Auburn Wins Regional

The Tigers win the Raleigh Regional tonight blasting host NCST 15 to 7.  Auburn wins all three of its games with lopsided scores to cruise to the regional title.  This team is peaking at the right time.  Now it's on to Gainesville.

Auburn sinks 20-foot putt to win SEC title over Alabama

By Brandon Marcello
Auburn Undercover
29 April 2018

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. – The rivalry between Auburn and Alabama is never short and drama.

It was no different on the golf course Sunday.

Auburn freshman Wells Padgett sank a 20-foot putt on the final hole of the final match to knock off Alabama and win the SEC Championship in walk-off fashion.

The SEC title is Auburn's first in men's golf since 2002.

“Alabama is great. We just fought to the end," Auburn coach Nick Clinard said. "My anchor, Wells Padgett, was the anchor all week in match play. We had him in that hole because we knew his confidence level in that spot and we knew that he could come through in the clutch and, boy, did he ever.”

Auburn won the match 3-2.Padgett was tied up with Alabama's Jonathan Hardee heading into the 18th hole. Hardee nearly hit a hole-in-one on the 17th hole. On the 18th, Padgett fell short of the green and had to hit a chip shot on his third shot. Padgett's third shot was the amazing 20-foot putt to send Auburn into a jubilant celebration.

“That was the biggest putt I’ve ever made in my life,” Padgett said. “It was great being able to do it for my team. To do it as an individual in a tournament is cool, but doing it for your team is the greatest feeling.”

The conference title provides Auburn an automatic berth into the NCAA Regionals. The Tigers will find out where they're headed Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. CT on the Golf Channel.

Left-handed golfer Brandon Mancheno provided Auburn's its first point of the match against Alabama's Wilson Furr. Manchenor, also a freshman, won all but three holes and clinched the victory with a par putt on the 17th.

Junior Trace Coe defeated Davis Ridley 2&1. He also won with a par putt on the 17th.

“I’m really proud of the guys, not only the five that were with us but the whole team and those cheering in the locker room back home,” Clinard said. “This win is for all 12 of them.”

Auburn will celebrate the SEC title with fans by rolling Toomer's Corner in Auburn at 6:30 p.m. CT Sunday.

VIRGINIA GOES DOWN!

I went to bed last night as UMBC vs. Virginia was tied at 21-21 at halftime.  I was mildly curious to see the second half; but, I figured, what's the point?  #16 seeds are 0-135 against #1 seeds.  I figured Virginia was slopping around and would pull away.

Then, I wake this morning to see that the impossible happened!  UMBC won, convincingly, 74-54.  This is incredible.  One of the biggest upsets I've ever seen in sports!

NCAA Basketball

The Tigers are in the tournament for the first time since 2003 playing out in San Diego vs. Charleston as a double digit favorite.  After finishing the regular season on a downward path, the team has to get its mojo back.  Who knows what will happen in San Diego.

At Regions Park

Though it was cold and I left embarrassingly left too early it was great to be at Regions Park Tuesday night to see Auburn play UAB.  Baseball is back, and I like it!

Good crowd, and mostly an Auburn crowd.  Our team is undefeated so far.  Regions Park is a fabulous ballpark.  It is much better than the Hoover Met.  Much better designed.  Lots of fun to watch the game and see some of the Birmingham skyline.

The game starts badly for the Tigers.  With UAB leading 8 to 3 after six innings I leave the game.  It was cold, after all.  :)

After I return home I see that Auburn rallied and won the game 11 to 8 with two 3-run homers leading the way.  What a comeback!  I learned a lesson: never give up.  Overcoming a 5-run deficit in the final three innings is an amazing comeback.  Maybe this team is special.

Basketball So Far

Our amazing basketball team is off to a blazing 15 and 1 start.  This is without starters Purifoy and Wiley who are still hanging around the team but whose status is still undetermined.  The team plays in Starkville Saturday, and Coach Pearl is chartering two buses to take students.  Let's enjoy while we can!

