2020 The Mississippi State Game

 We come to the end of a strange regular SEC football season.  Here we are playing in Starkville to finish up this disappointing season.  Auburn is 5 & 4 with Coach Malzahn facing increasing speculation about his future at Auburn.  A loss tonight with this 6:30 contest on the SEC network might finish him off despite the big buyout.  I think Auburn is favored but I don't think that means anything.  We face State's Mike Leach air raid offense.  Their defense is supposed to be improved over the season.  I am skeptical about winning this game.  I am off the Gus Bus.  If Auburn does fire him I hope they have somebody in mind so the hiring process doesn't stretch out for weeks.  I would even take Urban Meyer.

FIRST QUARTER

I remember games in David-Wade Stadium.  The memories are not pleasant.  It shouldn't be a tough place to play but somehow it can be for Auburn.  LSU-Florida is the other night game.

The teams exchange punts to start the game.

Our offense looks like it always does---inconsistent.

Our second drive results in the usual field goal.  

Auburn 3 State 0

This game will be a nail-bitter.  I can't understand why we can't get receivers open.   They must not be very good else the schemes are bad.  We will not win this game kicking field goals.

We keep State's drive alive with stupid penalties.  But we force a punt with no damage done.

We have to run the football.  It is obvious that we can't pass consistently.

While watching this game I am keeping up with AU/Memphis roundball online.

We start a promising drive crossing midfield then we get a holding penalty.  That's called stopping yourself.

Next thing you know it's fourth and nine just across midfield.  Our passing game just isn't there and hasn't been all year. Why???

Sooner or later the State offense will get going.

On this possessions there are two first downs.  The first quarter ends with State beginning to move.

SECOND QUARTER

The Auburn Tigers beat the Memphis Tigers 74 to 71.

State moves to the Auburn 45.  Our offense is going to lose us this game.

On third down from our 47 we get the interception by Pritchett.  We got pressure on their QB forcing him to run out of the pocket & he floats one down field with easy pickings crossing midfield.

But our offense cannot pick up a first down.  Our short passing looks covered every time.  We go for it on 4th & 4 but the pass is incomplete.  I just flabbergasted at poor our passing game is.  I am so disappointed at how poor and inconsistent our offense is.  There is no rhythm at all.

Fortunately State's offense isn't any better so far.  But we ruff their kicker allowing them to retain possession.  Another dumb penalty.

This is where State will score and take the lead most likely.  This is how it goes after a penalty allows a team to keep possession.

Again we keep State going with penalties.  This is not a fun game to watch.  You've got two boring lower rung SEC teams.  

The Bulldogs move to a 40 yard FG.

Auburn 3 State 3

This is a boring game to watch.  Neither team is any good.

We get a Stove kickoff return to midfield.

BUT no dice.  Three and out.  Our offense stinks.

We are going to lose this game.

Our punt goes into the end zone.  About four and a half minutes left in the half.

State has no running game except occasional draw plays.  It's hard to win that way except if you are playing Auburn.

Georgia beat Samford 79-74.

State is three and out with 3:24 left.

Bigsby breaks off a big rip off left tackle to the State 23.  Bigsby runs inside the 15.  The clock moves under 2 minutes.  But there's a hold penalty.  Wouldn't you know it?  1:28 left.  We are back to the 22.  Another FG attempt is obviously coming up.  We cannot complete simple short passes.  44 seconds.  Third and 18.  Again, we know what's coming.  Settling for field goals will lose us this game.  The FG attempt comes on the last play of the quarter.  The attempt is good and we into halftime tied.

Auburn 6 State 3

THIRD QUARTER

Starting the third I say we are going to lose this game with the usual inconsistent offense which has no consistent passing.  Heck, we don't even have an inconsistent passing offense.  The offense has no rhythm and yet we have an offensive head coach and an OC who is supposed to know what he is doing.

State receives and starts a drive.  Quickly they are inside our 30 mixing the run and pass.  Their offense looks juiced.  Their FG attempt is no good. No matter.  If our offense can't get going, and there's no reason to think it will, we will lose this game.

Three and out.  On third and sic we cannot compete a short pass.  NO passing game at all.

State starts on their 30 something.

Auburn interception.  Their QB likes to float passes up for grabs.  First down AU on the State 34.  First play Nix runs for almost a first down.  We move to third and two.  First down behind Bigsby to the 24.  We need a TD or else another FG will lose us this game with so much time time left.  Penalty man downfield.  Now second and 14.  Our lack of a passing game is truly embarrassing.  Nix is not an accurate passer and our receivers can't get separation.  Fourth and 14.  4:33 left.  The long FG attempt is good.

Auburn 9 State 3

Our defense will not hold up the rest of this game.  To win this game we are going to need a touchdown sooner or later preferably sooner.

