D'haquille Williams loses game to Landon Collins again

AUBURN -- D'haquille Williams had felt this way before, the last time Landon Collins got the win despite his incredible efforts.

They met while in high school four years ago in a thrilling 48-41 double overtime game won by Collins' Dutchtown Griffins over Williams and the East St. John Wildcats on Oct. 30, 2010. A fourth-and-goal pass to Williams, who had nine catches for 108 yards and three touchdowns while being defended primarily by Collins, fell incomplete to decide the game between the previously unbeaten Louisiana teams.

"It hurt," Williams said. "But that just motivated me to get back on my game and do what I have to do to help my teammates become better players."

Auburn coach Gus Malzahn and offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee said they hadn't seen the game tape of the matchup between Collins, one of the nation's best defensive backs, and Williams during their recruitment of Williams, which came mostly once he was in junior college.

Auburn's top wide receiver, by his estimation playing at 80-85 percent after missing two weeks with a sprained MCL, put on a spectacular performance, with seven receptions for 121 yards, but it was not enough to propel his team to victory as Auburn lost to Alabama 55-44 in the Iron Bowl.

Collins and Williams locked horns again, going against each other on a handful of occasions mostly when Alabama was in zone coverage.

It was Collins who narrowed the window available for Nick Marshall to aim for Williams in the back of the end zone on Auburn's first red zone trip, which resulted in an incomplete pass and field goal on the ensuing play – a trend that continued for Auburn all night with five field goals on eight trips inside Alabama's 20-yard line.

"It would have been good to come away with touchdowns," Williams said, "but field goals – that's points."

Williams, wearing a brace on his right knee, felt he reinjured himself "but not too bad" on a third-down conversion midway through the second quarter. The Tigers stalled without Williams on the field and settled for another field goal, which made it 14-9.

Midway through the third quarter, Williams made a spectacular midair catch of a perfectly placed 16-yard pass by Marshall on third-and-eight over linebacker Trey DePriest and in front of a charging Collins, who battled for the ball with Williams once they reached the turf.

"It was crazy from us going in high school (and now) going at it 1-on-1 to on the D-I level," Williams said. "I told him he's one of the best safeties in college football and I respect him."

Auburn had to settle for a field goal on the drive after a wide open Williams was unable to rein in an overthrown pass on the edge of the end zone.

"It was my fault," Williams said. "I got to catch the ball. That's all that is."

Alabama scored the next 28 points over the next 14:46 to take a commanding 55-36 lead with 3:46 to play.

Collins, who had nine tackles, once again came away with the win, but sought out Williams, who he battled with on 7-on-7 teams, in high school and again at Bryant-Denny Stadium, on the field afterward.

"I just told him I'm very proud of him," Collins said. "He came a long way. He's a great player, fantastic player."