2023 The Georgia Game

 The South's older rivalry is here at Jordan-Hare in September and it's still hard to swallow that this game is no in September.  So much history in this series.  The Tigers are a 14 point underdog against the #1 Bulldogs who have won the last two National Championships.  Auburn is coming off a disappointing 27 to 10 loss in College Station, Texas.  Georgia is 4 and 0 coming to their first road game.  We're going need some 2013 magic.  The Bulldogs are favored by at least 14.

FIRST QUARTER

The Tigers receive and go three and out.  Thorne is sacked on third and 9.  Looks like A & M with their pass rush.  Something has to be done to get the passing game going.

Georgia converts third and 9 as we have no pass rush.  Georgia goes to fourth and two punting around midfield.  The good punt goes out of bounds at our 8.

Thorne dashes down the sideline to the Georgia 30 on second and seven.  Hunter dashes around left end to a first down.  We move to third and four with 6:47 left in the first.  Fourth down and two.  The short FG is good.

8 plays 84 yds.

Auburn 3 Georgia 0 with 6:04 in the first.

On second down for Georgia a tie catch ruled an Auburn interception!  What a brilliant catch and pick coming over the back of the receiver by Jaylin Simpson.

Thorne is sacked on first down.  Third and 11 from the 50.  Thorne run leaves fourth and two.  Thorne fakes and runs for the first down around the right.  First down on an interference call.  Touchdown run by Hunter!

Auburn 10 Georgia 0

The Bulldogs gets a good kickoff return.  The Bulldogs are driving.  Third and two on our 35.  First down run bulldog run just across the 35.  End of Quarter.

SECOND QUARTER

First down Georgia to our 18.  All of a sudden they are running thru our defense.  First down to the AU  five.  Touchdown run from the two.

The score was abetted good field position from our 44 after the kickoff.

Auburn 10 Georgia 7 11:49 in the second

Our offense has to continue for us to have a chance.

We move to fourth and one from our 34.  Punt to their 20.

Georgia is getting hard running from their backs.  The Dogs are driving again.  37 yd FG.

Auburn 10 Georgia 10

Good runback on the kickoff to our 37.  

First down on their 29.  First down run to their 20.

Ashford in the ballgame.  We move to fourth and one from the 11. 11:18 left.  Just short on the attempted first down run.

UGA is punting on fourth down with 30 seconds left.  We fair catch on our 27.  

HALF

10-10

THIRD QUARTER

First scrimmage play UGA fumbles and Auburn recovers on their 32.

First snap Ashford goes to the 14.  From the 9 Ashford runs it in!

Auburn 17 Georgia 10

First snap UGA running coughs it up.  AU in business.

Play reviewed and the runner called down.  Too bad.  It was close but a knee did appear to be down.

UGA moves to fourth and three.

They go for it with 10:30 to around midfield.

But after a timeout send the punt team in.  Punt barely goes into the end zone.

First down run by Thorne.  First down to midfield.  First down to the 36.  Now 4 and 16.  Punt to inside the five.

UGA gets a good first down run.  First down to the Auburn 40ish.  Almost an Auburn interception.  First UGA to around midfield.  UGA to the Auburn 8 then TD run 1:03 left.

Auburn 17 Georgia 17

The quarter ends with Auburn facing third and one.

FOURTH QUARTER

Facing third and one to 4th and five.  Momentum now is all Georgia.  We need another fumble.  The ;unt helps ball on the UGA 9.  Good pass completion bails them out.

The Tigers have a lot players lying on the turf.

UGA on their 45ish..  UGA on our 25. After a penalty UGA on our 27.

UGA 4th down FG attempt.  Kick is good.

Auburn 17 Georgia 20

Kickoff return to the 25.  10:50 left in the ballgame.

First down to the 36.  Interfere call on UGA.  First down to their 49.  Third and four.  First down completion.  Third and six 7:09 left.  Fourth down FG attempt.  Good!

Auburn 20 Georgia 20 6:21 left

UGA to almost midfield not enough Pressure on heir QB.

UGA moves to third and 12.  Pass complete no pressure on their QB.

Pass completion and a run in touchdown.  I keep saying no pressure on their QB.