Auburn regains possession on our eight.  Another three and out.  Our offense will lose us this game.  a poor punt and State starts inside the 50.

The quarter ends at 9-3.

FOURTH QUARTER

In the fourth State punts to inside the Auburn whereupon the Tigers drive 95 yards with the TD coming on a 42 yard completion to a single covered Seth Williams.

Auburn 16 State 3

BUT State gets a huge kickoff return to the Auburn 29.  Big letdown there.  First down to the 16 with 9 minutes left.  On second and one TD pass and we have a ballgame again.  

Auburn 16 State 10

Our offense is going to have to come thru again if we are to win this football game.

8:24 left the game on the line.  Auburn ball at our 25.  Bigsby a first down run on first down.  Bigsby another first down run.  7:40 left with a State player injured.  Ball on the State 45.  Long delay.  The State player has to be carted off the field.  Penalty on that player.  Auburn is on the State 30.  First down run by Bigsby to the State 6.  Bigsby inside the 5.  Auburn is riding the big running back.  There is another State player injured but he able to get off the field under his own power.   From the three Nix fakes and runs it in around left end.  Nifty footwork by our QB.  Then a quick slant pass for the 2 point conversion.  That's more like it.

Auburn 24 State 10

5:57 left.  State begins on their 20.  First down pass to the State 36.  State to midfield with 5:19 left.  There's a sack back the State 41.  Fourth and seven.  Big play here.  Incomplete pass.  Auburn ball with 3:45 left at the Auburn 46.

Timeout State with 2:54 left Auburn facing third and three.  Nix fakes but is dropped.  Timeout State with 2:45 left Auburn facing fourth and three.  State fair catches inside their 15.

WE SACK THEIR QB ON FIRST DOWN AT THE ONE!  With 35 seconds we sack their QB on the 10.  Auburn will win this game.

FINAL SCORE 

Auburn 24 State 10

2020 The Texas A and M Game

For the first time ever as far as I know we have two games left after Alabama.  The Tigers and the Aggies kick off in Jordan Hare at 11 on ESPN.  Auburn is 5 and 3 while TAMU has lost only one game and is ranked #5.  The Aggies are favored.  Big game for Auburn as will be MSU next week.  Is our coach safe or does he need to win today?  I do not know.

FIRST QUARTER

The Aggies receive and march right down the field mixing the run and short passes draining the clock of over 6 minutes as if our defense has no stopping power.  This is not starting well.

Auburn 0 TAMU 7

The Tigers go three and out as the first two short pass attempts look inept.  Malazhn elects to punt on 4th and less than one.  It looks like our offense has not come to play also.

From their 25 TAMU moves the ball easily again, but then stop themselves with a chop block penalty and punt.

The Tigers movie quickly on the ground across midfield.  Bigsby is not in the game.

First down to the TAMU 28 as the quarter ends.

Nix misses a wide open Stove for the 6.  So here comes the obligatory field goal attempt.

Auburn 3 TAMU 7

This could cost us the game.  How could Nix miss a receiver at least 8 yards from any defender.  Stove does a wheel route and no Aggie was near him.

14:11 left in the half.

Ronnie Brown focuses from the sideline on Nix's errant footwork.

TAMU is quickly running the ball gashing our defense,  The Aggies are at our 28,

Our defense has no answer for their rushing.  Poor tackling and poor technique.

TAMU is at the Auburn 6.  Just poor defense says Stan White.

TAMU at the Auburn 2.  They are simply pounding our run defense.  

Third and goal just inside the 2.  

The defense gets a stop.  We needed that.  The 29 yard FG attempt is NO GOOD.  TAMU has a dominating drive that results in no points.  Amazing.  They get down to the goal gashing us running the ball then try to throw the ball.  Their kicker pulls the FG kick wide left.

8:09 to go in the half.

Auburn at their 20.  Bigsby in the game for the first time.  

First down to the Auburn 45.  Long pass to Williams to the TAMU 27.

Nix runs to the 5 on the QB keeper.

No gain for Bigsby.

Nix makes an incredible play---- scrambles, eludes a 15 yard sack and dives to the end zone.  

Auburn 10 TAMU 7

3:36 left in the second quarter.

Can we stop them?

Two plays and the Aggies cross midfield.  The Aggies to the AU 29.  We simply cannot stop their rushing.    TAMU to the Auburn 13.  To the one.  Inside the one.  Mond qb sneak for the score but it was close.  Only 24 seconds left.  For some reason did use its timeouts as they regain possession.

Auburn 10 TAMU 14

The half ends as TAMU's ground game is the story.

THIRD QUARTER

Auburn receives and with two running plays reach the Aggie 29,

First down to the 17 with Nix keepers being the show stopper so far.

First and goal to the 3.  Nix on the keeper around right end for the score.  Nifty 75 yard drive by Auburn to start the third quarter.

