TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Robby Ashford accounted for three touchdowns and Auburn struck first Saturday but No. 8 Alabama capitalized on turnovers and explosive plays to win the 87th Iron Bowl 49-27 Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
"I'm proud of these 24 seniors," said interim head coach Carnell Williams. "We didn't get it done. We did not do a good enough job of getting those guys prepared and locked in. The future is bright because of these 24 seniors."
Ashford ran for 121 yards and two scores and passed for another TD in his Iron Bowl debut, becoming the first Tiger to rush for two touchdowns in the rivalry since Williams in 2003.
"That guy is a fighter," Williams said. "He's going to compete. He's going to give you everything he has. The guy's incredible, one of the better athletes I've ever been around. He was trying to will us to that win."
"It's cool to share that with my coach," Ashford said. "That's a cool accomplishment but at the end of the day we didn't get a W."
Auburn rushed for 318 yards, with Jarquez Hunter netting 134 yards on 11 carries to give Auburn two 100-yard rushers for the third consecutive game for the first time in program history. Tank Bigsby added 63 yards on 15 carries as the Tigers averaged 7.4 yards on 43 rushes.
Hunter and Bigsby each surpassed the 100-yard mark in Auburn's wins over Texas A&M and Western Kentucky.
"These last three games we came out and ran hard," Hunter said. "We ran ferociously, we just wanted to win. The O-line helped us out, too; they blocked their tails off."
After Auburn's defense forced a punt on Alabama's first possession, the Tigers drove 80 yards on six plays, taking a 7-0 lead on Ashford's 24-yard touchdown run.
Alabama answered with consecutive touchdown drives sandwiched between an Auburn three-and-out, going ahead 14-7 on Bryce Young's 10-yard pass to Jase McClellan.
A promising Auburn drive ended with a fumble that gave Alabama possession near midfield. The Crimson Tide scored in four plays, taking a 21-7 lead on the first play of the second quarter.
Auburn responded with a 10-play, 75-yard drive, scoring on Ashford's 20-yard touchdown pass to Ja'Varrius Johnson, who made a sensational over-the-shoulder catch on a perfect throw to narrow Alabama's advantage to 21-14.
After an offensive holding penalty, Alabama faced third-and-19 on its 25-yard line, but Young threw for 39 yards to Kendrick Law and the Crimson Tide scored two plays later on Young's 32-yard touchdown pass to Ja'Corey Brooks to cap a 92-yard drive.
Late in the half, the officials ruled Auburn muffed a punt return at Alabama's 37, leading to a 27-yard touchdown pass on a screen for a 35-14 halftime lead.
Young, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, completed 20 of 30 passes for 343 yards, three touchdowns and an interception as Alabama had 10 pass plays of 15 or more yards.
Alabama scored on the opening possession of the second half to go ahead 42-14.
Auburn drove 75 yards and Ashford scored on a 14-yard quarterback draw on third-and-goal midway through the third quarter to cut Alabama's lead to 42-21.
"I knew I had to go out there and give my all and do whatever it took," Ashford said. "Unfortunately it wasn't enough. This experience I'll always remember and cherish."
Alex McPherson kicked a pair of fourth-quarter field goals, from 32 and 39 yards respectively, for Auburn's final scores.
Auburn shut out Alabama for23 minutes of game action in the second half unilt Jahmyr Gibbs capped the scoring with a 24-yard touchdown run with 1:48 to play after Alabama recovered Auburn's onside kick.
Owen Pappoe stopped a late Alabama drive with his second career interception at Auburn's 18-yard line. Cam Riley led the Tigers with 12 tackles while Pappoe added 10 in his final game.
"It came away so fast," said Pappoe, a two-time team captain. "I wish we ended it with a win but I'm excited to see what's in store."
Auburn concludes the season with a 5-7 record.
"[The seniors] have left this place better than it was before," Ashford said. "Now it's up to me and the rest of the guys when we leave to put it in a better place than it was before we got here. This program is definitely on the rise."
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer
Postgame Notes>> Captains: Derick Hall, Owen Pappoe, John Samuel Shenker
>> Coin Toss: Alabama wins the toss and defers; Auburn will receive
TEAM NOTES
>> First-time starters for Auburn: none
>> Auburn has scored in 129 consecutive games, the second-longest streak in school history
>> 318 rushing yards is the most by an Auburn team vs. Alabama since 1983 (355 yards)
INDIVIDUAL NOTES: OFFENSE
>> Robby Ashford (121) and Jarquez Hunter (134) give Auburn two 100-yard rushers in three consecutive games for the first time ever (Hunter and Bigsby vs. Texas A&M and Western Kentucky). It's Ashford's second 100-yd rushing game and Hunter's 5th in his career.
>> John Samuel Shenker extends his Auburn record for most career games played with 62.
>> Robby Ashford scores his 8th rushing touchdown of the season; that's 2nd among Auburn freshman leaders passing Bo Nix (2019), Carnell Williams (2001) and JaTarvious Whitlow (2018). The 24-yard TD rush in the first quarter was his longest TD run of the season.
>> Ashford is the first Auburn player to rush for 2 touchdowns in the Iron Bowl since Carnell Williams in 2003.
>> Ashford has thrown 7 touchdown passes this season, tied for 3rd with Gabe Gross (1998) for most touchdown passes thrown by an Auburn freshman.
>> Ashford ranks 3rd among all-time Auburn freshman passers with 1,608 passing yards; 2nd is Stan White (2,242 in 1990).
>> Ashford is 3rd in freshman pass attempts (250); next is Stan White (338 in 1990). Ashford is 3rd in pass completions (123); next is Stan White (180 in 1990).
>> Ashford ranks 6th among Auburn freshman rushers with 711 yards, passing Jarquez Hunter (593 in 2021)unte Hunter (, Tommy Agee (604 in 1983),Carnell Williams (614 in 2001) and Joe Frazier (651 in 1991); next is Travis Tidwell (772 in 1946).
>> Ashford's 133 rushing yards are the most by an Auburn QB since Nick Marshall vs. Tennessee in 2013 (214).
>> Ja'Varrius Johnson scores his 3rd touchdown reception of the season and 5th of his career.
>> Tank Bigsby now has 2,821 career rushing yards, to rank 7th all-time at Auburn, passing Brent Fullwood (2,789 from 1983-86) and Stephen Davis (2,811 from 1993-95); next is Tre Mason (2,979 from 2011-13).
>> Jarquez Hunter now has 1,269 career rushing yards to rank 41st among Auburn career leaders, passing Tom Bryan (1,144 from 1964-66) and Fred Beasley (1,241 from 1994-97); next is Ed Dyas (1,298 from 1958-60).
INDIVIDUAL NOTES: DEFENSE
>> Derick Hall now has 29.5 career TFL, tied for 10th most by an Auburn player since 2000.
>> Owen Pappoe's interception was his first of the season and second of his career.
>> With 256 career tackles, Pappoe is just the 10th Auburn player since 2000 to record more than 250 tackles.
>> Pappoe recorded his 7th career double-figure tackle game; Cam Riley recorded his 2nd such game.