Auburn 20 Georgia 27

2:52 left.

Last possession interception on 4th and 9.

Ballgame.

Auburn 20 Georgia 27

2023 The Texas A & M Game

 FIRST QUARTER

From Kyle Field.  102,000 people in the stands.

Orange face mask.

AUBURN 0 TAMU 6

Auburn suffers self-induced wounds but our defense is playing tough.  Thorne missed a wide open Jarvius Johnson which would have been 6.

SECOND QUARTER

First down Auburn at midfield.

We punt from their 39.  It's time for a new QB.

The Aggies fair catch on their 9.

Aggies punting from their 10.

Zion Puckett is on the ground.

Tigers start at the Aggie 44.

Third and one.

Fourth and one.

Athletic jump around end by Thorne for the first down.

Clock under 2 minutes.

Thorne sacked again.  Either we can't pass block or Thorne can't get rid of the ball in time.  TAMU is having success blitzing.  We need to take advantage of that with some big plays.

4th and 11.

10 seconds left.

53 FG good!

HALFTIME

Auburn 3  TAMU 6

We have to feel good at the intermission.  We can win this game.

THIRD QUARTER

Auburn goes backward to start the half.

TAMU starts on our 46 after the punt.

We are not getting any pressure on their QB whereas they are getting all kinds of pressure on Thorne.

First down Aggies to our 22.

22 yd TD pass.

Auburn 3 TAMU 13

Not the start we hoped for.

Ashford in the game.

Tigers 3 and out.  This game is getting out of control.

Only way now is to get turnovers.

No pressure on their QB.

37 yd TD pass.

Auburn 3 TAMU 20

At the half I thought we might win this game but I did not expect this.  We have done nothing in the this third quarter.

Three and out again with Ashford again.

Here goes TAMU again.  No pressure on their QB and wide open receivers.

The quarter winds down TAUM facing 4th and 38 bu leading 20-3

The third quarter was a complete offensive meltdown.  In four possessions the offense has gained all of 2 yards.

FOURTH QUARTER

AUBURN GETS A FUMBLE AND ASANTE TAKES IT THE DISTANCE!

Auburn 10 TAMU 20

12:16 left

We cross midfield but the drive stalls.

TAMU gets a long run to inside out 10.

Touchdown Aggies.

Auburn 10 TAMU 27

Final Score

Against a defense that is no mighty force, Auburn’s offense was stuck in the mud or stuck in something for most of the day on Saturday at Kyle Field. Was starting quarterback Payton Thorne the problem? Was it play-calling? Was it the offensive line? Was it something else?

I am far from qualified to answer those questions, but if Auburn is to make something out of this season, something has to change. In their second game against a Power 5 opponent, the Tigers got little done on offense.

The Tigers spent most of the first half in Texas A&M territory but got just three points on a field goal with five seconds left in the half. They ran the ball well early, but with no threat from the passing game, that went away, too. And in the end, Texas A&M won it 27-10.

-Phillip Marshall

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Auburn undoubtedly had a hill to climb to get a win in its SEC opener, on the road, against a much more talented team, in Year 1 for a new staff, still with plenty of offensive imperfections to sort through.

But Saturday's loss at Texas A&M showed a lot more problems than simply a talent gap from a rebuilding program.

The Tigers' passing struggled mightily, and Auburn failed to score an offensive touchdown, as Texas A&M won 27-10 at Kyle Field.

-Nathan King

2023 The Cal Game

 So here we are late on a Saturday night kickoff in Berkeley at approximately 9:30.  I think Auburn is a slight favorite but I am not sure.  Both teams won their first game.  Before our game kicks off we have the pure pleasure of seeing Texas bludgeon Alabama 34 to 24.

FIRST QUARTER

Auburn 0 Cal 3

On our ensuing possession we are punting from just outside out goal line.

The Bears start on about our our 33.

Not a good start on the road.

FG attempt no good.

Auburn ball.  One first down.

But now punting from our 38.  

I get the feeling early on that we should win this game but who knows.

Punt nullified due to Cal penalty.

Somehow Cal ball around their 20.

Auburn ball after their punt on our 33.

