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TIGER TAILGATER
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2017
OPELIKA-AUBURN NEWS
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www.oanow.com
AUBURN FOOTBALL
AN IRONCLAD ROADBLOCK AHEAD
Alabama stands between Auburn and its Day 1 objective BY JOSH VITALE
jvitale@oanow.com
G
us Malzahn never once shied away from setting the expectations for this 2017 Auburn team. It wasn’t to simply improve on the 2016 season. It wasn’t just to stop a three-game skid to either of its biggest rivals, Georgia and Alabama. It wasn’t even to reach the nine-win threshold for the first time since 2013. On July 13, in a room at the Wynfrey Hotel in Hoover, Malzahn declared Auburn’s goal in 2017 to be to win the SEC Championship — something the team hadn’t done since his first season at the helm in 2013. Four months, one week and five days later, the Tigers have a chance to put themselves in a position to do exactly that: Win on their home field Saturday, and they’ll book their trip to Atlanta for a rematch with Georgia with the conference title they seek on the line. The last thing standing in Auburn’s way? Nick Saban and Alabama. “This week we’re playing for the SEC West championship on our home field against the No. 1 team in the country. And I think
huge one because whoever wins will go on to the SEC championship and stuff too, so we’ve worked hard as a team, especially this senior group I can tell just really wants it.� Auburn is in better position to beat its biggest rival this year than it has been in any year since 2013. Alabama is where it often is — undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the country — but for the first time in a long time, the Tigers aren’t far behind. They enter Saturday at 9-2 and ranked No. 6 in the polls. The Crimson Tide leads the SEC in both scoring offense and scoring defense, but Auburn is a close third in both categories. Jarrett Stidham is the best quarterback the Tigers have started in an Iron Bowl since Nick Marshall, and by some metrics, he might be even better. Because of all of that, Auburn’s ultimate goal this season it close to being to within its grasp. All it needs to do give itself a BRYNN ANDERSON/AP PHOTO chance to accomplish it is Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn watches his players before Auburn’s season opener against Georgia Southern on Sept. 2. finally get over the hump against Alabama. it’s a well deserving rank,� Crimson Tide won three Running backs coach Tim placekicker Daniel Carl“Losing to these guys the Malzahn said Tuesday. consecutive SEC ChamHorton and defensive son, who was a redshirt past two years is kind of “They’re very talented. pionships and two of the line coach Rodney Garner freshman in 2013. just personal, you know?� They’re used to winning, last three national titles; were both on staff with The rest of the roster has junior linebacker Darrell they’ve won a lot. This barely anyone on home him then. Offensive coor- known only losses. Williams said. “You’ve is a big challenge for us. sideline Saturday can dinator Chip Lindsey was “It’s been tough losing to got to put everything to But I really like where our boast a win over the cross- an analyst. them three times in a row. it. There’s a lot of stakes team’s at. I like our mind- state rival. Alabama has won all It’d be special to kind of at hand, but those stakes set. I like our coaching Malzahn has won the three meetings between end our career on a good don’t matter if you don’t staff and where they’re at. Iron Bowl once as a head the two teams since then, note with them,� Carlson get the job done. We’ve got I like where we’re at.� coach, in his first year, though. Auburn will said. “There’s a lot of brag- to make our next move Alabama has been a when Chris Davis rehonor 19 seniors before ging rights, and it’s obviour best move and conthorn in the side of nearly turned a missed field goal Saturday’s game, but the ously just a huge game tinue to play hard. We’ve everybody involved with 109 yards for the “Kick only one of them who was for this state and Auburn been playing at a high the Auburn football Six� that will forever go on the team to see a Tigers each year. Obviously, this level, and we’ve just got to program. Not only has the down in the rivalry’s lore. win in the Iron Bowl is one’s just going to be a keep doing it.�
THE IRON BOWL
THISISA
No. 1 Alabama (11-0, 7-0 SEC) at No. 6 Auburn (9-2, 6-1 SEC)
POWERFUL DEFENSE.
Jordan-Hare Stadium, 2:30 p.m. CT
COACHES Gus Malzahn (Henderson State, 1990) Auburn record: 44-20 (fifth season) Overall record: 53-23 (sixth season)
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Nick Saban (Kent State, 1972) Alabama record: 130-19 (11th season) Overall record: 221-61-1 (22nd season)
SERIES
Âť Overall: Alabama leads 45-35-1 Âť At Auburn: Auburn leads 8-5 Âť Last meeting: Alabama 30, Auburn 12 (2016) Â
BROADCAST
Âť TV: CBS Âť Radio: Â WTGZ 93.9 FM Âť Satellite radio: Sirius 137/XM 190 Â
GAMEDAY GOODS
Âť Auburn joins Louisville and Ohio State as Auburn researchers in the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering are preparing the next generation of cyber security professionals to wage war on increasingly commonplace and often sophisticated cyber attacks. Boosted by a $4.7 million grant from the National Science Foundation, students preparing to enter the cyber security field are supported through scholarships and stipends in exchange for their service to a government agency after graduation. Through forward-thinking initiatives and interdisciplinary collaboration, Auburn is creating solutions to make our nation more secure.
