A 'special connection' between Deontae Lawson and Bray Hubbard ended the Iron Bowl

When Alabama has needed a play on defense this season, it's often been leaders like Deontae Lawson and Bray Hubbard that have come up when it matters most.

That happened again in the Iron Bowl. With Alabama leading 27-20 after a clutch drive and touchdown pass by Ty Simpson to Isaiah Horton, Auburn was driving with a chance to tie the game. At the Tide 27-yard line, the Tigers threw a quick screen to star WR Cam Coleman, who made one man miss before Bray Hubbard came up with a hit that knocked the football loose, and it was Lawson there to dive on it.

"Big shoutout to Bray Hubb," Lawson said after the game. "He's just a ball player. I call him a 'bad MF' because that's what he is. He always finds a way to get the ball out. I think that's the third time he caused a fumble, and I recovered it. So, we've got a little special connection."

That was the second time this season that Hubbard forced a fumble that Lawson recovered. It happened previously against Georgia in September.

Hubbard has been a forced turnover machine this season, morphing into one of the best safeties in all of college football. Along with the forced fumble, Hubbard also picked off an Ashton Daniels pass late in the third quarter. Hubbard has seven forced takeways on the season.

This was the second game this season in which Lawson came up with a huge play in a pivotal moment. He forced the fumble that ended the game against South Carolina in October, and in Jordan-Hare, he recovered the fumble that effectively ended the Iron Bowl.

Alabama's defense continues to carry the load for the Crimson Tide

Alabama's defense was suffocating as the Crimson Tide built an early 17-0 lead against Auburn, but it struggled for large parts of the second half and ultimately allowed over 400 yards of offense to the Tigers.

But when it mattered, Alabama's defense was there to make a play. On a night where the offense - once again - struggled for large chunks of the game, DeBoer had to rely on Kane Wommack's defense to come up with critical stops, and, most importantly, a couple of takeaways that flipped the game in Alabama's favor.

Alabama finished +2 in the turnover margin, which proved to be the difference in the game.

It was far from a perfect night defensively, but as has been the case for this team all year long, the Tide made plays in the pivotal moments to earn a win.