In a rain-delayed game in which Auburn and West Virginia combined for more than 900 yards of offense, it was the Auburn defense that came up big in Auburn's 41-30 win Saturday.
The start of the game was delayed by an hour and three minutes because of a lightning storm that made visibility difficult. Despite warnings to leave the stadium because of severe weather, some 15,000 rowdy students decided to stay and cheer.
"I wish I had 87,000 game balls because our fans were a huge reason we won that game, and I want them to know that," head coach Gene Chizik said. "We had thousands of students stay here through that whole thing. Everybody came early, and nobody left because of the weather, and I promise you that was one of the huge reasons we won the game."
West Virginia got off to a quick start, silencing the Auburn faithful, as senior quarterback Jarrett Brown connected with Brad Starks for 58 yards to set up a 1 yard touchdown run.
On the next Mountaineer possession, Noel Devine broke through the middle of the Auburn line and ran 71 yards untouched to the end zone giving the Mountaineers a 14-0 lead with 10:19 left in the first quarter.
Momentum changed as Neiko Thorpe intercepted Brown's pass at the Auburn 10-yard line. Auburn fought back while Todd threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Darvin Adams. Todd and Adams connected two more times for touchdowns later in the game as Auburn went into the half trailing 21-20.
West Virginia's drive of the second half was similar to its first two of the game as Devine rushed for 12 yards for a Mountaineer touchdown with 8:51 left in the game.
Tyler Bitancurt missed the extra point making it a one-possession game.
The Tigers responded quickly on their next drive when Mario Fannin took a screen pass for the game-tying touchdown.
The Tigers' running game was dominant in their first two games of the season, but was held to 100 yards causing the passing game to have a big night.
Todd completed 16 of 31 passes for 284 yards, four touchdowns and one interception.
"We had some really good games running the ball of our last two games, and West Virginia did a lot to take care of that," Todd said. "Because of their rushing pressure, we were able to put the ball in the air and put up some points."
Turnovers hurt the Mountaineers throughout the game as the Auburn defense had a total of five interceptions, the most since 2004 against the University of Tennessee.
"The turnovers were the difference in the game," Chizik said. "There is no question about it."
The Auburn defense gave up a total of 509 yards, but the four interceptions thrown by Brown and Geno Smith in the final period turned the game around for Auburn.
With 3:41 left in the fourth quarter, junior linebacker Craig Stevens intercepted a screen pass and returned it 16 yards for a touchdown to put the game away.
"We had a feeling they were going to run the screen sometime during that series, so I ended up going on a blitz that play," Stevens said. "He lobbed it just enough for me to tip it, and I got it in my hands. Once I got in my hands I had to get in the end zone."
The Tigers (3-0) will play host to Ball State University this Saturday.
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