The 2018 Peach Bowl

After losing to Georgia in the SEC Championship Game Auburn is matched with Central Florida in Atlanta.  It's cold in Alabama today; it's no doubt just as cold in Atlanta today but not inside the new Mercedes-Benz Georgia Dome where the Tigers lost to Georgia it what seems like an eternity ago.  This game will have to suffice until the start of the 2018 season.  An 11 and 3 season sounds much better than finishing 10 and 4.

Central Florida is the last undefeated team in the country coming out of the American Athletic Conference.   They are supposed to have good skill players and a high-powered offense.   UCF Coach Scott Frost is coaching this team even though he is headed to Nebraska after this game.   Auburn should have the advantage in the trenches.  The Tigers are favored.

How motivated will Auburn be?  Just how good is CFU?  No doubt they can score some points.  Can our offense take advantage of their defense?  Our offense can be streaky.  I'd like to see a consistent offense.  Carlton Davis is out for the game as is Kamryn Pettway.  Kerryon Johnson is supposed to be 100%.

If nothing else, this will be an interesting matchup just to see how it might go.

FIRST QUARTER

UCF wins the toss and elects to receive.

The Knights go three and out after three incompletions.
Auburn starts at their 22.
After giving up a sack on first down, Auburn is punting as our offense looks disheveled.
The offense goes backwards on the first try.
Three passes.  I thought we would try to establish the run first.
UCF starts on their 49 after a mediocre punt.
It looks like Auburn is not ready to play this game.

After one first down their QB drops the snap and Auburn recovers around midfield.
The Tigers begin at their 49.
On third and 10 Stidham hits Craig-Myers to the UCF 25.
First down pass to the 14 to Ryan Davis.
The drive ends at the 8 with a field goal of 26 yards.

Auburn 3  UCF 0

Our offense is sluggish.  The running game has yet to get going and the passing game is jerky.

UCF is three and out again.
Stephen Roberts mishandles the punt and the Tigers are backed up to their 19.
Our defense is doing well so far against their vaunted offense but OUR offense is sputtering.
6:04 to go in the first quarter.
First down Auburn across the 30 on the ground.
Big run by KJ on the next play to near midfield.
But we end up with third and long as Stidham falls down for a loss of 6 as his feet goes out from under him.  We were looking good there for a moment finally running the ball but then Stidham falls down on his own.
There is a first down pass to Slayton to the UCF 37.
We move third and 9 as Stidham is struggling.
There is a first down pass to the 26.  Good pass there by Stidham.
Our offense makes some good plays and makes some negative plays.
Our offensive line is not getting a push.
Two straight losses and including Stidham slipping again as we go backwards.
Stidham keeps losing his footing.
The quarter ends as Auburn slips and slides to a third and long now out of FG range.

SECOND QUARTER

This is not what most people expected with a 3 to 0 score after one period.
Our offense has 6 negative plays so far.

A screen play leaves us well short of the line to make.
A 53 yard FG attempt is no good.  I would have punted.  Even Carlson seems befuddled.
I get heartburn watching this offense continue to struggle.  It's nothing new.

UCF starts with good field position.
First down to around midfield on third down.
UCF is showing signs of moving the football.
First down to the AU 36.
The scrimmage goes to third and 10 from the 36.
First down QB keeper run and UCF is threatening.
We move to third and 12 from the 16.
Our defense forces a FG attempt.
The kick is good and we are tied with 11:11 to go.

Auburn 3  UCF 3

AU begins at their 27.
First down across the 40 after a gutty run by Stove.
Then Stidham fumbles on a slight hit and UCF recovers and gets a return to the AU 21.
Stidham looks like he's in la-la land.
From the 19 their QB gets loose and runs it in from there.
An Auburn turnover and UCF does what good teams do.
Stidham better get his offense together or this will be ugly.
I don't understand why our offense is so discombobulated, but I've said this many times before.

