AUBURN, Ala. – Before Auburn's 53-0 win Saturday over Liberty, linebacker Darrell Williams ran out of the south end zone to receive a football from Gus Malzahn on Senior Day.
Minutes later, Williams was racing back into that end zone, returning his first career interception 26 yards for a touchdown in his final game at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
"We spoke it into existence," said Williams, who predicted his pick in a Friday night conversation with teammate Jordyn Peters. "Going out with a bang. That's big-time right there."
Williams' touchdown gave Auburn a 10-0 lead midway through the first quarter.
"That's nice on Senior Day, Darrell gets a pick six," Malzahn said. "I thought that was real appropriate. That's a great way to start the game."
Auburn honored 16 seniors before the game. Concluding their careers with a shutout made the celebration even sweeter.
"It was extremely big for me," senior linebacker Deshaun Davis said. "It was extremely big for my unit. That was one of the goals we set coming into this week. We wanted to end with a shutout. And we fit things pretty well, kept the top on the coverage and we ended up with a shutout. There was a lot of excitement in the locker room. Coach Steele was extremely proud of us. I'm proud of my unit also."
"We talked all week sending the seniors out the right way," said senior defensive lineman Dontavius Russell. "To have that good feeling in the stadium for the last time felt good."
Winning in dominating fashion allowed each of Auburn's seniors to play, including quarterback Devin Adams, a walk-on who was awarded a scholarship before the season.
"The big thing for me tonight was making sure all of our seniors got a chance to be on that field one last time on their night," Malzahn said. "It always feels really good when that happens."
"It was awesome. A special night for me personally, for my family," said senior fullback Chandler Cox. "A night I'll forever remember. I'm going to miss it. It's hard to believe that it's done."
"I feel like we went out the right way," said Ryan Davis, Auburn's all-time receptions leader whose four catches gave him 169 for his career. "I'm just happy I went out the way I did my last home game. I couldn't be happier of our team, and the rest of the seniors and everything we accomplished."
Quarterback Jarrett Stidham threw two touchdown passes and ran for a TD, helping the send-off.
"It was all about sending our seniors out the right way," Stidham said. "I think we did that, and this will be a game our seniors will remember for a long time."
Williams and fellow senior linebackers Davis and Montavious Atkinson formed a productive, dependable unit for linebackers coach Travis Williams.
"The journey we have been on for the past three years, when Coach T-Will first got the job, even coming in as freshmen, it's been a great journey," Williams said.
"I've learned so much from this group of guys. I'm going to take all of it with me as I gone on through life because Auburn has set me up to face anything that comes after college. I feel like I'm in a great spot to take on anything that comes at me."
"Going out with a bang. That's big time"
— Jeff Shearer (@jeff_shearer) November 18, 2018
🗣 @darrellw_ on his pick six in @AuburnFootball 53-0 Senior Day win. pic.twitter.com/3s64D1s6rq
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer