After facing a 24-point deficit, their biggest of the year by ten points, the Auburn Tigers have taken the lead over the Alabama Crimson Tide. QB Cam Newton flipped the ball to a wide-open TE Philip Lutzenkirchen, who remains perhaps the SEC’s most efficient touchdown machine. The Marietta, Georgia product has five touchdowns in 12 catches.
Auburn’s latest scoring drive was an 11-play, 67-yard masterpiece featuring a fourth-down conversion near midfield and only one play that failed to gain yardage. Newton’s rushing numbers haven’t quite recovered from a tough first half, but he’s up to 245 total yards and four scores.
Bama briefly stole the momentum on the previous drive, when Quindarius Carr unwisely chose to return a punt in traffic, coughing up the ball due to a hit by Courtney Upshaw. The Tigers held the Tide to a field goal, but it appeared Bama had stopped the bleeding. With Auburn’s defense getting more pressure on Greg McElroy, Alabama’s passing numbers have flatlined. McElroy only has 29 yards through the air since halftime.