AUBURN, Ala. – Smoke Monday was certain he would score. Zakoby McClain at first didn't realize he had caught the ball.
The Tiger teammates each returned interceptions for touchdowns Saturday in No. 16 Auburn's 48-45 win over No. 5 Alabama, the first time Auburn has recorded two pick sixes in an Iron Bowl since 1957.
Monday's 29-yard return gave Auburn a 17-10 lead in the second quarter, setting off a dizzying sequence that saw the teams combine for 38 points in five and a half minutes.
"Coach made the call," Monday said. "I saw J.D. [Jeremiah Dinson] down, inside on his man. My job basically was to be the coverup man.
"Coach has been preaching all year, 'Two steps to the man, two steps to the man.' I drove two steps to the man, looked up, and the ball was there, and I just ran."
After picking off an overthrown pass, Monday cruised down the far sideline for the touchdown, picking up a block from Roger McCreary.
"I just ran, baby," Monday said. "I just do what I do. My name is Smoke so I ran. I knew I was going to score. Once I caught it and I saw one person, I was like, one person is not tackling me."
It was Monday's second big play of the Iron Bowl. In the first quarter, he accounted for the game's only sack, taking down Mac Jones for a loss of 8 on first down, eventually leading to a punt that Christian Tutt returned 37 yards to set up Auburn's first touchdown.
Smoke Monday sacks Mac Jones in the first quarter
In the middle of the third quarter, on first-and-goal at Auburn's 2-yard line with Alabama threatening to add to its one-point lead, McClain intercepted a pass that deflected off running back Najee Harris, returning it 100 yards to give Auburn a 37-31 lead.
"When it bounced off his back, I caught it, I was surprised, I didn't know I had it," said McClain on the field, minutes after the final seconds expired. "I was like, I've got to score. I've got to do this for my team. I got my touchdown."
Monday had confidence that his teammate had the speed and stamina to take it all the way back.
"I knew he could," Monday said. "I knew Zakoby could."
Tasked with covering the running back, should he run a pass route, McClain chased Harris toward the goal line while Alabama's quarterback rolled to his right and threw before Harris turned back to look.
"I saw the quarterback threw the ball at his back," McClain said later in the media room. "So I said I've got to catch it. I caught it and I looked at it first, felt like I had to score so then I went and scored. Amazing. That changed the game. I was shocked."
Zakoby McClain races 100 yards for an Iron Bowl pick six
McClain also led the Tigers with a career-high 11 tackles.
"It means a lot to the Iron Bowl," McClain said. "It's a big game. Everybody's watching. It feels amazing."
Auburn's defense had not allowed more than 24 points all season. While the Tigers surrendered more points than they're accustomed to, they also scored 14 on defense.
It had been 23 years since Brad Ware had an Iron Bowl pick six for Auburn in 1996. Monday and McClain delivered theirs in a span of 14 minutes.
"You're going to face adversity," Monday said. "You're not going to go through a game and not face any adversity. Our defense is built for it, so we were ready to answer."
"When I caught it, I was surprised. I didn't know I had it."
— Jeff Shearer (@jeff_shearer) December 1, 2019
🗣@ZAKOBYMCCLAIN on his 1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣-yard pick six, the defining play in an #IronBowl filled with huge moments.
"I've got to score. I've got to do this for my team." pic.twitter.com/QYTpiH8UR6
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer