Auburn vs. Kentucky highlights

 

2020 The Kentucky Game

This strange 2020 football season begins today as the Tigers entertain Kentucky.  Because of COVID the SEC opted to play 10 conference games instead of the planned schedules.  The Tigers and Wildcats get it started today the 26th of September with an 11 kickoff on the SEC Channel.  Auburn is favored by 10 according to one source.  I expect this to be a fourth quarter game.  Our offensive line is rebuilt and will surely struggle.  Our defensive line is rebuilt and will struggle.  Our starting linebackers are back I think.  Bo Nix is back.  Only 20,000 spectators will be allowed into the game.  No Tiger Walk.  It must feel strange to be on campus today.  (Freddy tells me that he has seen the line to 7.5)

FIRST QUARTER

17,000 students are in the stands spread out impressively throughout Jordan-Hare.  No War Eagle flight today.

Auburn receives after KY wins the coin flip and defers.

From their 35 Auburn drives across midfield but Nix punts to the Wildcat 7 on 4th and 1.

You can tell that there will be more short and quick passes this year.

KY pushes out to their 43.  Unable to stop them on a 3rd and 9.

KY first downs to the Auburn 42.

On a third and three with an Auburn misalignment KY rushes 30 yards for the touchdown.  Kentucky scores on its first possession.  Not good.  The Wildcats look like a poised, well-coached, well-prepared team.

Auburn 0  Kentucky 

After a running first down there is completion to Seth Williams.  "Worm" runs to the KY one.  Man, is he fast.  After an incompletion DJ Williams is into the end zone.  The offense looks GOOD on that drive.  The offense may have to carry us today.   THEN Auburn surprises Kentucky with Grant Loy hitting an open Shenker in the end zone for two.  How about that!

Auburn 8  Kentucky 7

Kentucky moves to their 39 as Auburn continues to give up first downs on third down.

The Wildcats convert a third down again and move to the AU 45.  Kentucky is 5 for 5 on third downs.

The quarter ends with Auburn stopping Kentucky on third down for the first time, the Wildcats facing 4th and short around the Auburn 39.

SECOND QUARTER

Kentucky goes for it on fourth and three but the pass is incomplete.  Auburn starts from their 39.

First play completion to Seth Williams to the KY 43.

First down Auburn to the KY 25.

Nix for 9 to the 16. 

We move to 4th and one after an incompletion.

DJ Williams cannot get to the line.  Both teams have now failed on 4th down.  Too bad.

Kentucky starts on their 16.  

Kentucky to the AU 40.

Kentucky to the AU 30.

Back to the 40 after holding call on the Wildcats.

Sack pushes them back to the 43.

Third and 28 for KY.

Incompletion!

First punt of the day coming for their award winning punter.  Into the end zone.  First and ten Auburn at their 20.

No go this time and Auburn punts from the 25.

From their 35 after the punt KY moves to the Auburn 12 as the clock runs under 2 minutes.

KY to the AU three with third and one.

1:14 to go.

First and goal from the one.

Just short of the goal line on the first down carry but it looked like the runner was in the end zone.  The replay seems to show touchdown but the call on the field stands.

Their QB is stopped short.  TO Kentucky with 24 seconds left the ball inside the Auburn one.

Kentucky attempts an ill-conceived pass into the end zone on third down inside the Auburn one and Roger McCreary picks it off in the end zone and takes down the sideline for the touchdown.  The play is reviewed to make sure McCreary didn't step out of bounds going down the sideline.  No, the play is reviewed for possible targeting by an Auburn player!  The play review leads to a targeting call against Auburn.  A 100 yard interception return for a touchdown is nullified.  Hall is ejected from the game.  With Big Cat Bryan not on the field the Auburn defense is seriously wounded.  Wow, oh wow.  What a disappointing finish to the first half.

At the start of this game I never thought the half would end 8 to 7.  KY gets the ball coming out in the second half.

Wow, oh wow.  What an eventful first half!

THIRD QUARTER

At the half coach says we have to get off the field on third down and our offense needs to keep the ball on third down and "we'll be okay."  Our defensive end position is thin.  Big Cat Bryan, who hasn't played yet, is trying to see if he an play on the sidelines say our announcers.

Kentucky goes three and out as Auburn holds on third down.

Auburn begins on their 24.

A completion to Seth Williams on second down to the KY 43.

But after an advance of one yard Auburn punts, but Nix punts to the KY two.  Nicely done on that.

KY is three and out again.  The Tigers almost had a safety as the Cats punt from the one.

Their Ray Guy award winning punter rips off a 75 yarder to the Auburn 24.

First play competition to Seth Williams at the AU 49.

The Tank is in the game in the backfield.

Competition to Stove to the 37.

Auburn gets a 10 yd. advance on penalties enforced on both teams.

To the 22 but procedure moves us back to the 27.

Nix runs for 13.

A run by Bigsby to the 8.

We quickly move to third and goal from the 11.

Touchdown Seth Williams in the end zone.  Williams climbs the ladder to the sky for the catch.

Auburn 15  Kentucky 7

Starting from their 27 KY drives for the touchdown with short, quick passes.  The score comes on a third down pass to the end zone from the AU 8.  The point attempt is no good and Auburn retains the lead with a minute to go in the third.

Auburn 15  Kentucky 13

FOURTH QUARTER

Auburn drives to their 47 but a poor snap leads to a punt.  KY starts at their 26.

The defense has to rise up.

It does.  On third and five from their 31 their QB gives up the ball and Sherwood recovers.  We are quickly to the KY 15.  Then down to the 6.  First and goal.

We move to third and goal from the four.

Pass to end zone to, who else, Seth Williams.  The fumble recovery leads to 7.

Auburn 22  Kentucky 13

With 4th and 5 at their 30 their punter tries to run for the first down and is tackled at the 27.  Very dumb play by Kentucky.

Second play 21 yd. TD pass to Stove in the end zone.  This game is trending our way big time set up by defense.

Auburn 29  Kentucky 13

Kentucky is three and out as we get a sack on third and nine.

Auburn gets the ball at their 40 after a short punt by their great punter.

Punt rolls to the 8.  Good deal.

Kentucky goes down the field with quick complete passes.

To the Auburn 29.

To the Auburn 13.

2:17 to go with the clock running.

To the five on a penalty play.

Back to the 15.  First play from there fumble! and Auburn recovers with 1:47 left.  That oughta do it.

Very impressive second half by the Auburn Tigers!!!

The Tigers run out the clock to win on opening day 2020.

FINAL SCORE

AUBURN 29  KENTUCKY 13

A very satisfying win by the Tigers.  After the cats closed to 15-13 our cats took charge.  I like the offense.  Maybe we finally have the right OC.