Auburn 3  UCF 10

I am disgusted by what I am seeing.  Auburn is better than this team but our offense has yet to dhow up.
If it were me Malik Willis would be coming into the game at this point until Stidham wakes up.
Negative plays and turnovers dominate our offensive effort.
We get a block in the back call on the kickoff and our struggling offense starts on their 10.
First down pass to the 27.
KJ to the 30.
On the next play there is a holding call:another mistake by the offense.  Amazing futility.
Our offense is beating itself.  UCF doesn't need a big defense with out offense playing this way.
Stidham is sacked at the 8.  This is pitiful.  Our offensive line is getting beat.  Unbelievable.
Auburn is completely out of sorts and UCF is out-playing Auburn.
A ruffing penalty on Chandler Cox and back we go again as we punt from the end zone.
UCF fair catches at midfield.
This is distressing to watch.  You would think we were playing Clemson.  Our O-Line is pathetic.  Stidham fumbles and can't keep his footing.  Negative plays.  It's all bad so far and is unlikely to change the rest of the game.

UCF goes three and out.
After a holding call on the receiving team Auburn begins inside our 10.
The Tigers drive to a 46 yard field goal with some semblance of an offense.
On third down Stidham is sacked for the umpteenth time in this game with an open receiver who would have been touchdown bound if the pass had reached him.
UCF is not known as a sacking team yet they are doing it against Auburn today.

Auburn 6  UCF 10

UCF's only offense is their running quarterback but it's good enough so far.
This is possibly the worst game Auburn has played all year.
The half ends as the Knights get a 45 yard FG as they drive behind their running quarterback.

Auburn 6  UCF 13

THIRD QUARTER

The Tigers come out on fire in the third quarter.
The kickoff runback is to the Knight 26.
On the second play from the 25 Stidham hits Will Hastings for the touchdown.

Auburn 13  UCF 13

After one first down UCF is punting.  Auburn quickly drives for the score.  82 yards on the possession.
Kerryon Johnson bangs in from the four.
During this drive there was a clutch pass to Slayton and a short pass run from Chandler Cox.

Auburn 20  UCF 13

This is more like it.  Let's keep it up.

UCF starts at their 11 but they are quickly out to their 44.
From there UCF is punting on 4th and 7.
Roberts fair catches at the 18.

Alas, the Tigers go three and out with two runs and a passing attempt with a holding call.
We are punting on 4th and 5.
The punt rolls dead at the UCF 35 with 4:14 to go in the quarter.

There is a third down pass for the first down to the AU 37 or so.
Big third down conversion by UCF.
Third and four from the Auburn 31.
First down pass to the Auburn 12.
Touchdown pass on the first pass from there.
Their fleet footed QB is keeping UCF in this game.
We are tied.
UCF keeps playing after Auburn scored two straight TDs to open the half.

Auburn 20  UCF 20

The runback is across the 30.
Barrett loses three.  We have had so many negative plays in this game.
A yard gain by Martin.
The running game isn't there.  We are going to have to win this game thru the air.
Stidham is sacked on third and 13.
These sacks are dumbfounding.  UCF is not noted for sacks.  Unbelievable.
The quarter ends with Auburn punting having given away our early third quarter surge.

FOURTH QUARTER

Auburn is punting to start the fourth quarter with UCF having seized the momentum after a sizzling start by Auburn.
Our defense has to come up big now.
UCF is quickly at the AU 42.
Next play UCF is at the AU 27.
We are in deep trouble here.
There is a completion to the two.  Oh, my.
The play is reviewed and the pass ruled incomplete.
Still UCF has only third and one.
First down run by the QB easily picking up the first down to the ten.
The clock is running toward 12 minutes.
Second down at the nine and the pass to the back of the end zone is complete.

