a fourth-quarter punt that was recovered by Jihaad Campbell, leading to Alabama's game-winning touchdown drive in the final minutes. It was a thrilling finish to be sure, as Scott merely needed to secure the ball for Auburn to have the ball and a four-point lead with under five minutes remaining.
Instead, the Crimson Tide took advantage of new life, thanks largely to Milroe breaking a 19-yard run on a third-and-20. A few plays later, with Alabama's offense having moved backward to the Auburn 31, Milroe fired his miracle completion to Bond in the left corner of the end zone.
With the victory, Alabama finished the regular season 11-1 to maintain its hunt for a berth in the College Football Playoff. A win over defending national champion Georgia in the SEC Championship Game next week will be the Crimson Tide's final chance to impress the CFP selection committee, although it might need some help from other games to earn the berth.
All that drama, however, is a week away.
Saturday was for Iron Bowl drama. And this time, the drama fell Alabama's way.
Tuscaloosa News columnist Chase Goodbread is also the weekly co-host of Crimson Cover TV on WVUA-23 and the Talkin' Tide podcast. Reach him at cgoodbread@gannett.com. Follow on Twitter @chasegoodbread.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: This time, Alabama football claimed the Jordan-Hare magic in Iron Bowl
