2015 Game 6 Kentucky

The game was played last night on ESPN.  I decided to take paper notes as I watched and do the post today after.  Freddy was at the game and we talked afterwards.  I was very apprehensive before the game thinking we were going to lose even though we were a 2.5 point favorite.  Auburn doesn't have much of a history of playing Kentucky.  The Wildcats come in 4 and 1 and 2 and 1 in the conference.  They certainly have a shot at the East so this game is as big for them as it is for us.
All week long Coach Malzahn was not saying who the starting QB would be.  It's Sean White as you would think it should be.  Carl Lawson is at the game and is a team captain but is not dressed out.

First Quarter Score  AU 14  KY   7
Second Quarter        AU 23  KY 10
Third Quarter           AU 23  KY 20
Final Score               AU 30  KY 27

AU  7 to   0  The Tigers receive and march right down the field looking like a Malzahn offense.
AU  7 to   7  The Wildcats quickly respond.  Big quarterback mostly throwing but one big run.
AU 14 to  7  Another long drive.  Kerryon Johnson looks good in the wildcat.
AU 17 to  7  First second quarter score is a 34 yard FG.  We need touchdowns though in the RJ.
AU 17 to 10 KY gets the FG back.
AU 20 to 10 Another RJ bog down to settle for the FG.
AU 23 to 10 Last play of the half is a 52-yrd FG by Carlson.
AU 23 to 17 Just when we're feeling good KY starts the half with a 75-yrd. touchdown drive.
AU 23 to 20 Yikes!  KY gets a FG converting third down after third down.  Still a bugaboo.
AU 30 to 20 A statement drive for the first offense of the second half.  3-yrd Barber run finishes it.
AU 30 to 27 KY responds with 4:06 left.  Oh, my!

On their last possession our defense holds on a 4th and 3 around midfield.  We punt back to them at the end rather than go for it on 4th and one.
The defense continues to struggle with getting a pass rush and getting the defensive front to get off blocks and penetrate, and we continue to give up first downs on third down.  This is so irritating!
The offense continues to sometimes have unproductive spurts as we did in the third quarter here, but overall this looked like a Gus Malzahn offense.

Whew!

The Tigers needed this win as badly as any in recent memory to go 4 and 2.  Next stop Fayetteville.