The 2014 Samford Game

For the first time Gus Malzahn has lost two straight games.  Both the Tigers and the Bulldogs come into this game 7 and 3.  The Tigers need to right the ship.

FIRST QUARTER

Once again the Tigers start slow.  A holding penalty results in a three and out as Auburn receives to start the game.
The Bulldogs cross midfield but punt whereupon Marshall throws an interception down at the Bulldog 35 toward Coates into double coverage, and there's a runback inside the Auburn 35.
The Tigers hold on a 4th and 1 at the 13.
The Tigers look sluggish.
The Tigers drive to the Samford 35 but Marshall is sacked on the last play of the quarter and Auburn is punting.  Without Duke Williams and Ricardo Louis we have no passing game and the running is haphazard.  This not starting well. 

Auburn 0  Samford 0

SECOND QUARTER

A light rain is falling.
The punt is only 22 yards.  Among other problems our special teams play is terrible.
This team looks totally uninspired.
Samford starts at their 23 with rain and wind.
The Bulldogs punt, Bray fumbles another one, but Melvin Ray picks it up and we start at the 27
The offense sputters again and we are three and out.
There's a pretty good punt and Samford starts on their 26.
Our offense has nothing going.
Going back to the Georgia game we are into our 5th straight quartet without scoring.
This team is sleep-walking.
I never thought I would see a Gus Malzahn team regress like this.
This team makes costly mistakes and commits costly penalties.  The trend since TAMU continues.
What is the matter with this team?
Samford looks like the better team so far.
We are averaging 1.8 yards per play so far.
Samford drives to the AU 31 after the second interference call on Mincy.  It looks like a bad call but no matter.  We shouldn't be getting outplayed by the Samford Bulldogs.
Samford goes to the AU 15 after an easy pitch and catch.
Samford goes to the 8.
Then there is the TD pass from the 8.
We let them move down the field mainly on penalties and Samford leads and this game is very serious.
Auburn had better get it together right now.  Auburn needs to wake up.  This team is playing without energy.  This game could get very scary.

Auburn 0  Samford 7

First play there is a long pass to Coates to the Samford 24.
Quan Bray sweeps left from the 23 for the score.
Auburn responds in three plays for 73 yards.
That's more like it.

Auburn 7  Samford 7

The defense finally rises up and pushes the Bulldogs back from their 27.
Bray returns the punt to the Bulldog 44.
We move smartly down the field all the way to the 5 but we get pushed back and have to settle for the field goal.  Despite getting pushed back at the end of the drive for the first time we show energy on offense.

Auburn 10  Samford 7

Samford goes three and out and is punting with 1:28 left.
The kick goes out of bounds at the AU 43.  The Tigers have 2 timeouts left.
After a 12 yard rush Marshall hits Bray for 40 yards to the Bulldog 21.
The score comes on a 6 yard slash around left end by CAP with 39 seconds to go.
It's like Samford's touchdown woke this team up.

Auburn 17 Samford 7

The half ends as Auburn hopefully finally woke up.
Let's keep the momentum going.

THIRD QUARTER

The Bulldogs drive to the Auburn 15 making our defense look porous again but we finally stop them and they miss a 34 field goal attempt.  I was thinking we're starting slow in this half just like we started the game.  We are getting a good pass rush with 4.
The Tigers drive 80 yards in 10 plays the TD coming on a 13-yard pass to Corey Grant around the left on a wheel route.

Auburn 24 Samford 7

Samford is quickly three and out.
AU is also three and out.
Kris Frost intercepts and Auburn is at the Samford 25.
CAP runs for 10.
There is a completion to the end zone but Coates is called for offensive pass interference.
NM is sacked for a big loss and we are out of FG range.
This is a disappointing possession as we are pushed back from the SU 25.
The quarter ends as Samford gets ready to punt from their 30.

FOURTH QUARTER

The Tigers drive 65 yards for the touchdown.
Roc Thomas powers in from the one for the score.
That was power running.

Auburn 31 Samford 7

The Bulldogs drive into Auburn territory before Mincy intercepts at the AU 25.
The game ends without any additional scoring.
Jeremy Johnson gets in on a series.  I can't wait to see him next year.
After a sluggish start but the Tigers finally get it going after Samford scores first.
Now comes the big one next week.