Auburn 0 Cal 3

SECOND QUARTER

The Tigers recover a fumble, but the play is reviewed and overturned.  Auburn ballon their 12.

Touchdown on third down from a short pass!

Auburn 7 Cal 3

11:50 in the second.

The Tigers return their punt to our 39.

Alsston fumbles.  The play is reviewed.  Cal ball on their 35.  That hurts.

First down Cal on about our 30.  This is hard to watch because I think Auburn is the better team.  They are completing short passes.

TD run from our 16.  This is disturbing.  

Auburn 7 Cal 10

44:47 left.

No go offense.  Cal ball on about their 17.

Auburn 7 Cal 13   

Disappointing half of football. Two very ordinary mediocre college football teams.  

THIRD QUARTER

Slow start to the quarter neither offense showing anything.

Late in the third Cal misses a FG attempt still leading 10-7.

FOURTH QUARTER

The Tigers get a late touchdown and our defense.

Defense strong all game.  Offense struggles all game.

Final Score

Auburn 14 Cal 10

2023 The UMASS Game

 Auburn receives good runback from the end zone.  Running the ball the Tigers quickly cross midfield. We move to a first down in the red zone.  First down to the three.  Touchdown rush by Damari Alston.  Smartly down the field Tigers gash UMASS running the football.

11:28 in the first Auburn 7 UMASS 0

UMASS starts moving the ball advancing to their 45.  

On a nifty run their QB runs to the Auburn 24.  Our defense cannot stop their run.  First and goal  at the AU 7.  To the AU one.  Yikes!  Touchdown UMASS.  The visitors drive 89 yds for the score.

Auburn 7  UMASS 7

We are in for a long afternoon and we let them run the ball lie they did in their first drive.  No good.

The Tigers march completing a few short passes and still running ball well.

At the UMASS 22 Thorne runs for 9 but Auburn is called for holding.  Back to the 20.  An unnecessary  holding penalty costs us a touchdown.

2:52 timeout Auburn.

We move to 4th and 7.FG good.

Auburn 10 UMASS 7

2:11 in the first quarter.

Huge punt return.

Auburn is in business at their 16.

SECOND QUARTER

Ashford runs it in untouched.  Two plays 16 yds.,

Auburn 17 UMASS 7

UMASS punts.   Auburn starts on their 40.  Holding on the first snap.  Second snap Thorne scramble and pass for the first down.  To their 32.  To their 14.  To their 2.  Ashford walks in.

Auburn 24 UMASS 7

FUMB;E!  AUBURN ON THEIR 35,

FIRST AND GOAL.

Third and goal from the four,  Ashford runs it in again around right end.,

Auburn 31 UMASS 7

UMASS drives against our depth but all for naught as they miss a 42 yd FG attempt.

HALF Auburn 31 UMASS 7

THIRD QUARTER

At the half I am chuckling.  Thorne won the starting yet Ashford has been the star so far as he has scored three touchdowns.

Auburn kicks short and out of bounds apparently like an onside kick but an Auburn player has no change to run under the ball.  Strange call with such a lead.

SECOND PLAY FROM THEIR 44 A PICK SIX BY JAYLON SIMPSON.  

Auburn 38 UMASS 7

Let's not get sloppy now.

The Minutemen are quickly 4th and 13 from their 6,

Punt OOB to their 30.

First play 30 yd TD pass to Jay Fair.

Auburn 45 UMASS 7

UMASS punts.  Auburn punts after a rash of penalties erupts.

The Minutemen misfire on fourth and three.

First play from their 43 BAM! touchdown run by Cobb.  He can motor!

Auburn 52 UMASS 7

FOUTH QUARTER

Tigers up 52 to 7 UMASS facing fourth and 3. Incomplete pass.  Auburn ball.

The Tigers drive to the UMASS 46.  

But on fourth and six we go down on downs.

Then the Minutemen get a long TD run.

8:50 left.

Auburn 52 UMASS 14

Grenier is in the game.

Sean Jackson breaks a big one for a touchdown.

Auburn 59 UMASS 14

7:02 left

Auburn runs out the clock.

FINAL SCORE

AUBUN 59 UMASS 14