2015 Game 8 Ole Miss

It seems like every game is crucial as to whether this season straightens out or whether it is clearly a lost season.  The Tigers are 4 and 3 and are a 7 point underdog at home against the Rebels.  It chaps me to be an underdog at home to Ole Miss.  This should never be.  Word is this morning that Sean White has some kind of undisclosed injury and may not start.  I had not heard anything about this.  If he can't go, I certainly do not like our chances.  We have the early game on the SEC network.  Have we ever started well in in early kickoff?  Last week dropped passes doomed us.  What might doom us this week?  Just before kickoff I see that the line has increased to 8.5.  Sounds like White may not start.

FIRST QUARTER

Sean White is out there.  The Tigers receive but after only first down have to punt.
From their 19 Ole Miss drives for a 27-yard field goal.  They move the ball easily until we stop them on a third and one.
If our offense doesn't show up we will lose this game.  Hence, my early assessment.  :)

Auburn 0  Ole Miss 3

After one first down White throws deep downfield on third down to an interception at the OM 20.
Our defense stops them cold three and out with a big sack on third down by McKinzy.
There is a poor punt and AU starts at the Rebel 39.
The Tigers have to settle for a 52-yard Carlson field goal.
On third and 10 Roc Thomas could have had the first down if he had run the short completion correctly.

Auburn 3  Ole Miss 3

Our defense comes up strong again and Ole Miss punts to the AU 26.
Carl Lawson is having an affect out there.
There is a 22 yard completion to the AU 48.
On the last play of the quarter Thomas crosses midfield for a 3 yard gain.

SECOND QUARTER

TOUCHDOWN AUBURN!
After another short gain Sean White hits Ricardo Louis down the middle on a post pattern for a 47 yard scoring pass.  This is White's first TD pass.  He was wide-open and White hits him on a rope which he had to do.  That's more like it!

Auburn 10  Ole Miss 3

OM crosses midfield but finally punts to the Auburn 9.  There was a pass ruled complete that was not reviewed that was clearly not a completion that kept their drive alive temporarily.
The Tigers go 3 and out and punt to the their 39.
The Rebs cross midfield again but punt to our 11.
So far our defense is getting pressure on their QB and they are a passing team.
The effects of Carl Lawson I can see with my own eyes.
It is amazing how much difference he makes.
The Tigers move out to a third and 3 after a good completion to Louis.
On 4th and 1 the pass is incomplete and OM takes over on our 49.
The gamble doesn't pay off but I'm glad we went for it.
OM goes for it on 4th 2 from our 41.
The first pass completion goes to the AU 35 on a quick out throw.
Then they are down to our 25.
There is a run to the touchdown with poor tackling from the 25.
After that 4th down first down our defense looks bad for the first time today after their initial possession.  That was disappointing allowing that 25 yard run for the end zone.

Auburn 10  Ole Miss 10

Well, here we go.
Unfortunately we go three and out as Jovon Robinson carries three times.
We have to punt with 2:42 to go in the half.
OM has the momentum and they get the ball coming out in the second half.
The punt goes to their 29.
Plenty of time for Ole Miss to do something with 2:30 left now.
OM gets to our 25 and a TO with 49 seconds left.
We don't need to give up points here but OM is methodically moving the ball.  They have seized the momentum after we gamble and don't pick up the first down on 4th down.
On third and three Countess intercepts as the ball bounces off the receiver up into the air.
We needed that!
We run out the clock but the end is scary as JJ runs a quarterback draw.  The ball comes loose.  The call on the field is that he is down, but the refs take a long time in confirming the call on the field, clearly the correct call.  Officiating these days scares me to death.
It looks like our Coach is doing what he can to get Jeremy Johnson on the field.  He scares me every time he's out there.
We are at half tied 10-10 with a ballgame up for grabs.

THIRD QUARTER

Ole Miss receives to start the second half.  This is a big possession.
The Rebels drive for a 37 yard field goal.  Well, okay if our offense can respond.  Otherwise, this game can get away from us.

Auburn 10  Ole Miss 13

The Rebels drive to our 5 but we stop them on 4th and one.  Great stop by the defense!
The Tigers drive to the Rebel 5 but we have to settle for the typing short field goal.
Jovon Robinson runs 5 times for 45 yards.  Peyton Barber has hardly seen action.
Robinson is showing sparks of being an every down RB.
Game on.

Auburn 13  Ole Miss 13

OM gets a 45 yard TD pass as our defender doesn't get his head around.
That didn't take long.
This is the first they beat us on a long play.

Auburn 13  Ole Miss 20

Well, our offense has to score touchdowns now.
The quarter ends with Auburn facing 2nd and 10 at the Ole Miss 12
There was a long completion to Louis and bull running by Jovon Robinson.
At least Jovon Robinson is having a coming out party.

FOURTH QUARTER

The Tigers drive to a first down to the Ole Miss 12 but once again we have to settle for the FG.
There was a pass completion that would have led to a first down inside the 2 but we are rightly called for holding.

Auburn 16  Ole Miss 20

Still early in the fourth quarter.
OM starts at their 25 as they have all day after Carlson's kickoffs.
They have been quick passing us all day and running just enough.
Kris Frost get the interception at the Ole Miss 47!
We've been getting some hurries on their QB all day
JJ hits Stevens on a sky completion at the Rebel 3.
First and goal.
Once again we can't punch it in.  If we lose it will because of not putting the ball into the end zone in the red zone.  At least Carlson continues to come thru.

Auburn 19  Ole Miss 20

About 12 minutes left.  Time for anything to happen.
Alas, OM moves right down the field.  We cannot stop their quick passing.
Leading 20 to 19 the are quickly in FG range.
There is a skillful TD pass to Treadwell from around the 20.  Good execution by their duo.
Well, this makes it difficult to say the least.

Auburn 19  Ole Miss 27

10:13 left.  Again, having to settle for field goals has been the determining factor in this game.
We've had Red Zone Woes.
That and we haven't disrupted their passing game enough though we do have two turnovers.
More than likely that's the game.  I can't us coming back to win this game.
The KO is returned to the 32.
This is a key drive to say the least.
After running for a first down White has to go out as his knee brace comes loose.
JJ comes in and throws into triple coverage.
White comes back in on third and 8 and the pass is incomplete and AU punts.
With 5:33 to go OM is punting.
Davis fair catches around our 10.  We have to go 90 yard to try and tie this game.  Ain't gonna happen most likely.  This is certainly it.
Sean White is in the game.
Jovon Robinson continues to be the running back.
We drive to their 48 but the drive dies on 4th and 9.
There was a first down pass and maybe a touchdown pass but the ball is dropped just like last week.
The clock winds down under 3 minutes.
There is a first down run to our 40 and that does it.
We use our last TO but the game is over.
We don't get our run game going.
Our third down efficiency on offense is terrible.
Our defense showed improvement with Lawson on the field.
The offense is disappointing.  The defense is improving but the offense can't make plays when it needs to.
This team is not good enough to overcome offensive miscues and lack of execution.

FINAL SCORE

Auburn 19  Ole Miss 27