To open a football season you either start out with a marquee game or you play a game you expect to win. This year it's the former. Auburn is about a 2 point favorite in Atlanta over the team which is the favorite to win the PAC 12.
The Tigers have three new starters in the offensive line, and three new starters in the defensive secondary. Our from 7 on defense are supposed to be good and deep. The running backs are all new starters. We haven't a consistent dynamic offense since 2014. It's a mystery to me why an offensive minded head coach can't produce the offense he produced in years past. It's unfortunate since the defense has certainly improved under Coach Steele. Washington is supposed to be good but for some reason Auburn always seems to start slow. Auburn's ability to run the football seems to be the key as far as I can see. Their secondary is supposed to be good and they have a highly regarded QB. Otherwise, the defense will wear down in the fourth quarter. The game makes me very apprehensive and mostly due to a history of losing such tough games in the first game of the season and we haven't seen a Gus Malzahn offense since 2014.
FIRST QUARTER
Washington receives and goes 3 and out from their 25.
AU takes the ball on the W 36 after a good punt return.
Good drive ensues mostly passing.
From the W 11 a touchdown pass to Caminella in the corner of the end zone.
For some reason we go for 2 and fail.
Auburn 6 Washington 0
After 2 Washington first downs, Jamal Dean intercepts at the Tiger 36.
At the 14 the drive stalls and Anders Carlson makes the short field goal.
Auburn 9 Washington 0
The Huskies drive to the Auburn 14 and a field goal. At least our defense held.
Auburn 9 Washington 3
The Tigers drive to a MISSED Anders 33 yard field goal. He pushed it right and it wasn't close.
We move the ball but not points.
SECOND QUARTER
Our defense holds them again and we get a good punt return but called back on 2 penalties.
From our 27 the Tigers drive again.
From the Washington 13 the Tigers face third down from the 10.
Incomplete pass and it's fourth down.
This time the field goal is good.
Points but again red zone opportunity lost.
First down on the 13 and we have to settle for 3.
At least the running game showed some life on that drive.
Auburn 12 Washington 3
The offense looks pretty good but threes will not win this game. We gotta score touchdowns to win this game. Haven't we seen the red zone woes before? It gets old.
Another touchback. Anders Carlson is putting kickoffs deep into the end zone.
Washington moves the ball to the Auburn 40.
A holding penalty moves the ball back to midfield.
There's a long completion and W is inside our 10.
7:41 to go. A time out as Javarius Davis is injured.
First and goal at the AU 8.
Second and goal at the 8.
Third and goal at the 8.
Our defense stuffs the QB draw.
Fourth down at the 10.
The field goal is good.
So far our offense can't score the 6 and our defense hasn't given up the 6.
Auburn 12 Washington 6
Our offense has moved the ball up and down the field but bogs down in the red zone.
The Tigers move to third and 10 but a holding penalty bails us out.
Stidham scrambles to the Washington 41.
We move to third down as our offensive line is not getting any push.
Third and four.
Shaun Shivers runs to the 31.
A gain of one. Their defensive line is clogging us between the tackles.
Another third down and 9.
On the next play Stidham loses the ball which should have been a pass but it's called a fumble.
The attempted shovel pass is mistakenly called a fumble.
A loss on the play makes the field goal attempt over 50 yards.
A. Carlson makes the 53 year field goal! That's one 3 pointer we're glad to have.
This game isn't pretty but it is what it is.
Auburn 15 Washington 6
Washington moves quickly down the field passing.
First down Huskies at the Auburn 16.
54 seconds left.
TD pass into the end zone.
A one-handed catch.
In the blink of an eye Washington responds. Wow!
The difference in the game is that Auburn has to settle for field goals and Washington just made that hurt.
Auburn 15 Washington 13
From the 25 the Tigers are to the 40.
A penalty negates the attempted the drive.
We have had a lot of penalties in this game so far.
The half ends.
Washington takes the momentum but Auburn is still leading and gets the ball coming out.
HALFTIME SCORE Auburn 15 Washington 13
To win this game our offense will have to continue to move the ball and score touchdowns in the red zone. The defense played pretty well except for that last drive. We have to defend their quick passing. The penalties have to stop. It would help to run the ball much better.
THIRD QUARTER
After one first down Auburn is punting. Dead offense.
Marshall is punting for the time from around the AU 30.
Washington fair catches at their 37.
A penalty moves the ball to their 27.
Quickly a first down W at midfield.
A completion to the 25.
Washington quickly drives down the field.
First down to the AU 13.
The Huskies are picking up where they left off at the end of the first half.
A run to the 8.
They've got it going against our defense.
Third down and 6 from the Auburn 8.
Offensive pass interference on Washington from the 8.
Third and 21 from the 23.
A 15 yard penalty helps us out.
The field goal attempt is no good!
We dodge a bullet.
Can Auburn regain the momentum? Will our offense show up?
Auburn starts a drive.
