The 2014 Texas A and M Game

The Tigers are a big favorite over the Aggies---something like 21 points.  The visitors are missing their good starting QB who is suspended for this game.  This home game starts at 2:30 on CBS.

FIRST QUARTER

The game begins disastrously for Auburn.
TAMU receives and after one first down the Aggies get a 60-yard TD pass.
Miscommunication in the defensive backfield.  The receiver was wide open cutting across the middle of the field.

Auburn 0  TAMU 7

The Aggies pooch kickoff and we get good field position but CAP fumbles on the first play.  TAMU recovers and get another quick TD pass.  2:07 into this game and we trail already by two touchdowns.

Auburn 0  TAMU 14

I couldn't have imagined a more disastrous start to this game.
This looks like Starkville all over again.
Our pass defense, our Achilles Heel all year, is in full display today against a big passing team.
What will our offense do now?
The offense drives down the field smartly with runs and short passes to a first down at the 2.
CAP scores on the next play up the middle.

Auburn 7  TAMU 14

What will the defense do now?
We need to pressure this QB or get an interception.
We need to mix up our pass coverage Quentin Riggins says.
Their QB is only doing quick passes.
The kickoff for a change is run back across the 30.
Jermaine Whitehead is on the field.
Three and out!  Our first defensive stop of the game.
The punt is a touchback.
Louis sweeps for 25 yards on the first play.
The drive culminates with a 34 run down the right sideline by Cameron Artis-Payne.
7 plays all on the ground.
Just like that we are tied.
This is more like it.

Auburn 14  TAMU 14

TAMU starts on their 5 after a blocking in the back penalty on the kickoff.
The Aggies pass for two first downs taking advantage of their tall receivers.
The quarter ends with TAMU getting a first down pass to midfield.
We must shore up pass defense.  Their freshman QB is picking us apart.

SECOND QUARTER

If this is a scoring contest I am not going to be happy.
The Aggies move to the AU 33.
The score comes on a 23 yard pass to a wide-open receiver in the middle of the field.
What has happened to our pass defense?  It's never good but today it's beyond horrible.

Auburn 14  TAMU 21

If this doesn't stop we are going to lose this game.  At this point I see no hope.
They've had the ball 4 times and scored 3 touchdowns with a freshman quarterback.
That was a 94 yard drive.
Our defense did not come to play this game so far.
First play from the 15 Duke Williams gets hit at his knees on the 20 and has to be carried off the field.
As if the way the game is going is not enough our best receiver is at least done for the day and maybe more.
After one first down Auburn has to punt. Marshall first overthrows an open Coates heading for the goal line, and then Coates drops a first down pass.
TAMU will have the ball at their 32.  This is a dangerous situation early in this game.
We don't need to get down again by two scores.
The team is sputtering today for sure.
The Aggies move the ball again.  Our team is getting whipped.
Auburn is getting gashed.
TAMU is down to the Auburn 7.
It's hard to believe what I am seeing.
Our defense is not there.
Touchdown from the seven easy pickings.
It looks like we have only 7 or 8 guys on the field on defense.
Our defense is not contesting plays.  Our defense is getting embarrassed.  This is awful, awful, awful.
Something is wrong out there.  I do not know what it is but our defense must change something or this will be one of the most embarrassing losses in Auburn history.

Auburn 14  TAMU 28

Still 10:29 to go in the first half.
The offense drives to the TAMU 20.
First down to the 10.
CAP to the three.
NM is sacked at the 15 on third down.
We have to settle for the field goal.  That is disappointing.

Auburn 17  TAMU 28

Our defense has been totally unable to stop their offense.
What happens now???
If our defense continues to be missing in action this game is over.
Our defense is a step slow and a step out of position on every play.  They are playing like zombies.
The kickoff is run back across the 35.
That is not good.
An interception on the first play by Whitehead at the TAMU 42!!!
A blatant facemask is not called on NM.  The defender spun NM around but no call.
Then there is an interference call again the Aggies.
We move to a first down to the Aggie 29.
NM is sacked and we face a third and 15.
On the last play of the half Carlson's field goal attempt is blocked and run back for a touchdown.
The blocker came quickly around the right end looking like he was unblocked.
What a nightmare this game is.  I can't believe what I am seeing.
We get the ball coming out for the second half but I can't see how we are going to win this game.
I am speechless.  This will be one of the worst Auburn losses ever.