Auburn 20  UCF 27

Can Auburn rally again?  Can Auburn make the right moves?
I am flummoxed by our inconsistent offense.  It makes no sense.
From our 26 we'll look for a miracle.
One yard on first down.
Second down a throw-away.
Third and nine.
No chance for a completion.  They get pressure on Stidham and there is no chance.
Somehow UCF has made adjustments and Auburn has NO answer.
Auburn is three and out.  That is THREE straight three and outs after we open the half with two straight touchdowns.  Awful stuff.
UCF fair catches at their 33 with 10:31 left.
We are down to cases.  One more score and the Knights will ice this game.  It may be iced already.
I do not understand how our offense can come out on fire and then die right before our eyes.

We sacked their QB but on the second play he runs for 28 yards.
Their quarterback Milton is superior to Stidham.
He is the difference in the game.
There is a pass completion to the AU 15.
Our lights are going out in this game very quickly.
We move to third and 10 from the 15.
Bad snap but they advance the ball to the 8.
The FG attempt is blocked!!!  Derrick Brown gets a hand on the ball.
Finally we get a break.
6:58 to go.

Well, it's not over yet after that block, but the odds are still very much against us.
We've had minus 5 yards in our last three possessions.
First play an interference call against Slayton and Auburn picks up 15 yards.
Next play no gain.
Offsides UCF.
Then Stidham throws a ridiculous interception run back for the score.
A 45 yard pick and return for the touchdown.
Stidham has been off.  Stidham has been horrible.  Stidham has carried this team down with him today.

Auburn 20  UCF 34

I don't know where Stidham's mind is today but it is not on this game.
We saved the worst for last.  This is a horrible loss.
Stidham is not going to the NFL.  That's for sure.  Ha, ha.
Also, UCF has controlled the line of scrimmage on our run game.  This should not happen.
The Georgia carryover and the lack of motivation must be considered.

The Tigers do move the ball quickly down the field with completions to Hastings.
The Tigers have a first down at the 14 after a 15 yard targeting call against Hastings.
The prior targeting call against Hastings which looked just like this one was overruled.
Two completions and a targeting call and Auburn has a chance to score quickly.

Stidham quarterback draws to the 7.
But then KJ loses two yards.  KJ is not healthy or just not running well today.
Stove runs a reverse around left end and walks into the end zone.
4:12 left.  Still work to be done but at least Auburn has fought back.

Auburn 27  UCF 34

Carlson pooch kicks but it backfires as UCV has the ball at their 44.  Bad decision there.  Why not kick it deep?  Oh, my.
A yard gain on first down.  Auburn has three timeouts left.
There is a completion all the way to the Auburn 24 with 3:07 to go.
That play probably did it.
We stop the clock with 2:37 to go but they are well within field goal range.
The kickoff doomed us.  What was Carlson trying to do?
There is a blocking below the waist penalty against UCF.
After a running play UCF is at our 22 with 2:26 left and a timeout Auburn.
Third and nine for UCF.
Inside handle to the 21 and Auburn uses its last timeout.
UCF will try the field goal and this will be the game with 2:23 left.
We need a block or a miss.
The try is 38 yards.
The kick is no good!
Hope is still alive with 2:18 left and no timeouts.

Auburn must go 79 yards.
First down throw away by Stidham.
Second down pass incomplete.
UCF continues to get pressure on Stidham.
Stidham scrambles for two yards and the clock runs.
4th down and here is the game for sure from the 23.
A completion to Hastings.
Another completion to Hastings.
A pass to the end zone to Slayton is incomplete.
1:04 left with Auburn at the UCF 47.
There is a completion out of bounds to the 41.
Stidham runs for the first down to the 34.
First down pass incomplete with 40 seconds left.
A completion to the 21 with 33 seconds left.
Casey Dunn is down on the field.
Austin Golson will snap and we will have a new left tackle.
On the next play Stidham is pressured and floats the ball into the end zone and no one is there except UCF defenders.  A miscommunication as our receiver broke off his route.  Our offense misfires one last time.
Auburn made too, too many mistakes in a game we should have won because we should be better than Central Florida.    How sad.  A bad way to go into the off season. The bottom line is that this Auburn team beat itself.   Oh, well.

Auburn 27  UCF 34

It's over.