Kansas State 2014

We knew before the season started that the Tigers would probably be 2 & 0 facing Kansas State Thursday night on ESPN, and here we are.  Auburn is an 8 or 9 point favorite in Manhattan against Bill Snyder's team.  KS is also 2 and 0.  It's supposed to be a wild atmosphere in Bill Snyder Family Stadium.  The game is a hard sell-out.  The stadium only holds 50,000 plus, but it's supposed to be a tough place to play.  We shall see what unfolds.

FIRST QUARTER

The Tigers receive and from their 35 get to midfield on the first play of the game with a 15 yard pass but that's it and the Tigers punt to the KS 12.
A pass interference call bails KS out on 3rd down.
On the next play KS fumbles and AU recovers on the Wildcat 21.
The Tigers have to settle for the 34 yd. FG after advancing only to the 17.

Auburn 3  Kansas State 0

The Wildcats move out to midfield with a couple of first downs.
The Wildcats drive to the AU 34.
First down to the AU 15.
Pass interference in the end zone.  First down at the 2.  Three penalties so far for Auburn.
Second play interception by Jonathan Jones!!!  The receiver could have caught the ball but it went off his hands up into the air and Jones came down with it.
That's 2 turnovers already for KS.
After a first down run by Grant the Tigers go to 3rd and 11 at the 29.
There's a complete pass but short of the first down and the Tigers are punting.
There's a big punt return to the Auburn 43.
First down to the 31.
The 41-yd. field goal attempt is no good!
The Tigers keep dodging bullets in this first quarter.  Two turnovers and a missed FG by the Wildcats.
The quarter ends with AU picking up a first down at their 34 after two runs by CAP.

SECOND QUARTER

The Tigers advance to the KS 49 but the 3rd down pass is batted down.
The punt only goes to the KS 21 with 13:16 to go in the half.
Our offense has yet to get going.  They've done a good job with our running game but we should have receivers open and Nick has to hit them.
KS is 3 and out.  Good pass defense by Auburn.
Bray fair catches at the AU 38.  Come on offense!
First play, ball batted up into the air, KS intercepts at the AU 41.
KS goes 3 and out but the punt is downed at AU one yard line.  Yikes!
After two first downs out to the 34  Nick finds Duke Williams open on the KS 35 but he drops the well-thrown pass.
That was a touchdown for Duke if he had held on the ball.
A good runback puts the Wildcats at their 43.
KS advances to the Auburn 26.
There's a pass to the Auburn 3.
On second and goal from the 3 KS runs it in.  We have a ballgame.

Auburn 3  Kansas State 7

4:56 to go.  Can our offense respond?
We need to get our rhythm on offense.  Our team is getting tested.
We have not looked very good so far except the defense at times but we trail only by 4.
First down to the AU 47.
Time out facing 2nd and 12.  They have stopped our rushing game like no one I remember in the Malzahn era.
First down to the KS 40.
With 1:34 to go there's a 40 yd. TD pass to Ricardo Louis!!!
THAT was a huge drive and score just before the half.

Auburn 10  Kansas State 7

There is still time for KS to do something.
The pooch kick give KS possession at the KS 36.
With a minute left and a TO KS is at the AU 42.
KS advances to the Auburn 27.
KS is at the AU 14 with 39 seconds left.
TO with KS at the 13.
There's a fumble all the way back to the 25.
With 4 seconds left  KS missed the 42 yd. FG attempt.
The Tigers dodge another bullet.
We gotta pick it up in the second half.
The score remains AU 10 KS 7.

THIRD QUARTER

KS gets the ball first and after an exchange of possessions the Wildcats drive to a chip shot FG attempt but their kicker misses a 22-yd. attempt.  This is the third missed field goal for KS.
It's time for our offense to do something.
We start from the 20 after the missed FG attempt.
A two yard run and Coates drops a pass.  Third and 8.
There's a 12 yard pass to Coates for a first down.
There's a 2 yard gain but then a pass is batted down.  Their defensive linemen are getting their hands up.
There's a first down swing pass to Louis.
Marshall runs to the KS 37.
First down to the 28.
The quarter ends with Auburn facing third and 7 at the KS 24 yard line.  OH, my.

FOURTH QUARTER

This is not the high scoring game that most people expected, but it will go down to the wire.
There's a first down pass to Duke to the 12.
There's TD pass to Duke Williams in the corner of the end zone.
That's a big time throw and catch by Nick and Duke.  That's more like it!

Auburn 17  Kansas State 7

80 yds.  5 and 1/2 minutes.  15 plays.  Three third down conversions.  The Tigers had to earn that score.
We've had to earn our yards all night.
We hold on third and 10 but offsetting penalties gives them another down and they pick up the first down.  That was a questionable holding call on Trovon Reed.
That was the FIRST penalty on KS.  That's something like SIX on us.
There's a big pick by Trovon Reed at the KS 47.  Big time stuff!
There's a fumble but we are lucky to get back on the ball.
There's a first down pass to CAP to the 35.
First down pass to Duke to the 24.
First down to the 11.
We have to settle for the 25 yard field goal.  Okay.
The Wildcats continue to do a good job stopping our run game.

Auburn 20  Kansas State 7

6:28 to go.
The KO goes out of bounds, giving them good field position at the 35.
So far we've given up only 225 yards.
KS moves to the Auburn 32.
First down to the 14.  This will be a nail-biter.
4:32 to go.
This has not been a pretty game.  Let's just hold on if we can.
First and goal from inside the one and on the next play there's the score.

Auburn 20  Kansas State 14

3:49 to go.  What happens now?
This game if far from over.
The KO goes into the end zone.
Can our offense respond again?
We need two or three first downs.
We get one first down and then on a 3rd and 9 Nick Marshall hits Duke Williams on a surprise 42 yard completion and  the game is sealed.
What an amazing call and execution on 3rd and 9.  I would have run the ball wide and taken my chance with that or thrown for the sticks.  What a call to clinch this game!
Championship teams win games like this. 
The Tigers are 3 and 0.  Let's go forward.