First down to the Washington 43.
Second and 10 from the 43.
Third and 6 from the W 39.
Fourth down at the 37.
Wide right. No good.
The second missed field goal attempt.
The moves the ball to the W 43 but end up having to settle for a long missed FG attempt.
We had a chance after their missed FG to take back the momentum but it didn't happen.
It will be surprising if the Huskies don't score on this next possession.
Washington starts on their 37.
A shaky pass interference call on Auburn.
Marlon Davidson was blatantly held on that play.
There is 25 yard gain to the AU 26. This game is slipping away.
First down to the 7.
Third and goal at the 3.
FUMBLE!
Auburn recovers at the 20.
Nick Coe rips their QB forcing the ball out.
Our offense needs to take advantage. That was a huge turnover.
We move to third and 10 from the 20.
Our offense cannot run the football.
Offsides moves it to third and 5.
Under the pressure Stidham cannot complete the short pass.
Our offense is impotent.
Sooner or later our luck will run out.
The punt goes to the W 28.
But a penalty on Auburn.
Unnecessary roughness.
W gets a gift 15 yards.
How are we still leading in this game?
Washington starts at their 42.
9 penalties on Auburn not counting some that were refused.
10 penalties for 94 yards.
Washington crosses midfield with out penalties.
1:20 to go first down Washington at the Auburn 20.
Offsides Auburn. Will this ever end? That's over a 100 yards in freebies.
First down to the 10.
It will take a miracle to win this football game now.
The quarter will end with Auburn amazingly still leading but W having second and goal from our 9.
Auburn 15 Washington 13
FOURTH QUARTER
Our offense puts our defense in an impossible position.
We get a loss on second down.
Third and goal from the 13.
Pass incomplete.
The kick hits the upright but goes thru. W leads for the first time.
Auburn 15 Washington 16
Will our offense rise to the occasion. History says no.
The Tigers start at the 25 after a fair catch from the 8 with the new rule.
First down to the AU 40.
A targeting call against W is overruled on review. Strangely no penalty was called so it ends up being just an incomplete pass.
Second and 10 from the AU 40.
Then we get a grounding call.
Auburn is punting as we go backwards after a first down at our 40 as a Stidham throws the ball away to bring on fourth.
After the punt W start on their 32.
This slopping error field game is slipping away though we trail by only one.
It seems we should be way behind but we only trail by one and that because of an unsuccessful 2 point attempt on our touchdown, a play that I still do not understand what happened.
First offensive interference call.
First and 25 from the 17 for Washington.
We move to third and 12 for W.
Complete pass leads to 4th and one.
Ryan Davis receives the punt at the Auburn 24.
I'll be shocked if our offense can do anything.
We move to third and 9 at the 25.
Our offensive line cannot open any running lanes.
Stidham is pressured on every pass attempt. Our receivers cannot get separation evidently.
Timeout Auburn with 8:55 to go.
We are down to cases.
(111 yards in penalties)
First down pass to Cox at the 37.
A gain of two but a 15 yard penalty on Washington.
Auburn is at the W 46.
Completed pass to Slayton to the W 25.
Stidham keeps to the 20.
Kam Martin to the 13 for the first down.
Martin gains two to the 11.
Second and 8 at the W at and a Washington timeout.
To the 10 leads to third down and 7.
WHITLOW BULLS UP THE MIDDLE FROM THE 10 FOR THE SCORE!
At the one he knocks a Husky player backwards into the end zone.
Great play call.
Whitlow looked like he was shot out of a cannon.
Alas, the two point attempt fails. We have a tenuous lead. At least a FG won't win it for W.
Auburn 21 Washington 16
6:15 left. The KO goes into the end zone.
First down Washington to the AU 49.
Five yard penalty on W from there.
On third and 11 Browning runs for a first down to the Auburn 37.
Second down and 10 with 3:02 left.
Third and long after a tackle for a loss.
A sack and its 4th and 17.
OUR DEFENSE SMEARS BROWNING! HE LOSSES THE BALL. THE CALL ON THE FIELD IS A FUMBLE. THE PLAY IS REVIEWED. REGARDLESS IT'S AUBURN'S BALL. THE CALL IS OVERTURNED AND CALLED A PASS BUT AUBURN HAS THE BALL.
First down Auburn at the W 47.
A short running play. TO Washington with 1:27 left.
Washington has one timeout left.
Stidham comes close to the first down but a terrible spot leaves us two yards short as W calls their last timeout.
On third Whitlow runs for the first down. They call him "Boobie."
That's the game.
Auburn in victory formation for the final play.
It was an ugly, ugly game but Auburn rises to the occasion and beats the 6th ranked Huskies.
it was ugly and sloppy but somehow Auburn got it done.
Maybe this game will be a spark for the season.
Great win even though it was ugly. The winning touchdown and the last bringing the house sack of their QB will be long remembered.
FINAL SCORE
Auburn 21 Washington 16
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