2018 The TAMU Game

For the third straight game we kick off at 11 a.m. this time on ESPN.  The Aggies come into Jordan-Hare with Auburn favored by 4.5 or so.  The Tigers are 5 and 3.  Is Malazhn still coaching for his job?  I do not know.  In a reversal of recent years,  under Jimbo TAMU leads the league in run defense.  This is not good for an Auburn team that struggles to run the football.  On the other hand, I read that their pass defense is not good.  Can Auburn take advantage of that?  Turnovers?  Always a big factor.  Auburn comes in after their off-week.  A factor?  I do not know.  TAMU has a dual QB in Kelley Mond.  From what I've seen he is not the swiftest but we struggle with dual threat quarterbacks.

FIRST QUARTER

Auburn receives and promptly goes backwards after two attempted Schwartz ends sweeps leading to a third and 21 and a 4th and 17.
TAMU fair catches on their 34.  So much for a fast start.

First play Mond runs for 12 yards.  Big QB.  Gotta tackle him today.
It looks like Auburn hasn't woke up yet.
TAMU moves down the field.  Early on Auburn is not yet in the game.
First down on a methodical drive dominating the line of scrimmage to the 19.
On one pass so far and it was incomplete.
On second and six TAMU is called for grounding.
Third and 14 from the 23.
Mond is dropped at the 17 and it's FG time.
The 35 yarder is good.

Auburn 0  TAMU 3

Is Auburn ready to wake up and play football?
Malik Miller started the first series at running back.  Whitlow was questionable coming into the game.
Whitlow is in there on the second series.
First down to the Auburn 47 on third and four after a 16 completion on a screen pass to Miller.
TAMU is supposed to have a poor pass defense but Stidham can't find a receiver to throw to.
We move to fourth and one and the punting team comes on as the crowd boos.
The punt is downed at the Aggie three hard line.  What now?
It looks like trouble for the offense.  You expect the run game to be spotty.  I can't understand why Stidham either can't find an open receiver or he is reluctant to let go of the ball.

From the three TAMU is quickly out to the 24.
FUMBLE! Auburn recovers at the TAMU 20.

First play a short pass and then a pass into the end zone to Caminella on the same play.  A little trickery with the double pass behind the line of scrimmage to Ryan Davis and then the TD pass to a wide-open receiver for six.

Auburn 7  TAMU 3

First possession Mond scrambles for a first down.  We have to control this scrambling QB and historically we struggle with this.
The quarter ends with TAMU crossing midfield at the AU 45.

SECOND QUARTER

On the second play of the quarter TAMU gets a 39 yd. touchdown run.  The runner ran thru a hole at the line of scrimmage and there was nobody in front of him.  Our defense is getting dominated between the tackles.  You just never know what is going to happen.  I would not have predicted this.
5 plays 75 yards.  All on the ground.  They are running the ball down our throats.

Auburn 7  TAMU 10

This game is setting up disastrously.
Auburn is three and out on a third and four.
TAMU is running ball and Auburn cannot run the ball.
Run the football and stop the other team from running the ball.  The old formula and the Aggies are dominating.

TAMU from their 25.
First down to the 36.
Fourth and one and TAMU punts to a fair catch at the ten with 10:31 to go in the half.

Three and out.  First play long pass to Slayton,  Should have been caught.  On third down Stidham overthrows Seth Williams.  We are showing the same old offense.  We need a better quarterback.  Stidham can't cut it.

The only thing surprising so far in this game is our defense with poor run defense.  The offense is what we've come to expect.
TAMU goes three and out.
Ryan Davis goes down at the 20 after a 51 yard punt.

Starting this series Auburn is minus 5 yards rushing.
First down to the AU 32.
Whitlow loses two yards.
Long completion to Slayton to the TAMU 36.
Schwartz sweeps to around the 20.
Shivers to the 11.
We move to third and two.
TD pass in the end zone to Seth Williams.
Beautiful throw and catch on that one with Williams high pointing the ball in the corner of the end zone.  That is how it's done.

Auburn 14  TAMU 10

Unfortunately TAMU quickly starts a drive crossing midfield with ease.
TAMU moves to the AU 26 after a pass interference call.
After a sack there is a completion to the 14 with a long gain.
We can't stop these guys.
1:49 to go.
Screen play goes for the TD from the 14 after DeShaun Davis can't make the tackle.
Mond is good on the short throws.

Auburn 14  TAMU 17

1:09 to go in the half.
We have to fall on the kickoff fortunately at the 17.
First play Stidham is sacked and Auburn is called for holding.
The clock expires.
Difficult game to win.  Could go either way in the second half.
Odds favor TAMU to win this game.

