Mistakes at key times cost Tide
AUBURN — Alabama provided Exhibit 4 of what went wrong at the end of the 2007 season with its 17-10 loss at Jordan-Hare Stadium Saturday night.
Exhibit 4, as in ending the season with four straight losses, was characterized by some of the same mistakes that cost Alabama against LSU, Mississippi State and Louisiana Monroe.
All three phases of the game contributed to the loss, all in the fourth quarter. Alabama didn’t play a perfect game, but its run-first approach kept it close. The Tide trailed 10-7 going into the fourth quarter.
“We didn’t stop them when we needed to stop them and we made errors in the fourth quarter,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said. “That was the difference in the game. When you have a close game like that, the errors in the fourth quarter can’t happen.”
The offense stumbled first. Left tackle Andre Smith was called for holding on second-and-6 near midfield. That drive ended two plays later on fourth-and-12.
The kicking game took over at that point. P.J. Fitzgerald hit a poor punt and Auburn’s Robert Dunn made the Tide pay for it. Dunn returned the 34-yard punt 31 yards to the Alabama 44 with 8:48 remaining.
“Obviously, the punt was not a good punt,” Saban said. “They got a good return and good field position off it.”
The defense was next. Auburn took advantage of that field position and marched 44 yards in nine plays and 4:50.
Brandon Cox scored on a quarterback sneak with 3:58 remaining to give the Tigers a 10-point lead.
On the drive, Alabama’s defense was too helpful. Keith Saunders was penalized for roughing the passer after Cox threw incomplete for Cole Bennett. Instead of third-and-12 at the Alabama 16, the penalty gave Auburn a first-and-goal from the 8.
“It was big,” Saban said. “All these little things, when you are in a close game like this, all those things are critical. ... Those are critical parts of the game.”
But on a cold night when it was evident from the start that points would be at a premium, the key play of the game likely came late in the first half, with Alabama driving to take the lead.
Freshman linebacker Rolando McClain set up the opportunity with a fine interception and return to the Auburn 25-yard line. On third down from the 11, John Parker Wilson had DJ Hall matched against sophomore defensive back Jerraud Powers.
“It seemed like a freak play,” Wilson said. “We had one-on-one with no safety over the top.”
Hall got a step on Powers and headed for the back left pylon. The ball was there. He got both hands on it, but Powers stuck his hand in and tore it back. The ball tipped in the air, but since Powers was trailing on the play, he ran into it, picking it off for the Tigers and tearing momentum from the Tide.
“That’s a play I make in my sleep,” Hall said. “We left a lot of things out there. I had a chance to make the catch and just couldn’t hold on to it. I had it and it popped out of my hands and their guy was there to make the catch.”
“That was critical,” Saban said. “We had third-and-1 and we took a shot. DJ had a chance to catch the ball and the ball got tipped and the guy made a good play and intercepted it. We didn’t get any points out of two situations, and that was critical in the game.”
On Alabama’s previous possession, Leigh Tiffin missed a 44-yard field goal try, wide left. McClain’s interception gave them another opportunity to close the gap before the half.
McClain finished with 15 tackles — Alabama’s highest total in a game for the season.
“Baby Ro grew up tonight,” teammate Darren Mustin said. “I told him after the game, ‘This is your team now.’”
Saban praised his freshman linebacker.
“I thought he did a great job and made a great interception,” the coach said. “I know that he’s probably contributed as much as anyone relative to responsibility. Being a freshman, starting early in the season ... I’m pleased with the progress he’s made this year.
“I am pleased with him as a player and a person. He is a future leader in the program and he had a really good game today.”
