Holy Smoke: Auburn returns INT for TD, Jaylen Waddle answers in 14 seconds
By Keith Farner
Published:
As Auburn began to bottle up Alabama’s rushing attack, the Tigers’ defense sat back and waited on Mac Jones in the passing game.
Smoke Monday’s 22-yard interception return for the touchdown gave Auburn a 17-10 lead over Alabama with 5:36 left in the second quarter. But Alabama’s Jaylen Waddle returned the ensuing kickoff 98 yards to answer the score in a span of 14 seconds.
Monday’s play came on third down and 8 from the Alabama 14-yard line as Jones clearly didn’t see Monday lurking on the left side of the defense near the sideline. He easily walked into the end zone. Jones’ throw was either an underthrow, or an overthrow as 2 Alabama receivers were in the area.
Waddle, meanwhile, was not touched after he zig-zagged to the left sideline and cleared nearly all would-be tacklers by midfield.
Alabama then recovered an Auburn fumble on the next kickoff, and the Crimson Tide went down and scored a touchdown from Jones to Henry Ruggs for a touchdown with 4:12 remaining to give Alabama a 24-17 lead. It’s shaping up to be a tremendous finish in the Iron Bowl.
THE SMOKE SIX pic.twitter.com/SSeurXOLhc
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) November 30, 2019
Here is Waddle’s answer:
AMAZING.
This Jaylen Waddle touchdown return is a work of art. pic.twitter.com/4ZcGsgYp42
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) November 30, 2019
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