Auburn 17 TAMU 14

NOW can we stop their run game???

After one first down the Aggies are punting.  The Tigers fair catch on the 22.  That was was a better effort by our defense.

The Tigers quickly move to a first down near midfield.

Bigsby runs to the 11with a shifty cut to his left.  Third and 6.  Fourth and 6.  We needed the 6 but don't get it.  FG good.  The big play in the drive was a long run by Tank Bigsby.

Auburn 20 TAMU 14

Aggie first down and then another one across midfield.  Aggie first down to the AU 34.  Aggie first down to the AU 11.  Just when I thought we might be slowing down their run game they start gashing us again.  But there's a chop block penalty on TAMU to push them back.  Back to the Auburn 38.  The quarter ends.

FOURTH QUARTER

Well, we have a competitive football game at least.

First down Aggies to the Auburn 20.  TD pass as the pass goes over a McLain tip to the receiver in the end zone.  Coulda and shoulda been intercepted.  Tough luck there.

Auburn 20 TAMU 21

Good kickoff return to the 32.  Alas, we go three and out.  The offense needed to respond but did not.  Now the pressure is really on the defense.  TAMU on their 23.  First down run for a first down.  If we cannot stop this the game is over.  First down pass to their 44.  Across midfield.  Our defense cannot stop their offense.  It's going to take a turnover to win this game.  Then there's a long completion to inside the 5.  My goodness!  Looks like their receiver got behind two of our guys.  Touchdown first play from the four.  Too, too, easy.  Now we are really in a hole.

Auburn 20 TAMU 28

8:12 left.  After a promising start, the half has turned ugly.

Auburn is quickly in a third and 12 and then it's fourth down as the offense shows no signs of life.  Our offense as always is so inconsistent.  Hard to figure.  No rhythm at all.  

The Aggies drive right down the field and our defense seems helpless as they grind it out on the ground as the clock winds down.  The result is obvious long before the game ends.  Let it be.  As Pat Dye used to say, there are no miracles on the football field.

With 1:13 left TAMU gets a game clinching FG as if they needed it.

Final Score

Auburn 20 TAMU 31

2020 The Alabama Game

 It's different in this COVID year.  The game is on the Saturday after Thanksgiving as normal we still have two game left.  This is not the traditional last game of the season.  We are watching the game together from Live Oak, Texas.

Alabama leads 21 to 3 the half.  Seth Williams couldn't bring in what would have been a touchdown catch toward the end the half.

Final score 42-13.  What we expected unfortunately.

Basketball vs. St. Joe

In Live Oak we watch the streaming of Auburn beat St. Joseph in the first basketball game of the year. It took overtime to pull out a 96-91 win. This will an exciting though highly inexperienced team to watch this year.

2020 The Tennessee Game

Auburn entertains the Vols after a two week layoff, first the regular bye and then last week's postponement of the State game. The Tigers are 4 and 2 and are maybe a 10.5 point favorite. I do know that Tennessee has struggled as of late. A loss tonight with Alabama, TAMU, and State left would be tough. I will be skimpy in my narrative in order to just watch the game. FIRST QUARTER UT drives to a missed FG. After one first down AU punts. Bigsby might be a little shaken up. He runs so tough into contact. UT drives for a touchdown initially converting a third and long on a perfectly executed draw play. This is not starting well. The Vols look like the better whereas Auburn looks flat-footed. Auburn 0 Tennessee 7 The Tigers mount what looks like a promising drive but after a procedue penalty and third and 15 Nix floats an interception into the end zone. The offense is not looking sharp. Bigsby is on the sideline. I'm having flashbacks to 1980 when Tennessee came in beat us 42 to 0 with Auburn wearing the orange jersies for what I believe was the last time. The quarter ends with UT driving again. SECOND QUARTER The Vols extend their lead with a FG. Auburn 0 Tennessee 10 Long TD pass and we are on the board. Auburn 7 Tennessee 10 UT goes three and out we finally get some pressure on their QB. A Tiger drive leads to a short FG and we are tied. Auburn 10 Tennessee 10 The offense is showing signs of life but we have to keep it up. Williams and Shiver are getting the carries in place of Bigsby. The defense looked good on the last Vol possession. UT moves to midfield before punting. AU starts on their 27. Auburn moves to 4th and one with a little a minute left. UT regains possession as the clock moves under a minute. The half ends. THIRD QUARTER Auburn receives to start the half. The Tigers cross midfield. We need a touchdown now to win this game. Our offense sputters and sputters. Bigsby seems to be out of the game. The Tigers use up half of the quarter but only get three. Auburn 13 Tennessee 10 Tennessee moves right down the field. This game is up for grabs. It looks like UT will score when Smoke Monday intercepts in the end zone takes it to the house. Credited at as a 100 yard pick 6. Whew! Auburn 20 Tennessee 10 UT drives as if they are going to score but then they miss a 37 yard FG attempt. Auburn drives to the UT 37 running the clock. There is a brilliant pass to Seth Williams to the one first ruled incomplete, reviewed, upheld. But next DJ Williams runs 23 yards to inside the 15. Williams to the 9. Williams runs it in from the 9. DJ Williams is running like a wild man. 7:14 left. Auburn has scored 27 unanswered points after UT started the game leading 10 to 0. Auburn 27 Tennesee 10 UT drives inside the Auburn 5. Our defense is playing soft I guess. 4:17 left. Bigsby is out and in street clothes. A few other injuries. UT scores from the one. Auburn 27 Tennessee 17 4:07 left. Auburn recoverss the onside kick. Auburn moves to third and one and DJ Williams picks up the first down. First down to the UT 33. One more first down and the game is done. 2:21 left as UT takes its final timeout. Third and 5 at the 28. 1:32 to go facing 4th and 10. Ball on the 33. Amazing that we are trying a 50 yard FG. IT'S GOOD! Gutsy call and Carlson comes thru. 1:27 to go. Auburn 30 Tennessee 17 UT falls on the ball at their 24. UT called for holding. 1:21 left. 43 seconds left. 39 seconds left. Sack! Game over. Auburn dominates the second half to win this football game. Not sure about the injury toll. We'll see. Auburn ourscores UT 30 to 7 in the last 3 quarters. Still a good win. 30-17

