The 2013 Iron Bowl was famous for two things: Chris Davis returning a missed Alabama field goal 100 yards as time expired to win the game for Auburn, and Alabama kickers missing all four field goal attempts. Cade Foster and Adam Griffith combined to go 0 for the day as the Crimson Tide lost 34-28 to the Tigers. Terrifying dreams of faceless Auburn linemen blocking kicks, with attempted kicks evading the goalposts, likely haunted the nightmares of Foster and Griffith for the next several months.
This year, Griffith has handled the kicking duties almost exclusively for the Tide with mixed results. The sophomore is 12-for-18 on field goals for the year and had made 40 of 41 extra points heading into Saturday’s game. However, a back injury forced Griffith out of their Week 13 matchup against Western Carolina, pushing
Nick Saban to look for other options. Freshman backup
Gunnar Rabornfilled in for Griffith, making his debut by hitting 2-of-3 on field goals and all six extra points in Alabama’s win. After this performance, Saban decided to ride the hot hand, allowing Raborn to continue with placekicking duties at the start of the Iron Bowl. Unfortunately for Raborn, the ghosts of 2013 awoke in the middle of the third quarter.
