2015 Game 1 Louisville

Here we go again.  I have been closely following Auburn football since 1968.  Typically we open with a team we are supposed to beat.  We are favored to beat Bobby Petrino's Cardinals by 10.5 but I see this game as a tossup.  Coach Boom is back.  Petrino wants to beat Auburn so bad.   Auburn seems to be in everyone's Top 10 to start the season.  We'll get a good idea today whether great expectations are warranted.  Historically Auburn starts the season slowly.  This is what worries me more than anything.  We start in the Georgia Dome before 70,000 plus.  Let's get it on!  There's nothing like the excitement of the start of a new football season.

FIRST QUARTER

Louisville receives.
Touchback.
On the first play from scrimmage Tray Matthews intercepts and runs it back to the Louisville 26.
It's a quick 26 yard drive.  Five plays and the Tigers into the end zone first.
A pass to Duke takes the ball to the one and JJ walks in from there on the zone read.
The game couldn't have started any better for the good guys.

Auburn 7  Louisville 0

There's another touchback on the kickoff.
There's a 21 yard run on a jet sweep.  Not good.
The Cards move to the AU 35.  Their offense is clicking on this drive.
The visitors reach our 6 but we push them back and they miss a 36 yard FG attempt.
Our defense bends but doesn't break.  There is still a zero on the board for Louisville.
It's obvious their offensive strategy is to run just enough to keep our defense honest and hit us with quick passes.  It seems our defense has always been vulnerable to a short passing game.
The Tigers go 3 and out after declining to go for it on 4th and 1 at the 29.
The Tigers push the Cards back from their 32 after the punt in a dominant 3 and out.  That's AUBURN DEFENSE right there.
The Tigers drive like we are going the distance but a holding penalty puts us at 3rd and 12 and JJ throws the interception at the Louisville 33.  Now both QBs have thrown an interception.
The quarter ends with Louisville facing 3rd and about 4 from their 39.

SECOND QUARTER

The Cards pick up the first down on the first play of the quarter but then we push them back across midfield with two sacks---we have a pass rush so far that we were missing last year--- and Louisville is punting again.
After one first down JJ throws another interception down the field.  That's a poor throw by Jeremy Johnson.  JJ has not looked the best so far.
Ten and half minutes to go in the first half and this is not what I expected.
With the exception of the short TD drive our offense is not clicking.  Our defense has had moments but sooner or later Louisville will start to score.
The Cards drive down to the AU 16.  We can't stop them.
But just as I write this their running back drops the handoff on penetration from Adams and Justin Garrett picks it up and about 82 yards for the touchdown.  This defense is being picked on some but is making big plays that we wouldn't have made last year.  The defense is carrying this team so far.

Auburn 14  Louisville 0

On the ensuing possession the Cards punt from their 39.
The Tigers take over on their 12 after a 52 yard punt.
Jovon Robinson gets his first carry for 10 yards.
Peyton Barber makes a nice run.
As the clock runs under 2 minutes the Tigers move to the Louisville 49.
On 3rd down we go back 10 yards for holding.
There's an incomplete pass and we face 4th and 16.
Daniel Carlson kicks a 56 yard field goal!  He nails it.  It would have been good from 60 plus.
With 34 seconds left in the first half we extend our lead.

Auburn 17  Louisville 0

After the touchback we sack their QB again for 5 yards with 21 seconds left.
The half ends with the Cardinals missing a 61-yrd. FG attempt.
Okay.
The story of this game so far is our defense.  We have pretty much made Louisville one-dimensional.  Our offense has yet to find a consistent rhythm.
One thing we know: there is improvement in our defense.
Shutting them out for a half couldn't have been predicted by anybody.
Will our defense continue to make plays?  Will our offense get it going?

THIRD QUARTER

The Tigers receive and march 75 yards for the touchdown in impressive fashion.  Peyton Barber, whom I have always liked, is running great and the score comes on the only pass of the drive---33 yards to Louis.  THAT is Auburn offense!  Just what we wanted.  Come out in the second half and score on the first possession.

Auburn 24  Louisville 0

Louisville finally drives for FG for their first score.

Auburn 24  Louisville 3

The Tigers start a drive but on a 56 yard TD pass to Jones Auburn is called for holding and a 15 yarder is added for unsportsmanlike on our bench for arguing the call.  The JJ throws his third interception and Louisville drives for a touchdown with 5 plays and 36 yards.  All of sudden we have a game with 1:21 left in the third quarter.

Auburn 24  Louisville 10

What is going on here?   Just when we seem to be taking control of this game we give up a FG and then a touchdown after a poor throw and pick from the arm of Jeremy Johnson,  Come on, guys!
AU starts at the 28.
The quarter ends with a Tiger first down at their 41.

FOURTH QUARTER

Barber runs to the Louisville 45 on the first play of the final stanza.
The wheel route is complete to Barber down to the 29.
Barber runs to the 23.  What did I tell you?  Peyton Barber can run the football.
Barber for the first down to the 19.
Louis runs to the 12.
Barber runs for the first down to the 8.  Barber is doing a great job.
Louis confidently sweeps left end from the 8 for the score.  Well done!
THAT is a big touchdown for our Tigers.
The Cardinals are on a roll and our offense RESPONDS.

Auburn 31  Louisville 10

Our announcers say that that drive was driven by Peyton Barber.
Louisville will not go away as they drive for a touchdown.  The score comes on a run from the two.
Our lead is cut with 6:21 left.

Auburn 31  Louisville 17

The Tigers go three and out with 5:27 to go.  OH, my.  We don't need this.
The punt dies at their 19---a 55 yard punt.
5:16 left.
There's 2 quick first downs and L is moving the ball.
Come on, defense!
With 3:40 left  L calls timeout with 3rd and 7 from the Auburn 19.
We move to 4th and 7 from the 19.
The QB runs for 11 and L is at the 8.  Boo!
Incomplete pass to the end zone.
Second and goal at the Auburn 8.
3:18 to go.
The QB runs to the 2.
Third and goal from the 2.
Next play touchdown.
2: 59 to go.  We certainly have a game.

Auburn 31  Louisville 24

Goodness!
No doubt here comes the dreaded onside kick.  Louisville only has one timeout left so they must go for the onside.
Tre Williams falls on the onside kick at the Louisville 46.
We need one first down to ice the game.
On 3rd and 2 the Tigers call timeout with 57 seconds left.
Barber bursts for the first down BUT we are unbelievably called for holding.
Wow!
On 4th down and 3 seconds on the clock JJ heaves the ball down the middle of the field and the clock expires.
After a 24 to 0 lead Louisville makes it a game but the Tigers hold on and I am happy.
I am happy because Auburn has a habit of starting a season slowly and we won the game.
The team has room for improvement certainly and I expect that improvement to take place.
The defense is improved even as we gave up points at the end.  This was a defensive win.
Peyton Barber is the player of the game.  I have always liked this guy.
JJ threw three interceptions into coverage but I expect this will not continue.

FINAL SCORE

Auburn 31  Louisville 24