Notebook: Alabama Gets Burned Again By Field-Goal Situation With 1 Second On Clock
AUBURN, Ala. — It seems that Alabama has a recurring problem with Auburn when it comes to attempting a field goal with one second left on the game clock.
On the next-to-last play of the first half, Auburn freshman quarterback Bo Nix completed a screen pass to sophomore running back JaTarvious Whitlow for a 17-yard gain to Alabama's 34-yard line. The clock initially expired, but after a review by the officiating crew it was determined that one second needed to be added to the clock.
Most of Alabama's players were already in the locker room when the officials reset the clock, which would automatically start the instant the referee's whistle blew. Thanks to the review, Auburn had been able to change its personnel and its field goal unit ready to go.
Once the referee's whistle blew, the Tigers were able to get off a quick snap, resulting in a 52-yard field goal by sophomore Anders Carlson.
The ruling on the field has been a key point in the post-game discussion, since the game's final 48-45 score in favor of Auburn showed that the call indeed made a difference.
Alabama head coach Nick Saban seemed slightly baffled by the call after the game.
"Well I don't know if I should tell you that, but the [referee] beside me said 'they won't be able to get it off anyway'," Saban said. "And they waited and waited and waited and wound the clock and the guy snapped the ball and kicked it and they said it was good.
"I think you can snap the ball with a second to go in a game but whether they did or didn't is not my judgment."
Saban's response was nothing like his reaction on the field at the time.
One can only imagine what his response to the play was behind closed doors.
In 2013, Alabama's attempt at a three-peat came to an end on the Kick-Six play, when after officials put a second back on the clock for Alabama it attempted a long field goal that was fielded and returned for a game-winning touchdown.
Injuries
As with most games this season, Saturday's game for Alabama football in Auburn was riddled with injuries throughout.
While none appeared to be serious, they definitely helped influence the game.
Late in the first quarter, redshirt-junior center Landon Dickerson briefly left with an injury and went to the medical tent, but returned on the next drive.
Redshirt-senior linebacker Anfernee Jennings came out of the game in the second quarter, clutching his left side with an apparent rib injury following a missed interception. However, Jennings also returned to the game just two plays later.
With 1:51 remaining in the third, another linebacker was slow to get up. Freshman linebacker Christian Harris left the game with an undisclosed injury. He sat out the drive, but returned.
Finally, junior wide receiver DeVonta Smith left the game with a limp in the fourth quarter. After a quick visit to the medical tent he returned to action.
Tide-Bits
Game Captains: Dickerson, Jennings and junior safety Xavier McKinney. ... The 93 combined points between Auburn and Alabama marked the most-ever in Jordan-Hare Stadium, with the previous high being 62 points in 2013. ... Sophomore wide receiver Jaylen Waddle finished with a career-high of four touchdowns, with three of them being receptions and one being a 98-yard kickoff return. ... Junior running back Najee Harris finished the contest with 146 yards on the ground in his best performance of the season. Today's total also pushed him past the 1,000-yard mark for the season, brining him to 1,088 yards. ... Attendance: 87,451. ... Officials: Ken Williamson's crew.