Auburn 17  TAMU 35

THIRD QUARTER

The Tigers get the football to start the half desperately needing to score.  Alas, we are pushed back to our 5 before punting from about the 30.
TAMU drives from their 30 but they miss a 48 yard FG attempt.
We have the ball back for our second possession.
We need to score people.
The Tigers move to a first down at the TAMU 36 behind the running of CAP.
It's been a fast quarter with 5:29 left.
Duke Williams continues to be out of the game.
CAP runs to the 4 for 32 yards!
Roc to the one and on the next play NM runs around right end for the score.
Maybe we have a game.

Auburn 24  TAMU 35

4:41 to go in the third.
Can our defense rise to the occasion?
We jump on third and 7 and on third and 2 they pick up the first down.
We simply cannot give up a touchdown here.
A shovel pass where we miss tackles leads to a first down inside the Auburn 10.
The quarter is winding down.
We move to 3rd and goal from the 4.
Pass incomplete.  Fourth down.
The short FG attempt is good.

Auburn 24  TAMU 38

We had a three and out but an offsides gave them a 3rd and 2 and they moved on from there. 
Every possession is key.  We cannot afford to punt again.
In the closing seconds of the quarter Auburn drives quickly to the Aggie 32 where we will start the final stanza.

FOURTH QUARTER

First play of the quarter MN hits Bray for the touchdown!
We have a ballgame.

Auburn 31  TAMU 38

Their KO guy brings the ball out from deep in end zone and we drop him at the 15.
A chop block moves them back.
On second and 6 we are offside.  So foolish.
First down to the 32 with 13:41 to go.
We continue to hurt ourselves with foolish penalties.
The Aggies move the ball.  It seems that we cannot stop them.  Their offense looks faster than our defense.
At this point after pulling to within a touchdown it looks our defense needs a miracle to stop these guys. I do not see how we are going to win this football game when our defense cannot step up.
TAMU first down to their 48.  Our defense continues to get gashed.
First down to the AU 38.
First down to the AU 14.
The Aggies get the short field goal with 7:54 to go.  Again it's a 2 score lead.

Auburn 31  TAMU 41

We have to score twice now.  Highly unlikely.
Our defense just didn't show up for this game.  I expected to give up some points but not at least 41.
We start at our 25.  We need to score and not be dilatory about it.
From the 40 there is a huge pass to Coates to the 6 under double coverage!  What a catch!
Did we need that or what?
NM runs around left end for the score!
4 plays 75 yards.
We have a football game.

Auburn 38  TAMU 41

6:42 to go.
Can our defense make a stop???
We get the stop as the Aggies punt from just inside their 20 after a three and out.
So far we have given up only 6 points in the second half.
They get a 60 yard punt and we set up shop at our 19.
Now the game is on the line for our offense.
5:40 to go.
The Tigers are quickly out to the 45.
There's a pass to Louis to the Aggie 21 as he stretches out and hauls it in.
First down to the 7 pass to Louis.
Auburn is at the 2.
The Tigers fumble at the 2 between NM and CAP and A and M recovers.  How unexpected is that?!
The play is reviewed and it looks like our player was on the ball but the call was Aggie recovery.
The play is reviewed and the call stands.  It looks like CAP recovered but there wasn't enough video evidence to overturn the call on the field.
TAMU takes over with less than 3 minutes to and two timeouts.
2:26 to go and TAMU faces third and 8 from their 5.
On third down we almost get a safety but the call is that the runner barely go out of the end zone.
They punt and Auburn has a minute and a half to tie or win this game.
Unbelievably on our third play Dismukes snaps the ball when NM wasn't expected it and that's the game.as TAMU recovers.
That's two brutal turnovers at the end of this game.
We shoot ourselves in the foot twice on ball handling mistakes at the end to lose this game.
We get the ball to the two and fumble.
We get the ball back and Dismukes inadvertantly snaps the ball and they recover.
We had two chances at the end but we give the game the game away.  That's all there is to it.
This is as brutal a loss as I can remember. 

Auburn 38  TAMU 41