2013 Iron Bowl

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Chris Davis returning the last second missed field goal on cover of Sports Illustrated

The 2013 Iron Bowl, known as The Mother of All Iron Bowls or Kick Bama Kick, took place on Saturday November 30, 2013 at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn. The 4th-ranked Auburn Tigers defeated the #1 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide 34-28. It was the 78th contest in the series between Alabama and Auburn. The game was Alabama coach Nick Saban's seventh Iron Bowl (4-3), and Auburn coach Gus Malzahn's first as head coach (1-0).

Alabama came into the game undefeated, while Auburn had one loss early in the season to LSU. It was only the second time (after the 1971 Iron Bowl) that both teams came into the game ranked in the top five, and the first time that the winner controlled its own path to the National Championship.

Auburn scored first when freshman quarterback Nick Marshall broke a 45-yard run in the first quarter. Alabama answered with three consecutive 2nd quarter touchdowns. Auburn's offense sustained drives with a fast-paced, gashing rushing attack led by Marshall and tailback Tre Mason. In all, the Tigers racked up a total of 296 rushing yards against Bama's rush defense, which had been ranked fourth in the nation. Mason's 1-yard plunge into the end zone with 1:40 remaining in the half brought Auburn within seven points.

In the second half, Auburn again scored first when Marshall found tight end C.J. Uzomah in the end zone, tying the game. At the start of the fourth quarter, Alabama kicker Cade Foster missed a field goal attempt in the first series and Auburn's first drive ended in a Steven Clark punt, which the Tigers downed at the one yard line. Alabama quarterback A. J. McCarron then hit sophomore receiver Amari Cooper in stride on a 99-yard pass play with 10:28 to go in the fourth quarter.

With 32 seconds left, Marshall threw to Sammie Coates to tie the game. McCarron marched the Tide to the 47 yard line, and initially the regulation play was called when T .J. Yeldon's final run appeared to go out of bounds with no time left on the clock. Saban insisted the officials review the play, and one second was put back on the clock.

Freshman placekicker Adam Griffith was called to make the 57-yard attempt after Foster had missed all three of his previous field goal attempts during the game. Auburn's Chris Davis Jr caught the short attempt in the end zone and returned the ball 100 yards for the go-ahead touchdown. The nickname "Kick Bama Kick" references the similar "Punt Bama Punt" 1972 Iron Bowl in which an undefeated Alabama team fell to a one-loss Auburn team after having three punts blocked.

The win propelled Auburn into the SEC Championship game as the Southeastern Conference's Western Division champions.

Statistical leaders

  • Alabama:
  • Auburn
    • Nick Marshall, 11 of 16 passing for 97 yards, 2 touchdowns and no interceptions, plus 17 carries for 99 yards and 1 touchdown
    • Tre Mason, 29 carries for 164 yards and 1 touchdown
    • Sammie Coates, 2 receptions for 66 yards and 1 touchdown
    • Cody Parkey, 4/4 on extra points
    • Stephen Clark, 6 punts for 262 yards
  • Alabama was penalized 6 times for 45 yards, Auburn 3 times for 21 yards. The only turnovers were Nick Marshall's fumble in the first quarter and Adam Griffith's short field goal attempt on 1st and 10 with 1 second left.
Iron Bowl (Alabama vs. Auburn)
Sites: Alabama State Fairgrounds, Bryant-Denny Stadium, Highland Park (Montgomery), Lakeview Park, Jordan-Hare Stadium, Legion Field, Riverside Park (Montgomery), and West End Park.
By year: 1893, 1894, 1895, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023


References

  • Scarbinsky, Kevin (December 1, 2013) "Auburn's Return to Prominence the difference in Destiny 34, Dynasty 28." The Birmingham News
  • Gribble, Andrew (December 1, 2013) "Kicked out: Alabama's undefeated season ends on another Auburn miracle." The Birmingham News