A basic rule in baseball is that the only team with the potential to score is the one at the plate.
Football isn't as confined, as both Alabama and Auburn continue to prove entering Saturday afternoon's Iron Bowl showdown inside Bryant-Denny Stadium. Gus Malzahn's No. 22 Tigers have collected defensive touchdowns in each of their last two games, while Nick Saban's top-ranked Crimson Tide have tallied defensive scores in three consecutive contests.
"They're very impactful," Alabama junior cornerback Patrick Surtain II said this week on a Zoom call. "They change the momentum of the game, and they build confidence for the defense. Going into a game, you know you've got to make plays like that, especially in these highly anticipated games."
Surtain had a 25-yard interception return for a touchdown during the fourth quarter of a 41-0 whipping of Mississippi State on Halloween, which followed a 28-yard fumble return for a score by Malachi Moore the week before in the 48-17 win at Tennessee. Alabama had a pair of open dates following the rout of Mississippi State but picked right up last Saturday, when Jordan Battle's 45-yard interception return early in the third quarter gave the Crimson Tide a 35-3 lead in their eventual 63-3 shellacking of Kentucky.
Several hours after Battle's score, Auburn junior safety Smoke Monday snagged a Jarrett Guarantano pass late in the third quarter and raced 100 yards for a touchdown that turned a shaky 13-10 Tigers advantage into a more comfortable 20-10 lead in an eventual 30-17 win.
"That particular play changed the dynamics of the whole game." Malzahn said. "We were up by three, they threw it into the end zone, and we took it 100 yards. Now, we're up by 10, and we have all the momentum.
"There were some really good blocks, too. Nobody blocked in the back or had a silly penalty or anything like that."
Alabama's most impactful defensive touchdown this season occurred Oct. 3 against Texas A&M, when Daniel Wright intercepted Kellen Mond and raced 47 yards for a score midway through the second quarter. The Crimson Tide and Aggies traded scores early in the game, but Wright's touchdown gave Alabama a 28-14 lead and ignited the 52-24 blowout.
Defensive scores had a gargantuan impact on last year's Iron Bowl, as Auburn overcame four touchdown passes by Mac Jones with Monday's 29-yard interception return midway through the second quarter and Zakoby McClain's 100-yard interception return midway through the third. McClain's lengthy score gave the Tigers a 37-31 lead in their 48-45 triumph.
"They had two pick-sixes last year, and that was a big deal in the game," Saban said. "They've gotten like four turnovers in the red zone that were big for them this year, and I just think it's all about players staying disciplined when they get in those situations. When you execute, it gives you the best opportunity to make plays.
"That's definitely what they do, and they're well-coached. (Defensive coordinator) Kevin Steele does a really good job with them. They play hard. They're disciplined. They execute well, and that's how you make plays."
Malzahn refers to the two interception returns as huge keys to last year's win, and the defensive scores haven't stopped for either program entering the rematch.
"I think it's just an emphasis you put on that," Malzahn said, "and I think our coaches do a good job of coaching up that emphasis part. Our defensive players talk about scoring touchdowns, and they've done that."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.
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