GLENDALE, ARIZ. — For a split second Monday night, the college football season stood as still as Michael Dyer did. Auburn’s freshman running back stood at midfield, looking a bit bewildered, and stared at Oregon’s defense. Oregon’s defense stared back.
Suddenly, thinking Auburn’s first national championship in 53 years was waiting 50 yards away, he took off. The Ducks eventually caught up with him but by the time they dragged him down at the 23 it was too late.
The miraculous, acrobatic and bizarre play set up Wes Byrun’s 19-yard field goal on the last play of the game for a wild 22-19 win in the BCS Championship.
“Anything is possible,” quarterback Cam Newton said. “I guarantee you five or six months ago, nobody would have bet their last dollar to say that Auburn University is winning the national championship. And now, on Jan. 10, 2011, we’re smiling.”
The game was billed as a match-up of Heisman Trophy winner Cameron Newton, ordained as the game’s greatest player in memory, and an Oregon offense exploding scoreboards all over the country.
But what stole their thunder were two underrated defenses and a running play that will be talked about in the Deep South as long as football is a topic of conversation.
It was only the second time all year Oregon (12-1) scored fewer than 37 points. Auburn held LaMichael James, the nation’s leading rusher to only 49 yards on 13 carries.
Still, defense nearly led Oregon to its first national championship. It capitalized on a Newton fumble to score a touchdown and a tying two-point conversion with 2:17 left.
Starting from the 25, it was time for Newton to earn his Heisman. The key play started simple enough. From the 40 on first down, Dyer went on an off tackle play and rover Eddie Pleasant wrapped him up. He twisted Dyer to the ground, but his knees rolled over Pleasant’s legs and never hit the ground.
Dyer got up, ready to hand over the ball. Then, as if he saw a replay on the big screen, he started sprinting.
“I was just trying to make a play and keep my feet moving,” said Dyer, the Offensive Player of the Game with 143 yards on 22 carries.
Auburn (14-0) worked it down to the 15 and appeared ready to set up a field goal. Dyer miraculously found a huge hole and reached the 1. One play later with two ticks left on the clock, Byrum, Auburn’s career scoring leader, drilled it right through the middle.
The Auburn sideline exploded. The confetti fell. And 53 years of frustration, of being in the shadow of hated Alabama, finally ended.
Oregon’s defense turned around the game when it was almost too late. Auburn forced an Oregon punt and the Tigers had 5:05 to kill from their own 29.
But on second down, middle linebacker Casey Matthews came up from behind Newton and punched the ball away. Cornerback Cliff Harris recovered at the Auburn 45.
Auburn forced a 4th-and-5 at the 40 and was one play from all but icing the game. But Thomas found Montbello High grad D.J. Davis over the middle and he raced 29 yards to the 11. The Ducks worked it down to the 2 where on third down Thomas shoveled a pass to James who scored easily to make it 19-17 with 2:33 left.
Oregon then tied it when Thomas rolled to his right and threw to the left where Jeff Maehl leaped in the back of the end zoen for the tying two-point conversion.
The Ducks’ play-every-13-seconds didn’t faze the Tigers whose pace seemed only a tick slower. Auburn’s athletic front seven never tired and gave fits to a vaunted running attack.
Nick Fairley lived up to his Lombard Trophy billing. He had three tackles for loss and a sack to earn the Defensive Player of the Year honor. The line had two huge goal-line stands. Tackle Mike Blanc stopped James for a safety to cut Oregon’s lead to 11-9 and the line stopped Kenjon Barner on 4th-and-goal from the 1 to preserve a 19-11 lead
It didn’t take long for Auburn to capitalize on the momentum. Newton, sparked by the safety, drove the Tigers 66 yards in only six plays for the go-ahead score. Wide receiver Emory Blake got isolated on defensive end Kenny Rowe who got no safety help.
Blake flew by him and was wide open for a 30-yard TD and a 16-11 halftime lead.
John Henderson: 303-954-1299 or jhenderson@denverpost.com.