2020 The LSU Game

This game always scares because unusual things happen in this historic rivalry. Auburn is a 3 point underdog at home. A win would be huge. A loss would be bad. This is the afternoon game on CBS. FIRST QUARTER The teams swap possessions before Auburn punts to the LSU one. The teams swap possessions again as Auburn can only get to midfield on its second possession. No score at the end of the first quarter. SECOND QUARTER First play of the quarter LSU misses a 54 FG attempt. So far it lookds like this kind of game where a little here or there could decide it. Nothing exciting about either team. AFter the missed FG our offense finally shows some life. There is a completion to Seth Williams who loses possession off the ball as he steps out of bounds at the oe. The call on the field is completion. The LSU player recovered the ball in the end zone. The call on the field is overturned and LSU gets possession on a touchback. Weird plays like this happen all the time in this game. If we lose this play will be big. Pritchett gets a big interception. Initial call was a 52 yard return to the end zone. Review should he stepped out of bounds on the 5. Bigsby to the one but guess what. Illegal formation moves us back five. But on the next play Stove takes the short pass to paydirt. Auburn 7 LSU 0 LSU crosses midfied before punting to the end zone. Auburn punts it back inside the LSU 25. The LSU QB fumbles and Christian Tutt scoops at the 20 and runs it in. Defense is dominating for the Tigers. Auburn 14 LSU 0 LSU punts to our one but on the first play Bigsby runs out over the 25. The Tigers push to the LSU 34. Auburn drives 99 yards for the touchdown. The score coming on a short compeltion into the end zone to a wide open Capers. Well designed play. Auburn 21 LSU 0 On the last play of the half LSU gets a 51-yd. field goal. Auburn 21 LSU 3 THIRD QUARTER Auburn marches right down the field mixing the run and the pass. First and goal on the five Nix fakes to Bigsby and runs it in around left end. We are seeing the Auburn offense come alive in this game. Auburn 28 LSU 3 First play from scrimmage on a tipped ball at the line of scrimmage, Big Kat grabs it, and AU starts at the LSU 20. First and goal at the 6. Bigsby powers in from the 2 on third down. Auburn takes advantage of another LSU turnover. Auburn 35 LSU 3 LSU changes quarterbacks and goes three and out. The Tigers drive across midfield thanks to the nifty feet of Bo Nix. First down to the 12. Bigsby runs it in from the 4 untouched. All of a sudden this is the Auburn offense we've been waiting for. 69 yards in 12 plays as the third quarter winds down. Auburn 42 LSU 3 The quarter ends with Auburn in command. FOURTH QUARTER Auburn ball after LSU punts to start the fourth quarter. First play from the 9 Nix hits Schwartz in stride for a 91 TD pass. He was several steps behind the defender. I have been waiting for this for a long time! Auburn 48 LSU 3 Loy comes in to finish the game and Bo sits down after passing for exactly 300 yards and running for 81. LSU gets a touchdown pass. Auburn 48 LSU 11 LSU regains possession and drives to the Auburn 25 but run out of downs as the Tigers get a big sack on 4th and 7. Our Tigers run out the clock. FINAL SCORE AUBURN 48 LSU 11 That was a good one on both sides of the ball and no turnovers. Big day for Bo Nix and the defense.

Auburn vs. Ole Miss highlights