Alexander’s Great Finish Lifts the Tide

Alabama tailback Shaun Alexander scored all three of his touchdowns and gained 101 of his 182 yards in the fourth quarter Saturday night as No. 8 Alabama rallied for a 28-17 victory over rival Auburn.

The performance made Alexander the Crimson Tide’s career rushing leader and gave Alabama, 9-2 overall and 6-1 in the Southeastern Conference, the SEC West title.

Alabama is back in the league championship game for the first time since 1996. It will play Florida, which the Crimson Tide beat, 40-39, in overtime last month.

The loss assured Auburn (5-6, 2-6) of consecutive losing seasons for the first time since 1980-81.

“It was a one-man show--the difference was Shaun Alexander,” Auburn Coach Tommy Tuberville said. “We got beat by No. 37.”

Alexander, who became Alabama’s career leading rusher by passing Bobby Humphrey’s mark of 3,420 yards by 48 yards, took control of the game after Auburn stopped him on a goal-line stand in the third quarter.

Trailing 14-6 in the third quarter, backup quarterback Tyler Watts started the second half for Alabama and marched the Tide to the Auburn six in 12 plays. Alabama tried to score the touchdown with four handoffs to Alexander, who was stopped each time. Kenny Kelly tackled him for a three-yard loss on fourth and two.

Alexander then got an earful on the sidelines from Coach Mike DuBose. “I told him that he had been blessed with a lot of talent and he was capable of taking this game over,” DuBose said. “He did that.”

After Alabama’s Kindal Moorehead sacked Ben Leard in the end zone on the next play for a safety that cut it to 14-8, Alexander, who finished with 33 carries, took over. His eight-yard touchdown with 11:55 to play gave Alabama a 15-14 lead.