THIRD QUARTER

TAMU receives and is quickly at the Auburn 25 after a long pass completion.
TAMU goes to the AU 10 after a face mask penalty.
TAMU continues to push our defense around.
We move to third and goal from the five.
An amazing pass interference call against Auburn.  Bad call.  Ball uncatchable.  Receiver was not touched.  Unbelievable.
Touchdown from the one.  Crowd booing.  A baffling interference call leads to the score.

Auburn 14  TAMU 24

Such adversity.  Can Auburn overcome it?  If so, this will be a great win.  A good drive by the Aggies but definitely helped by the officiating.

From the 25 AU moves to the AU 47.
Quickly we are third and eight after two runs.
Seth Williams drops a wide-open first down pass and Auburn is punting.
The punt goes into the end zone.
It looks dire already.

From their 20 TAMU converts a third and 10 to their 38.
TAMU is outplaying and out-coaching Auburn.
TAMU runs to midfield.  We can't stop them.  A score on this possession and this game is over.
TAMU to the AU 38.
Auburn has no answer for the short passes.
Auburn has not answer for their opponent.
TAMU moves to another their and long from around midfield.
Incomplete pass and we get the stop but around midfield.
Ryan Davis fair catches at the 15.

From the 15 after losing a yard Auburn is punting.
Our offense cannot run the football.  Our offense cannot pass the football.  Our defense has been pushed around physically by TAMU.  It's this simple.
TAMU assumes the possession from their 36.

One quick burst for 19 yards and TAMU is rolling again.
On third and 22 Mond is ripped as he throws the incompletion.
TAMU to punt with 8 seconds left in the third.
Ryan Davis catches the punt inside the five and is dropped.  Did he forget where he was.  Davis makes a huge mistake.  First and ten Auburn from their two.  When it rains, it pours.

FOURTH QUARTER

From the two after an 8 yard gain on first down Auburn cannot convert a second and two and punt to the TAMU 43.
The Aggies start banging again.  Our defense is whipped.
TAMU marches to the AU 30 with nothing more than between the tackles running.
This is a sad spectacle to watch.

From our 20 TAMU has to settle for the FG attempt.
The kick is not good, wide left.

Auburn has the ball back on their 20.
Long pass incomplete to Slayton.  Tough chance.
Complete screen pass but for a loss.  So many negative plays today.
Stidham is sacked at the five.
Three and out from the 20 back to the five.  Our offense is ridiculous.  Hard to fathom.

TAMU starts at the Auburn 45.
Auburn intercepts at the AU 29.
7:14 left in the game.
In two plays Auburn crosses midfield.
First down to the TAMU 36.
First down pass to the 22.
Complete pass to Slayton at the one yard line called a touchdown on the field.
Played reviewed.  A catch at the one but not a touchdown.  First and goal at the one.
Chandler Cox powers over on the first play and Auburn is back in the game with 5:14 left.

Auburn 21  TAMU 24

TAMU starts at their 25.  Auburn has all three timeouts left.
First play first down to the 36.  Short passes have killed us all game.
We move to third and one on another short pass completion.
3:05 left and a timeout TAMU.
Five yard gain on 3rd and one and a first down.
A loss and Auburn calls timeout with 2:31.
We must stop them here.  Another first down and it's over.
A fumble and an Auburn player falls on it but the ball squirts away,\.
Third and 15 for TAMU.
Mond throws foolishly incomplete.
With 2:15 left the Aggies must punt.
Tutt runs the punt back to the Auburn 42.  Clever putting Tutt back there as they kick away from Davis.  Their punter makes a touchdown saving tackle.

First play Ryan Davis takes an underneath pass the TAMU 11.
From the 11 Stidham to Seth Williams in the corner of the end zone.  Touchdown!!!  Amazing.
Auburn has come live in the closing minutes of this football game.
1:41 left.  We finally realized that we had to throw the football and it happened.  Left for dead, Auburn has rallied to take the leave.

Auburn 28  TAMU 24

A pooch kick and TAMU starts at their 17 with 1:35 left.
Third down from their 39 with 49 seconds left.
We move to fourth and five with 41 seconds left and TAMU out of timeouts.
Stistcically we should not be in this game, but we have won the turnover battle.
Fourth and five for the Aggies at their 41.
First down pass to the Auburn 49.  The clock is running.
We move to TAMU from their 41 after a penalty with 12 seconds left.
The clock expires and left for dead Auburn finds a way to win.
The interception started a 14 point run for the winners.  A miraculous turnaround for Auburn.
The Tigers had only 19 yards rushing.
BUT the clock is reviewed and the ruling is that there is time left for one more play.
From their 31 TAMU has one more play.
On the final play Nick Coe rips down Mond.
Ugly win, but an amazing win.  We'll take it!!!
The home team finally wins this game.  Good for us!
An amazing game and win.

AUBURN 28  TEXAS A and M 24