The 2003 Iron Bowl began with a thunderbolt. On the very first play from scrimmage, Auburn running back Carnell “Cadillac” Williams burst through the line and raced 80 yards for a touchdown. The play electrified Jordan-Hare Stadium and set the tone for a 28-23 Auburn victory.
Williams Runs Wild
Williams was the star of the night, racking up 204 rushing yards. His explosion broke the spirit of the Alabama defense early. Auburn built a commanding 18-2 lead by halftime, capitalizing on Alabama turnovers and offensive ineptitude.
An Alabama Rally
However, Alabama refused to quit. Backup quarterback Brandon Avalos and the defense sparked a second-half rally. A 96-yard kickoff return by Brandon Brooks brought the Tide back into the game. Alabama cut the lead to 23-16 and later 28-23, but they ran out of time. Jason Campbell’s calm leadership (270 passing yards) helped Auburn churn out critical first downs to seal the win in a game that was closer than it should have been.