Gus Malzahn faces the team he coached a year ago. That was a good Arkansas State team a year ago, and this team may be good also. They belted poor Arkansas-Pine Bluff last week. Arkansas State is supposed to a big running team. This is supposed to be a different challenge from last week's pass happy Washington State team. The Tigers beat WSU 31 to 24 last week. Auburn is something like an 11 point favorite at home with a 6:30 kickoff. Before the game Stan White says we need good linebacker play and we can't let the Red Wolves have long drives. The offense needs to continue to evolve and improve with improved passing from Marshall and no dropped passes please!
FIRST QUARTER
Auburn receives to start the game.
Bray returns to the AU 33. Good return.
The Tigers move to a first down at the Red Wolf 28 thanks to a long pass completion to Trovon Reed.
First down at the 12.
From the 12 Mason sweeps right end for the TD but holding is called.
Now a false start. We are back to the 25.
The score comes from the 18 from Marshall to freshman Marcus Davis in the end zone, his first catch!
Great opening drive by the Auburn Tigers. For one we score first.
Auburn 7 Arkansas State 0
ASU starts from their 25.
First down at the 36.
First down at the Red Wolf 48.
Converting 3 straight third downs, there is a first down at the AU 34.
A pass completion moves the all to the AU 17.
4th and 10 at the 17.
The 34-yd. FG is good.
Auburn 7 Arkansas State 3
Mason runs the KO back to the 28 but there is a holding call.
The Tigers start at the 15.
The Auburn Tigers drive IMPRESSIVELY for the touchdown.
Nick Marshall makes two impressive runs.
The scores comes off the speed sweep for 17 yards by Corey Grant.
Grant turns the corner and virtually waltzes into the end zone.
That was a terrific balanced 85-yrd touchdown drive.
Auburn 14 Arkansas State 3
Quentin Riggins says "what a difference a week makes. Our defense is smooth so far tonight."
The Arkansans start at their 25 the return starting 9 yards deep in the end zone.
ASU drives to the AU 21 but our defense holds on 4th and 1. Great job stuffing David Oku.
3rd and 13 for the Tigers. The quarter ends with AU facing a 4th and 1 after a 12-yd. run by Tre Mason.
SECOND QUARTER
Auburn punts to the Red Wolf 20 after a 50-yd. punt.
The Red Wolves drive to the AU 45
We are stopping their runs but giving up passes.
10:45 to go in the half.
The Tigers hold on 4th and 5 at the AU 25!
We go 3 and out and have to punt from the 32.
There is a terrible 25-yd. punt by Stephen Clark.
The Red Wolves get the ball back quickly at their 43. What a poor punt by Clark. No reason for that.
ASU trails but is dominating time of possession. AU has been rotating a lot of defensive players.
Our starting offensive rhythm is gone. Our defense so far has stopped them when it had to.
14 to 3 with 6 minutes and something left. But ASU has moved the ball between the 20's.
Our offense has to get going again.
Our DBs are playing tighter this year. Stan White likes this.
The Red Wolves drive but once again our defense really stiffens. Truly our defense has given up yards but when crunch time comes they rise up.
They punt into the end zone. AU starts at the 20 with 3 minutes plus left.
Lightening strikes as Marshall hits Sammie Coates in stride for a 68-yd. TD pass!!!
Wow oh wow! Great play action and great throw by Nick Marshall.
Auburn 21 Arkansas State 3
Parkey kicks off thru the uprights.
With 1:35 ASU has to punt on 4th and 5.
Chris Davis returns the punt to midfield but there is a holding call.
Au has start on the 6.
The Tigers punch it out to the 40 before a holding penalty moves it back as the first half ends.
We have to be pleased with the first half with Auburn leading 21 to 3, the offense showing signs of balance, and the defense rising up when it had to. Let's hope it continues in the second half.
THIRD QUARTER
Having won the toss and deferred, the Red Wolves get the ball to start the second half.
The visitors start on the 12 after another 15-yd. penalty for not wearing white.
The Wolves are quickly across midfield.
The Wolves are at the AU 28.
The Wolves are at the AU 12.
The Wolves are inside the AU 5.
Our defense stiffens again but gives up the short FG.
Auburn 21 Arkansas State 6
The Red Wolves took it to our defense to start the second half. We can't have this the rest of the game.
A bend but not break defense has sufficed so far but this game is far from over.
Touchback. Auburn starts at the 25.
Marshall drops the ball at the 17 and ASU recovers.
Oh my. This is a disastrous start to the second half.
ASU is set to tighten this game.
Our defense stiffens again but gives up the FG as we push them back for a 42-yarder.
Auburn 21 Arkansas State 9
After one first down we have to punt from our 39. Marshall misses a wide-open Uzomah. Fair catch at the 24 with 5:40 to go in the quarter. This is not going well in the second half. Our offense is sputtering.
3 and out as we push them back after a big sack on 3rd down.
Bad punt and we get the ball on the AU 46.
Hard running to a first down at the 10 and Mason runs it in from there!! Now THAT was a great drive running between the tackles.
This is the kind of drive we needed to give the offense its swagger back and rest our defense.
Auburn 28 Arkansas State 9
The Red Wolves start at their 11 as Oku runs it out from deep in the end zone.
The Red Wolves cross midfield as the quarter ends helped by a 15-yd. penalty and ejection on Frost.
FOURTH QUARTER
Once again our defense holds and ASU punts into the end zone.
It is amazing from what heard about this offense that the Red Wolves have yet to cross the goal line.
13:58 to go.
We move the ball smartly down he field but have to settle for a 35-yd. FG. That's okay.
Auburn 31 Arkansas State 9
The Tigers take over on downs after the Wolves fail on 4th down at the Auburn 42.
We three and out as a blatant interference is not called on Ricardo Louis. That was a horrible missed call.
The Wolves start on their 20 after the punt into the end zone.
Carl Lawson puts a hit on their QB, he fumbles, and AU recovers at the Auburn 45.
Wallace is in at quarterback.
Cameron Artis-Pakyne runs it in from the 11.
Auburn dominates this football game.
Our opponents have yet to cross the goal line with 1:43 to go.
Auburn 38 Arkansas State 9
The game ends with the Wolves running out the clock still not finding the end zone.
FINAL SCORE
Auburn 38 Arkansas State 9
You have to be happy about this game. This team certainly improved on both sides of the ball. The offense found some rhythm but the biggest credit should go to the defense. The only major negative I see is 81 yards in penalities with the usual calls that go against us while the other guys get away with stuff.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment