By Henry B. Rosenbush

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Coffee rushed 20 times for 144 yards and Mark Ingram scored two touchdowns as Alabama routed in-state rival, the Auburn Tigers, 36-0. The six game winning streak by Auburn came to a soggy end in a place they had never lost.

The impressive shutout was also the largest margin of victory in the Iron Bowl in 46 years.

Number 1 Alabama finished the season 12-0, 8-0 and will meet Florida in the SEC Championship against the #4 Florida Gators on December 6. Florida defeated #20 Florida State (8-4, 5-3), 45-15 in stormy conditions.

Auburn ended the season 5-7, 2-6 and 4th in the SEC West behind LSU (7-5, 3-5) two teams preseason experts picked to be respectively 1 and 2 with Alabama predicted as a 6-6 team. Auburn lost six of their last seven games. Ole Miss ended second behind Alabama at 8-4, 5-3.

Backup quarterback Greg McElroyew a 34 yard TD pass to Marquis Maze to end the scoring but it all began on Alabama’s second drive with a field goal. The first scoring drive, came the second time Alabama had the ball and started on the Tide 5 but stalled on the Auburn 20 with a 37 yard field goal by Leigh Tiffin giving Alabama a 3-0 score as time expired in the first quarter. It capped an 11 play 76 yard drive in 7:11.

Alabama was cooking on all cylinders like a well-tooled machine, outgaining Auburn 412 to 170. John Parker Wilson threw one touchdown and left the game with 6 minutes to go and ended his season regular season 8/16 134 yards. McElroy finished 2-2 for 44 yards the the one score, his first.

Ingrams scored his second touchdown on a 14 yard run in the third quarter as Alabama had built their lead to 29-0 and it came courtesy of three second half fumbles that ended Auburn’s six game winning streak over Alabama. It was Alabama’s first win in Tuscaloosa against Auburn and since 2001.

Terrance Cody dropped on the second turnover in the third quarter and on the next possession Alabama moved down the field for their third TD by running back Mark Ingram rwho ran for a 1 yard score opening up 22-0 lead.

The first turnover, on the previous Auburn drive, and Alabama first’s play afterwards was a 39 yard Touchdown pass to Nikita Stover, his first of the season, on a 1 play 39 yard play. It came off Brad Lester’s fumble and recovery by Rolando McCain with Alabama already ahead 16-0 early in the 3rd Quarter but the extra point was blocked.

As expected, the foggy and rainy weather made the first quarter a field position game with Alabama pinned deep by Auburn punter Clinton Durst, twice inside the 10 yard line, but on the second possession Alabama finished the with the field goal clearing the uprights to end the first quarter.

At the 10:28 minute mark Crimson Tide running back Glen Coffee ran 41 yards for a touchdown to give the number one ranked Tide a 10-0 lead finishing a quick 4 plays 65 yards in 1:38.

Coffee, at the 6:09 mark had already rushed for 99 yards on 11 carries to Auburn’s 44 as a team but left the game with an undisclosed right ankle injury. He returned for the first play of the third quarter and never looked back.

Nick Saban took an opportunity to change momentum that worked perfectly. With 5 seconds in the first half he called a time out just before AU place kicker Morgan Hull’s first attempt was good which would have given Auburn its first points on the game. The second 39 yard attempt was blocked by Brandon Deaderick blocked Hull’s second attempt that was recovered in the end zone by Javier Arenas. That would be the closest the Tigers were come to scoring.

Alabama’s 19-point third quarter was when the defense took control of the game limiting Auburn QB Kodi Burns to 9/23 and 113 yards.

Terrance Cody feel on the second turnover, a Kodi fumble, in the third quarter and on the next possession Alabama moved down the field for their third TD by running back Mark Ingram opening up a 22-0 lead.

The first turnover, a fumble on the previous Auburn drive by Brad Lester, that was recovered by Rolando McCain when Alabama was already leading 16-0, led to a 1 play 39 yard TD pass from Wilson to Nikita Stover, his first of the season.

The first scoring drive, came the second time Alabama had the ball and started on the Tide 5 and ended at the Auburn 20 and Leigh Tiffin kicks a 37 yard field goal to give Alabama a 3-0 score as time expired in the first quarter, capping an 11 play 76 yard drive in 7:11. As expected, the foggy and rainy weather made the first quarter a field position game with Alabama pinned deep by Auburn punter Clinton Durst, twice inside the 10 yard line, but on the third possession Alabama finished the first quarter with the field goal that cleared the uprights to end the first quarter.

At the 10:28 minute mark Crimson Tide running back Glen Coffee ran 41 yards for a touchdown to give the number one ranked Tide a 10-0 lead finishing a quick 4 plays 65 yards in 1:38.

The matchup between Alabama and Florida will feature one of he highest scoring offenses in the Gators against one of the best defenses in the country. Florida has outscored opponents 556-147 while the Crimson Tide has given up 138 points while scoring 385.