UA Special Olympics College Wins Unified ‘Iron Bowl’

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Kemondre Taylor had three touchdown catches and one touchdown run Sunday to lead The University of Alabama Special Olympics College Unified football team to a 38-13 over rival Auburn.

The win marked UA’s third in four years since beginning the annual “Iron Bowl” game. Alabama beat Ole Miss last month.

“It’s always fun to play Auburn,” Taylor said. “They’re a good team, and it’s great to have this rivalry.”

Unified Sports is a burgeoning, inclusive sports initiative in which teams must have at least 50 percent young adults with intellectual disabilities (athletes) and the offset from typical students (partners) enrolled at UA.

Special Olympics College has more than 20 area athletes from the Miracle League and the Special Olympics who partner with UA students to compete in football, basketball and volleyball.

Taylor (athlete) led Alabama with four catches for 135 yards. Ryan Johnson (athlete) went 4 for 4 for 35 yards passing. Johnson’s 7-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Coppock (partner) gave Alabama a 27-0 lead in the second half.

Auburn scored touchdowns on back-to-back drives late in the second half to cut the Alabama lead to 27-13, but Taylor caught a 35-yard touchdown – his final of the game – and Michael Davis (athlete) hauled in a 35-yard scoring catch to cap the scoring and stretch the lead to 38-13.

“The curl, the hitch and go, and anything cutting inside worked for me,” Taylor said. “I had to stay focused and make plays. I had to be faster, quicker and stronger.”

Ivan Bailey, UA student and president of UA Special Olympics College, said he was proud to see the outpouring of support Sunday. Members of the UA color guard, the Capstone Men and Women, and UA mascot Big Al attended the game. Roughly 100 fans attended.

“It’s something you can’t say ‘no’ to,” Bailey said. “When you hear about it, you want to come out and see what it’s actually like.

“It’s great seeing everything grow, and it makes me wonder how big everything is going get. Basically, if it keeps growing like this, we’ll have to add another team. I’m going to love every minute of it.”