Recap: Alabama 55, Auburn 44
SportsDirect Inc. staff
Nov 29, 2014
No. 1 Alabama 55, No. 16 Auburn 44: Blake Sims threw three of his four touchdowns to Amari Cooper, who set an Iron Bowl record for receiving yards, as the Crimson Tide overcame three interceptions and a 12-point third-quarter deficit to defeat the visiting Tigers in the highest scoring game of the 121-year rivalry.
After Auburn stunned Alabama on Chris Davis' 109-yard return of a missed field goal to win on the final play last year, it appeared the Tigers (8-4, 4-4 SEC) were going to spoil the Crimson Tide's championship hopes for a second straight season before Sims threw a pair of third-quarter TD passes to Cooper as part of a dominant second half by the nation's No. 1 team. Sims added a rushing score, a two-point conversion pass and another TD strike in the fourth quarter as Alabama (11-1, 7-1) advanced to next week's SEC championship game against No. 17 Missouri.
Sims, who entered with four interceptions on 301 passes this year, was picked off three times and finished 20-of-27 for 312 yards, while T.J. Yeldon ran for 127 yards and two TDs and Cooper set a career high with 13 catches while tying his own school record of 224 receiving yards. Auburn's Nick Marshall passed for a career-high 456 yards with three touchdowns while Sammie Coates racked up a personal-best 206 yards and two TDs on five receptions for the Tigers, who lost despite compiling 630 total yards.
Facing a 33-21 deficit midway through the third quarter, Sims found Cooper for a 39-yard bomb and after the fifth field goal of the day by Auburn's Daniel Carlson, hooked up with Cooper again for a 75-yard score to draw Alabama within 36-34 after three periods. After a bad interception by Marshall, Sims' 11-yard run and the ensuing conversion pass put the Crimson Tide in front for good, and Sims' 6-yard TD pass to DeAndrew White with 8:05 remaining made it 48-36 before Derrick Henry provided the exclamation point with a 25-yard TD burst with 3:46 to play.
The highlights of the first half came on a pair of second-quarter TD passes from Marshall to Coates - a 34-yarder and a 68-yarder - to help Auburn take a 26-21 lead into the break. It actually could have been worse if not for Alabama's defense holding tough inside the red zone, forcing four Tigers field goals of 24 yards or less, to help offset a 383-178 disadvantage in first-half yards.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Aside from Cooper, no other player had more than three catches or 21 receiving yards for the Crimson Tide, who won their 16th straight home game - the longest active streak in the nation - despite giving up more than 23 points for the first time this season. ... Auburn RB Cameron Artis-Payne led his team with 77 rushing yards while D'haquille Williams contributed seven catches for 121 yards. ... Alabama's 55 points tied for the most points they've ever scored against Auburn, while the game also set an Iron Bowl record for most total combined yards (1,169).
Nov 29, 2014
No. 1 Alabama 55, No. 16 Auburn 44: Blake Sims threw three of his four touchdowns to Amari Cooper, who set an Iron Bowl record for receiving yards, as the Crimson Tide overcame three interceptions and a 12-point third-quarter deficit to defeat the visiting Tigers in the highest scoring game of the 121-year rivalry.
After Auburn stunned Alabama on Chris Davis' 109-yard return of a missed field goal to win on the final play last year, it appeared the Tigers (8-4, 4-4 SEC) were going to spoil the Crimson Tide's championship hopes for a second straight season before Sims threw a pair of third-quarter TD passes to Cooper as part of a dominant second half by the nation's No. 1 team. Sims added a rushing score, a two-point conversion pass and another TD strike in the fourth quarter as Alabama (11-1, 7-1) advanced to next week's SEC championship game against No. 17 Missouri.
Sims, who entered with four interceptions on 301 passes this year, was picked off three times and finished 20-of-27 for 312 yards, while T.J. Yeldon ran for 127 yards and two TDs and Cooper set a career high with 13 catches while tying his own school record of 224 receiving yards. Auburn's Nick Marshall passed for a career-high 456 yards with three touchdowns while Sammie Coates racked up a personal-best 206 yards and two TDs on five receptions for the Tigers, who lost despite compiling 630 total yards.
Facing a 33-21 deficit midway through the third quarter, Sims found Cooper for a 39-yard bomb and after the fifth field goal of the day by Auburn's Daniel Carlson, hooked up with Cooper again for a 75-yard score to draw Alabama within 36-34 after three periods. After a bad interception by Marshall, Sims' 11-yard run and the ensuing conversion pass put the Crimson Tide in front for good, and Sims' 6-yard TD pass to DeAndrew White with 8:05 remaining made it 48-36 before Derrick Henry provided the exclamation point with a 25-yard TD burst with 3:46 to play.
The highlights of the first half came on a pair of second-quarter TD passes from Marshall to Coates - a 34-yarder and a 68-yarder - to help Auburn take a 26-21 lead into the break. It actually could have been worse if not for Alabama's defense holding tough inside the red zone, forcing four Tigers field goals of 24 yards or less, to help offset a 383-178 disadvantage in first-half yards.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Aside from Cooper, no other player had more than three catches or 21 receiving yards for the Crimson Tide, who won their 16th straight home game - the longest active streak in the nation - despite giving up more than 23 points for the first time this season. ... Auburn RB Cameron Artis-Payne led his team with 77 rushing yards while D'haquille Williams contributed seven catches for 121 yards. ... Alabama's 55 points tied for the most points they've ever scored against Auburn, while the game also set an Iron Bowl record for most total combined yards (1,169).
