After opening the season in Atlanta beating Louisville 31 to 24 blowing a 24 to 0 lead and having to
"hold on" in the fourth quarter, the Tigers play local JSU in the home opener with the new fancy scoreboard. I haven't seen a line; suffice it to say Auburn is favored. JSU is ranked 6th in their NCAA division. This will not be easy I do believe. Will Jeremy Johnson rebound after tossing 3 interceptions last week? Will the defense show up if Carl Lawson doesn't play? Will this game get us ready for LSU next week? The game is an 11 a.m. kickoff on the SEC Network.
FIRST QUARTER
Carl Lawson is on crutches. Safety Tray Matthews is not dressed out. Neither will play.
Everybody notes what a difference it makes having Lawson out there. However, we cannot be a one-man defense. Someone else has to step up. It didn't happen last year but it must happen this year.
The Tigers and from their 35 march into Gamecock territory but we end up punting to the JSU 9.
The Gamecocks drive down the field with our defense looking sluggish. They miss a FG attempt.
The Tigers then drive 68 yards in 14 plays. After a first down at the 11 we have to settle for the field goal after JJ and Duke miscommunicate on two passes into the end zone. I don't understand this.
Auburn 3 JSU 0
The quarter ends with JSU facing 2nd and 10 from their 45.
SECOND QUARTER
After one quarter I see nothing to get excited about so far with this Auburn team. JJ completes some short passes but looked bad on the last throws trying to hit Duke in the end zone or at least the two were not on the same page.
All of a sudden JSU is at the Auburn 20.
If the Gamecocks keep moving the ball like this we will lose this game.
JSU is supposed to be a running team but they are having great success with the short passes.
We stop them at the 15 but the field goal this time is good.
Auburn 3 JSU 3
The visitors are moving the ball too easily on our defense. We are getting no pressure on their QB. It is once again obvious that we cannot stop a short passing game. Our offense cannot sustain a TD drive. The offense has no rhythm.
From their 25 the Tigers drive but have to settle for a 49 yd. FG from Daniel Carlson. On third and 7 Duke couldn't hold a first down slant throw. This is TOO hard to far.
Auburn 6 JSU 3
Sooner or later we have to find the end zone. So far Jeremy Johnson still looks like a freshman like he did last week.
JSU moves to a 3rd and 6 from the AU 39. We cannot seem to stop them on third down.
Before this situation there was a first down pass completion where our DB didn't get his head around. I seem to remember this was a complaint when Muschamp was our DC before.
There is a first down pass of 16 yards. We cannot stop their offense. This is sad to watch.
There is a JSU first down to the 15.
This is really sad to watch.
There is an 11 yard TD pass to the end zone.
JSU is out executing us. Our defense has bent the whole game and this time we give up the touchdown. Auburn had better wake up or we will lose this game. They are beating our porous defense. They have found weaknesses in our defense and are picking us apart.
Auburn 6 JSU 10
With 5:31 to go Auburn trails Jacksonville State University.
This is embarrassing to say the least.
JSU has had long drives with lots of plays.
For a supposed rushing team they have thrown for 182 yards so far.
Auburn had better get it together or we will lose this game.
Unbelievably Johnson throws an interception right to the JSU defender. The return is down the sideline to the AU 34. Just like last week JJ makes a bad throw.
Finally we get a three and out and they miss a 50 yard FG.
Maybe this will spark the offense as the defense steps up.
From their 39 Auburn calls TO on a third and three.
I will say this. Jeremy Johnson does not look like a very poised and capable quarterback.
JJ overthrows a receiver. He looks bad.
We have to punt to their 8 with 1:50 to go.
Our offense looks terrible. JJ's footwork and fundamentals have gone south.
Blake Countess is called for targeting. Their player was sliding and it's a horrible call. It was reviewed and not overturned. Our announcers are dumbfounded by the bad call. Countess is now out for the game.
JSU picks up a first down to their 45 as they convert again on third down.
Their QB scrambles and as usual we cannot contain him.
The clock expires and Auburn trails Jacksonville State at the half. The Gamecocks have outplayed Auburn so far This is sad to watch. The only good thing so far is that despite getting completely outplayed we trail by only 4.
THIRD QUARTER
The Gamecocks receive and drive into Auburn territory and end up punting into our end zone.
From the 20 Auburn drives 80 yards for the score.
Johnson hits Roc Thomas on a 51-yd strike. Finally we see what we should have been seeing all game.
Auburn 13 JSU 10
JSU drives across midfield but after two consecutive holding penalties push them back Rudy Ford intercepts in the end zone. That's our first turnover of the game.
The Tigers move out to around midfield but on a third down Duke Williams is obviously targeted but there is no call. Countess was called for targeting earlier on a JSU player who was sliding as the contact was made but there is no call on clear targeting in this case. Unbelievable!
The Tigers are forced to punt and JSU has the ball as the third quarter ends.
FOURTH QUARTER
The non-targeting call on JSU is incomprehensible. Our announcers and our coaches are rightly livid.
15 minutes of football left. This will be a 4 quarter game.
JSU drives across midfield. We must stop them.
JSU drives to a first down to the 11 but we hold them to a 27-yd field goal.
This is very scary. JSU has shortened the game with long drives. They have 68 plays to our 49. They have had the ball for 10 minutes more than us.
Auburn 13 JSU 13
Rudy Ford takes the KO back to the AU 45.
But AGAIN Johnson throws an interception right to a JSU defender.
The Gamecocks get the ball on their 44 and move to a 4th and 2.
Their QB stumbles forward just enough for the first down.
We can't come up the stop. Everybody knew it would be a QB keeper.
8:19 to go.
Is this scary or what?
There is an 8-yd pass completion across the middle. We cannot stop the short passes.
First down run to the 20.
Auburn is in deep trouble.
JSU has come in and dominated this game, sad to say.
There is a QB run on first down to the 15. Our defense makes their quarterback look so elusive.
JSU has completely outplayed Auburn. Period.
There is a run to the 11. Third and one.
Can we hold them to a field goal?
There is a run to the 5. Our defense is backing up.
They have run 78 plays so far. Amazing.
There is the TD run from 5 yards yet. JSU takes the lead with 5:38 to go.
They are taking it to us. It's that simple.
11 plays/56 yards on that drive. JSU has executed a game plan to perfection.
Auburn 13 JSU 20
Well, it's really crunch time. If we don't respond quickly with a TD now it's over.
Can JJ lead us to the tying score? Based on what we've seen so far I doubt it.
In the final minutes our home health care nurse arrives so I don't record details.
Auburn scores late with less than a minute to go to tie the game.
Auburn 20 JSU 20
In the first overtime Peyton Barber leads us to the touchdown. I've said all long that I like Peyton Barber. Before out last two scores Roc Thomas fumbles at the Gamecock 13. If I were the coach, Thomas would never touch the ball again this season.
Auburn 27 JSU 20
We hold them on their possession. Their last pass on 4th down from their 22 is caught in the right side of the end zone but the receiver is clearly out of bounds.
Give JSU all the credit in the world. They outplayed us until the very end.
But Auburn wins. I hope this helps the team psychologically going to Baton Rouge next week.
FINAL SCORE
AUBURN 27 JSU 20
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