2015 Game 5 San Jose State

After last week's disappointing loss at home to Mississippi State the Tigers remain at home to face San Jose State.  The Tigers are a 21 point favorite.  What makes me nervous about this game is that it seems that SJSU has a good offense which means they will score on our defense.  The game will be in the hands of our offense to score enough points to win this game.  Can they do it?  The visitors are 2 and 2 with Al Borges as offensive coordinator.  Our offense must play and score points for us to win this game.

FIRST QUARTER

The Tigers get a good KO return by Blake Countess to the Spartan 39 but nothing happens after that and we have to punt to their 3.  Then Justin Garrett intercepts at their 23 and we take it in for a touchdown.  Kerryon Johnson runs two plays from the wildcat.  Peyton Barber runs it in from the 2.

Auburn 7  SJSU 0

The Spartans drive 68 yards for a touchdown, which comes on an 18-yd. pass completion.
This is exactly what I expected, that they would be able to score on our defense and that we will have to score to win this game.  I don't know if our offense can keep up.  This is not a Gus Malzahn offense.

Auburn 7 SJSU 7

The Tigers drive 60 yards for the touchdown in 7 plays.  There is a long gain on a swing pass to Roc Thomas.  Peyton Barber runs around right end for the score from the 2.

Auburn 14 SJSU 7

The visitors drive to the AU 31 but on 4th and 3 and the last play of the quarter our defense holds.

SECOND QUARTER

From their 31 the Tigers go three and out.  Jason Smith is open down the field on what would have been a touchdown but he can't reel in the ball off his opposite shoulder.
We get an interception on the Spartan 38 but miss a 55 yard FG attempt.
Our offense just isn't there.  Right now I would say we are going to lose this game because our offense will not keep up.  We've been helped so far by two turnovers.
SJSU starts moving the ball down the field.  Our defense will give up a lot of points before this one is over.
The Spartans move easily down the field to the AU 31.  They are pushing our defensive line off the ball.
They are gashing us with routine 8 and 9 rushing gains on first down.
On 4th and a football length to go at our 22 we stuff the runner, the ball comes loose, and Auburn recovers.  That was GOOD.
We start on our 26 with 3:56 to go in the half.
The Tigers drive for the touchdown.  On a crucial third and 9 there is a long pass to Ricardo Louis to just inside the 10 as Louis goes up and catches the ball.  Duke Williams has a nice catch and run.
Peyton Barber runs around right end from the 5 for the score.

Auburn 21  SJSU 7

38 seconds left.  Auburn has 3 turnovers and 2 have resulted in touchdowns.
Their scoring is not done.  We have to keep scoring.
The clock expires.  We take a 14 point lead into the second half.

THIRD QUARTER

The visitors drive smartly down the field 75 yards for the TD in 14 plays to open the half.  The score comes on a sneak inside the one yard line.  This game is far from over.  If we don't keep scoring we will lose this game.  They mainly run the ball right down our throats.  Our defense is passive.

Auburn 21  SJSU 14

8:01 to go in the third.  That was a great drive by SJSU and Al Borges.  Nothing fancy.  They were whipping our defensive front.
Ford picks up the knickleball KO and runs it down to the Spartan 24.  That's a 57 yard kickoff return.
The Peyton Barber Show takes over.  Running up the middle Barber leads the way.
The score comes from a leap at the one.
That's Barber's fourth touchdown of the day.

Auburn 28  SJSU 14

We still have to keep scoring.
SJSU will start their possession on the 25 as Carlson once again kicks into the end zone.
The Spartans end up punting to the Auburn 13.
The Tigers pick up a first down to the 37 as the third quarter dies.

FOURTH QUARTER

We need to keep moving the ball and scoring.
One thing is for sure: Peyton Barber may not have breakaway speed, but he is our hardest runner.  He runs hard on every play.
The difference in the game is still their turnovers and our special teams play.  We have 142 kickoff return yards and no penalties.
We move the ball to a 4th and less than yard at the Spartan 10, elect to try the FG, there is a miscommunication on snap, and Carlson misses the chip shot field goal.  Should have gone first down.  We get into the RZ and can't convert.
Starting from the 25 the Spartans move the ball right down the field like they've done all game.
This game is far from over.
There is a pass interference call on Countess in the end zone, our first penalty of the game, and they on our two.
Next play there is the score and we have a ballgame.  We miss a chip shot field goal and the Spartans are in this game.

Auburn 28  SJSU 21

5:38 to go.  If we give them the ball again leading by only 7 this game will go to overtime and we will lose.
This really is ridiculous.  As in the botched FG attempt it's like this team looks for ways to lose a game.
The Spartans will attempt the onside kick.  They haven't had much luck on kickoffs.  Why not onside kick?
Auburn recovers the onside kick at the 45.
We start on their 45.
First play Barber runs for almost 10 yards.
Second play Barber runs 36 yards for the touchdown with 4:43 to go.
Peyton Barber has 5 touchdowns today.

Auburn 35  SJSU 21

Still not over.  A defensive stop would be nice.
The KO is returned to the 31.
Quickly it's 3rd and 9.
First down.
2nd and 13 from the Auburn 40.
First Auburn sack of the day.
On third down Carlton Davis, the freshman, picks off an interception as the ball bounces off a receiver.
Peyton Barber makes a big run to their 32 and the Tigers get to go into victory formation.
One more of those and we get a homecoming win.
I see progress but this is certainly a great team yet.
Peyton Barber is the offensive player of the game.  The defense gave up a lot of yards but had 4 turnovers.
It's over.

Auburn 35  SJSU 21