2015 Game 9 TAMU

I watched Florida edge Vanderbilt 9 to 7 with a late field goal.  I was stunned to see how good the Vandy defense is.  How can Vanderbilt have such a good defense and Auburn have such a bad defense?  They can't have better athletes than us, can they?  I don't understand it.  Their defense looks like a cohesive unit of 11 players on the same page whereas our defense looks like 11 players going in different directions.
On this rainy day there are more big games than any Saturday this season so far.
Ole Miss blows the SEC championship game by losing 53 to 52 to Arkansas.
Our game is a 6:30 kickoff at Kyle Field.  The Aggies are a 7 point favorite.  I do not see how Auburn can win this game.  They have a dual threat quarterback and the home field advantage and our offense can't find the end zone.  Each week it's one thing after another.  What will it be this week?
To win this game:
1) Our defense needs to make some stops and get off the field on third down.
2) We need to establish the running game.
3) Our receivers need to catch the football.
4) We need to continue to be solid in the kicking game.
What will happen?
Before the game we learn that Jeremy Johnson starts at QB as Sean White with a leg injury cannot go.  We are real trouble now!
The rain has moved out but the wind is swirling and whipping around on the field.
This will make it all the worse for Jeremy Johnson.
This will be a long night most likely.  How many interceptions will JJ throw?

FIRST QUARTER

The Aggies win the toss, receive, and start on their 39 after a run back.
They cross midfield, our defense stiffens, and on 4th and 13 they hit a 50-yard FG in the swirling wind.

Auburn 0  TAMU 3

The Tigers look impressive in their first possession as they drive for the touchdown.
JJ is 6 for 6.  He looks like a different quarterback.
Jovon Robinson is running hard.
The score comes on an 8 yd. pass to Marcus Davis.
11 plays/75 yards

Auburn 7  TAMU 3

What will this good start lead to?
The Aggies drive across midfield but Carlton Davis intercepts in the end zone!
Big turnover.
From their 20 the Tigers march smartly down the field to a first down at the Aggie 7 as the quarter ends.  Jovon Robison is running like he is demon possessed.  Jeremy Johnson is 9 for 9 so far.

SECOND QUARTER

From the one and half yard line on third down Jovon Robinson reaches the ball across the line for the touchdown.  So far this is a different Auburn team than we've seen so far this year.  So far this offense 2 for 2 in the Red Zone.

Auburn 14  TAMU 3

It looks like the Aggies will score as they drive to a first down at the Auburn 12, but Justin Garrett intercepts at the goal line and runs it back to the 11.  That's two turnovers for the defense.
The Tigers go three and out as JJ misses a wide-open Kerryon Johnson for what would have been a first down.  That's his first miss.  Should have been but wasn't.
TAMU starts on their 41 after the punt.  We can't have any more mistakes.  The offense cannot have any lulls.
The Aggies go three and out.  We are doing a good job so far with their touted freshman QB.
Marcus Davis fair catches at the Auburn 11 with 8:20 to go in the half.
After getting to the AU 30 we have to punt.  I hope we are not getting into an offensive lull.
That's two straight punts by Auburn.
TAMU moves the ball again.  Can we stop them?
4th and 1 at the AU 23 as the clock winds down.
No doubt they will go for it.
We stop the QB short!!!  No gain.
2:01 to go.
The Tigers play conservative and punt the ball to the Aggies.
On the last play of the half we sack their QB and the half ends.
It's a good first half for the Auburn Tigers.

THIRD QUARTER

The Tigers get the ball to start the half.
Kerryon Johnson returns to the 25.
The Tigers drive to a 35 yard field goal.  The big chain moving play is a long pass to Kerryon Johnson on the wheel route.

Auburn 17  TAMU 3

Blake Countess intercepts!
AU has the ball back at our 46.
We drive into the Red Zone.  Ricardo Louis drops another pass that would have been a first down inside the 5 or maybe a touchdown and we have to settle for the 30 yard field goal.  We have reverted to our inability to put the ball into the end zone.  This could cost us the game before it's over.

Auburn 20  TAMU 3

The Aggies drive for the touchdown after a controversial result that goes against our team.
An Aggie player is called for targeting.  Replay shows that it was clearly a helmet to helmet strike, but the on the field call is reversed.  Our announcers are incredulous.  All they can say is that the definition of targeting is not well defined.  Amazing.  That was a vicious targeting but they get away with it.

Auburn 20  TAMU 10

The Tigers march authoritatively right down the field mainly gashing their defense running the football.  Powerful, powerful, looking offensive surge.  The quarter ends with Auburn second and goal at the Aggie 3.  The offense is on fire with this drive.

FOURTH QUARTER

Barber is dropped for a three yard loss.  Not good.
No touchdown.  We have to settle for another field.  Another Red Zone disappointment.
We have to settle for the field goal.  A great looking drive stops short of the end zone.

Auburn 23  TAMU 10

That was truly not good.  A touchdown there might have sealed this game.  Instead it's still a game with only a 13-point lead still at the start of the 4th quarter.  There is a lot football left.  That's three straight field goals after two touchdowns to start the game.  Will Red Zone woes cost us this game?
Their starting QB is in the locker room.  Kyle Allen, who started the season as the starter, has not been seen.  They are using their third string quarterback.
The Tigers drive to another field goal.  We play conservative running Robinson on almost every play although there is a long pass completion to Tony Stevens to their 23.  I don't understand why JJ doesn't keep the ball on a fake to Robinson.  In this case the FG is a good move.  The kick is for 31 yards.  The clock is under 7 minutes.

Auburn 26  TAMU 10

The kickoff is the first touchback of the game with the swirling wind out there.
They continue with their third string quarterback.
First down to their 37.
Aggies move into Auburn territory but we finally stop them on 4th down.
Then the Tigers run the clock out.
Our Tigers get out of College Station with a big SEC road win.
This team improved tonight.  The defense was impressive getting 3 turnovers.
Jeremy Johnson came on like he was supposed to at the start of the season.
Daniel Carlson continues his All-American kicking.
Every aspect of the team improved.
We have hope moving forward.

Final Score

Auburn 26  TAMU 10