In front of a capacity crowd of 87,451, in a game that allows for a year of celebrating across the state, with one team playing for its senior class and the other looking to return to the playoff, the Auburn fans would all agree that Auburn’s offense saved the best for last.
Gus Malzahn's offense has shown glimpses of potential this season with the comeback win against Oregon and the road win against Texas A&M but has also had its fair share of struggles this season, most recently being shutout for three quarters against Georgia two weeks ago.
Auburn’s three game road stretch in October was an especially trying time for the offense, as the Tigers lost two of the three games and a lot of the blame was put on the offense's shoulders.
While the past struggles have been frustrating for the offense and its true freshman quarterback, all of it is forgiven when you take down your rival in the biggest game of the year while scoring 48 points.
As wide receiver Seth Williams put it after Saturday’s Iron Bowl win, Auburn’s offense always knew they had the pieces. They just needed to put it all together.
"Oh, we always knew we had a good offense,” Williams said. “It's just like, we've been having struggles, self-inflicted wounds. We always talk about it. But at the end of the day, we came out and got the win and finished it out as a team."
The big offensive day by Auburn was a sum of all its parts with some unlikely faces making big time plays. Shaun Shivers rushed for the game winning touchdown, Sal Cannella hauled in a toe-tapping touchdown and Anders Carlson’s four field goals, one of which was beyond 50 yards out, all helped Auburn secure the win.
Shivers touchdown was his third of the year and just his second against SEC opponents this season. Carlson was 3-of-8 combined on field goals in his last three games prior to the Iron Bowl and Cannella's touchdown was his first of the season.
The touchdown was reminiscent of Cannella's first career touchdown last season against Washington. Not to mention for Cannella and so many other seniors, this was their last game at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
“I mean, you couldn't write it up any better, man," Cannella said. "Just, the whole year's been a grind. We've had a lot of ups and downs as a team. I mean, and this is one that really matters. We knew that and we knew just to have a good feeling about the year, we had to win this one. You couldn't write it up any better, man. Unbelievable game. Last game in Jordan-Hare, fans rushing the stadium, beating Alabama, it's just unbelievable.”
While unlikely offensive players stepped up and made big time plays, for the usual suspects on offense, it was business as usual. For Bo Nix, who showed at times during the season the growing pains that come with being a true freshman in the SEC, he finished the game 15-of-30 for 173 yards and a touchdown on the ground and through the air.
He finished the regular season as Auburn's freshman leader in passing yards, passing touchdowns and passing completions.
For Williams, who grew up just minutes away from Tuscaloosa, the sophomore receiver has been one of Nix’s most reliable targets all season and wanted to make an impact, especially against the Crimson Tide. He led the team in receiving yards with three receptions for 66 yards— all three resulting in first downs.
Boobee Whitlow, who was sidelined early in the season with an injury during the start of the offense’s tough October stretch, produced on the ground rushing for 114 yards on 16 carries. It was his third 100-yard game against SEC opponents in his career.
Nix spoke after the game about how this team stuck together through the adversity of the season, especially when a lot of the criticism was placed on the offense.
“I think that going into the game, we had a lot to prove," Nix said. "We lost three tough games. We battled. It shows a lot for our team and how the coaches kept us in the season, didn’t let us split apart, and as a group, we became a unit. We stayed as a unit throughout the season, and we never divided.”
For seniors like offensive lineman Marquel Harrell, the 2019 win is one that will be remembered forever. Harrell, on senior day along with his four other senior offensive linemen, did not allow a single sack. It was the first time this season a team has not allowed a sack to Alabama.
“Each Iron Bowl, the last few years that we’ve beat them they’ve put it up in the indoor facility, 2013, 2017 and now we’ll have one for 2019,” Harrell said. “Every time I come back here whether it’s to visit by myself or visit with my kids or my family like I’ll show them that I was a part of that team and I started and won that football game with my brothers.”
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