Montgomery Advertiser, Ala., Brad Zimanek column: COMMENTARY: Tigers came off looking better than almost anyone expected

Ten minutes in and the Tigers were leading the second-ranked and undefeated Crimson Tide 14-0 while making Alabama coach Nick Saban and company look like they had a slept late.

After a quick three and out, Auburn was cutting away on Alabama's heralded defense with precision.

On Terrell Zachery's 67-yard touchdown run, there were enough open spaces for Zachery to go down the left sideline, veer inside and score on the right side of the end zone.

The best part came on the kickoff.

Coach Gene Chizik showed he used the off week wisely by calling an onside kick that was perfectly executed and recovered by kicker Wes Byrum.

Alabama's few defenders were retreating while Auburn's kick unit was circling Byrum as it if were a mother protecting its young in the wilderness.

Asked about the play after the game and Byrum said matter of factly that they knew they were going to call the play after they opened up a 7-0 lead.

Auburn appeared to be the team gearing up for the SEC Championship Game while Alabama looked like it was under the leadership of a first-year head coach who was heralded as a suspect hire throughout the nation.

Of course, Alabama chipped away and ended the game victorious with an impressive defensive stand that put the Tigers in reverse and a clock-eating, game-winning drive that defines champions.

And, it came against a defense that played its best contest of the season.

It was a depth-starved unit that shut down a Heisman Trophy candidate in running back Mark Ingram (30 yards on 16 carries) and was on the field maybe just a little longer than it wanted to be.

"That final drive was a dagger in the heart," Auburn linebacker Jonathan Evans said.

Evans is no battle-scarred senior who has been starting for and bleeding blue and orange for three years.

It was the first career start for the true freshman.

He replaced injured sophomore Eltoro Freeman in the lineup. Asked who would have replaced Evans if he couldn't play and Chizik responded: "There weren't any back-ups after that. ... I was going in."

Evans, at 207 pounds, lacked the physical maturity and bulk others bring to the position.

But it didn't stop him from tying for second on the team with eight tackles -- all solos.

One came when he pulled down another freshman, Trent Richardson, on a five-yard gain in the second quarter. Richardson probably wouldn't have made the end zone, but inside the Tigers' 15-yard line was a reasonable destination. Alabama's Leigh Tiffin missed a 42-yard field goal attempt to end the drive.

Evans was nervous the first few plays, but he said Craig Stevens and Josh Bynes were inspirations to him this week. Bynes said Jonathan reminded him of his brother and former Tigers linebacker Chris Evans.

"He was not the most experienced guy to have out there and he gave us his all," Bynes said. "I appreciate everything he's done."

Evans was the fifth true freshman to start for Auburn this season.

The cupboard for Chizik was not exactly stocked heading into the season.

A year ago, Auburn lost to an undefeated Crimson Tide 36-0.

And, this game showed how far the Tigers have come with less talent than last year's team.

Chizik squeezed every bit out of this roster to be at 7-5 and headed to a bowl game.

Auburn fans should be proud for what took place Friday and this season.

Wait until Chizik has the opportunity to upgrade the talent base.

The team will probably need some junior college offensive and defensive linemen to fill some glaring weaknesses for next season while adding players at the skilled positions. He has already secured verbal commitments from some of the nation's best and there may have been some out there watching Friday that would probably be excited to be a part of offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn's offense.

"Make no mistake about it," Malzahn said. "We wanted to win that game and we are disappointed we didn't win the game but we are building a foundation. Our offense guys played hard and we made some plays against the best defense in college football."

Senior cornerback Walter McFadden played his last home game at Jordan-Hare and will be moving on following the team's yet-to-be-decided postseason date, but he's excited what lies ahead for Auburn.

"I think you've seen a little bit of it today," McFadden said. "That's the future. You will see a lot more of it in the bowl game. That's the new Auburn Tigers."

Bynes, who replaced McFadden in the same interview chair outside the team's locker room, sounded as if he already wants to get started.

"Next year, this will be a better football team. I guarantee it," he said. We'll have to wait and see if it's enough from keeping Alabama from winning its third straight in the series.

Brad Zimanek can be reached at 261-1586 or bzimanek@gannett.com

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