THIS ISAUBURN.
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the only FBS teams to average 230 yards passing and 230 yards rushing.  Kerryon Johnson’s 16 touchdowns in SEC action are two more than any other player in the conference. He is second in FBS averaging 12 points per game, and tied for fourth with Daniel Carlson in total points scored at 108.  Quarterback Jarrett Stidham leads the SEC in completion percentage at 68 percent and is third in passing efficiency (161.5). Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts is fourth in SEC passing efficiency (160.4).  Auburn ranks 10th nationally in total defense and eighth in scoring defense. The Tigers are allowing 302.5 yards per game and 16.6 points per game.  Alabama is ranked first in the country in passing efficiency defense (93.79). The Crimson Tide has allowed just six passing touchdowns and forced 15 interceptions while holding opponents to 156.7 yards per game.  Alabama has forced at least one turnover in 10 games in 2017. The Crimson Tide have only committed seven turnovers (five fumbles and two interceptions) to lead the nation.
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PHOTOS BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
‘One for the ages’: This Iron Bowl is everything you could possibly want the Iron Bowl to be. It’s the biggest game in the long-running series between Auburn and Alabama since 2013. ESPN’s College GameDay is in town. Both teams are ranked in the top 10 nationally — something that’s happened only eight times in 82 meetings — one win away from claiming the SEC West crown and a spot in next week’s conference championship game against Georgia, and very much in the running to earn a spot in the four-team College Football Playoff. The last time the Tiger and Tide played a game of this magnitude, Chris Davis returned a missed field goal 109 yards for the “Kick-Six” touchdown and sent the fans at Jordan-Hare Stadium flooding onto Pat Dye Field in celebration. Is more history in store for Saturday?
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Pruitt’s impact: This is Jeremy Pruitt’s second year as Alabama’s defensive coordinator, but if you ask Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn, he’ll tell you this is the first year the Tide defense has Pruitt’s stamp all over it. Alabama is blitzing more often this year than it did a year ago, and that’s shown in the team’s 30 sacks through 11 games. Malzahn has some experience with that, having matched up with Pruitt’s Florida State defense in the 2013 BCS National Championship and two of his Georgia defenses in 2014 and 2015. The Tide will surely try to make Auburn quarterback Jarrett Stidham uncomfortable with its pass rush, and how Auburn’s offensive line handles that could go a long way toward deciding the outcome of Saturday’s game. Since surrendering 14 sacks over the first two games of the season — including 11 Week 2 against Clemson — the Tigers have allowed just 12 in their last nine games. They’ll aim to keep that going against Pruitt and his group. Hurts so good: Auburn’s defense has been stellar all season. It ranks 16th nationally against the rush, 20th nationally against the pass and eighth allowing fewer than 17 points per game. Only five opponents have topped 200 passing yards against the Tigers, and only one — Ole Miss — has hit the 300-yard mark. That came in a 44-23 loss. But Jalen Hurts is a different type of quarterback. The star Alabama sophomore has only topped 200 yards passing in two games all season, but has thrown 14 touchdowns to just one interception to go along with his 686 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. Auburn slowed him some last season, holding him to 37 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground and intercepting him twice, but he still completed 27 of 36 passes for 286 yards and two touchdowns. Auburn handled Mississippi State’s Nick Fitzgerald on Sept. 30, but against Clemson’s Kelly Bryant on Sept. 9, it surrendered 181 passing yards and allowed him to rush for 59 yards and two long touchdowns.
Walking wounded: Both teams enter Saturday’s game with potentially significant injuries on defense. Auburn linebacker Tre’ Williams injured his shoulder against LouisianaMonroe last week and defensive back Jeremiah Dinson suffered a concussion, and as of Tuesday, both were questionable to play Saturday. Alabama looks like it will get standout defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick back from a hamstring injury, but still has a lot of questions at the linebacker spot. Shaun Dion Hamilton has already been lost of the season, and none of Terrell Lewis, Christian Miller or Mack Wilson had been medically cleared to return to the field as of Tuesday, though head coach Nick Saban didn’t rule any of them out from playing in the Iron Bowl. Which of those players is able to suit up Saturday will be something to watch.
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Going deep: Auburn’s offense ranks fifth nationally with 18 passing plays of longer than 40 yards this season. Alabama’s defense is tied for first having allowed just one such play all season. Something has to give Saturday. The Tigers have been at their best on offense when quarterback Jarrett Stidham is able to hit deep passes, as those plays open up the rest of the playbook. That’s been especially evident over the last three games, where touchdown passes of 53, 42, and 50 yards to Darius Slayton, respectively, have sparked Auburn to double-digit wins. If Slayton is to extend his streak of games with a touchdown to five games, though, he’ll have to do it against a Tide defense that has allowed only one completion of more than 40 yards — a 46-yard pass from Cole Kelley to Jordan Jones in a 41-9 rout of Arkansas on Oct. 14 — and has more than double the amount of interceptions (15) than passing touchdowns allowed (six).
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