Local Sports
A memorable game for Powers
By Brandon ShieldsAUBURN — In what will probably go down as one of Auburn's biggest wins in Iron Bowl history, Jerraud Powers will forever be known for two plays in the Tigers' 17-10 victory.
One his interception in the end zone just before the end of the first half to keep the Tigers up in a tight ball game and keep momentum going into intermission.
The other came in the game's closing minutes when he was defending a pass in the back of the end zone and one of the German shepherds accompanying law enforcement officers around the sidelines bit him on the hand.
"We struggled in the second quarter, and we put our defense with their backs to the wall in the second quarter," said Tigers' head coach Tommy Tuberville about Powers' catch. "That interception was big to keep momentum."
Powers said he was motivated by fellow Decatur graduate Rolando McClain's interception for Alabama earlier in the game.
"Rolando got an interception and I knew I had to get me one," Powers said. "Then the play came when they threw it to D.J. (Hall) in the corner and we both went for it.
"It went into his hands and I sort of knocked it out and it just came to me."
Powers said he relied on his experience as a receiver in high school to make sure he made a legal catch to get the ball back to Auburn and take any momentum Alabama might get away from the Crimson Tide.
"I played receiver in high school, and keeping my feet in bounds was the first thing I thought about when I went for it," Powers said. "I knew it would be a big play for the team, and I was glad to make it."
Powers ended the game with six tackles and the interception to hold the Tide's offense to 10 points, but he would have to face more adversity in the game's closing minutes when he met up with the policeman's German shepherd.
"I was in the back of the end zone celebrating close to the police dog, and I felt something bite me," Powers said. "The policeman was standing there like nothing was happening, and then I saw some blood gushing through my glove.
"The crowd was laughing at me and pointing, and then my teammates were laughing at me and that was all they were talking about on the sidelines for the last two minutes of the game. That was embarrassing."
Powers said that was something he did not expect to face in Jordan-Hare.
"I was like, 'Come on man, we're playing at home. Go after the Bama guys,'" Powers said. "But it was worth it to win the sixth Iron Bowl.
"I won't need stitches or anything like that. I think they're trained to not bite down too far under the skin."
Powers and the rest of the Tigers will wait to find out what bowl they will be playing in in a few weeks. Wherever it is, Powers will probably try to stay away from the dogs.
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