COLLEGE FOOTBALL : Alabama Belongs to Auburn : SEC: Beasley’s late score and a defensive stand highlight fierce 31-27 victory over Crimson Tide.

Like a pickup game played to exhaustion, the Alabama-Auburn game came down to one final stand near the end zone. The team that was better won.

With 21 seconds left and 22 yards to go, Alabama quarterback Freddie Kitchens stared into the screaming student section, but Auburn held its ground, and the No. 21 Tigers beat No. 17 Alabama, 31-27, Saturday in a game that rivaled some of the best in this storied series.

Fred Beasley’s 22-yard touchdown run gave the Tigers, 8-3 overall and 5-3 in the Southeastern Conference, their decisive lead with 11:15 remaining. Then, Auburn’s young, suspect defense withstood one more drive.

“I don’t think anyone had any intentions of losing,” said Alabama receiver Curtis Brown. “We played like champions.”

The rivals exchanged blows and leads, with the outcome uncertain until the end. Auburn punted with 3:22 left, giving Alabama one more shot at winning and preserving bragging rights for another year.

But Kitchens, in only his second start as a college quarterback, threw incompletions on three consecutive passes. It ended on fourth and 10 with nine seconds left, as Kitchens missed his receiver in the corner of the end zone.

“That is what playing college football is all about,” Auburn linebacker Jason Miska said.

Said Alabama Coach Gene Stallings: “I hate that we lost. It gives me a sick feeling. But at the same time, I appreciate what we were able to do under tough, tough circumstances.”

Alabama, waiting to hear from the NCAA on the appeal of its postseason ban, does not know if this was its last game this season.

In a battle of quarterbacks from the same high school, Kitchens was 19 for 43 for 302 yards and one touchdown. Patrick Nix was 18 for 36 for 259 yards and two touchdowns for Auburn.

Toderick Malone had seven catches for 106 yards. He scored two touchdowns, including a 59-yarder on a direct-snap end-around, a play Alabama used to run for David Palmer.

“I never thought we would have scored 31 on that defense,” said Auburn Coach Terry Bowden after his second victory over Alabama in three years.

Alabama tailback Dennis Riddle carried 20 times for 86 yards. Stephen Davis had 22 carries for 80 yards for Auburn.