#7 Auburn defeated #17 Alabama 15-10 at Legion Field on Friday, November 25, 1988. Auburn earned a share of the SEC championship and a Sugar Bowl invitation with a defensive performance built around its pass rush.
Defense created the margin
Win Lyle opened Auburn’s scoring with a 25-yard field goal. Alabama answered with Philip Doyle’s 20-yard kick, but Ron Stallworth then sacked quarterback David Smith in the end zone for a safety. Contemporary AP coverage credited Stallworth with four of Auburn’s six sacks. Lyle’s second field goal, from 22 yards, made the halftime score 8-3.
Reggie Slack found Lawyer Tillman for a 53-yard completion on third-and-19, moving Auburn to the Alabama 33. Stacy Danley then ran 18 yards, Slack completed a 12-yard pass to Freddy Weygand, and Vincent Harris scored on a one-yard run. Tillman’s catch set up the drive; Harris scored the touchdown.
Alabama had reached the Auburn seven on a second-quarter drive before Quentin Riggins intercepted a deflected pass. The Tide finally scored a touchdown late, when Smith found Greg Payne from 12 yards, but Auburn protected the five-point lead. The result was Auburn’s third consecutive win in the series.
Alabama finished with only 12 net rushing yards, while Auburn’s six sacks repeatedly pushed the Tide behind schedule.