Auburn Tigers beat the Furman University Paladins, 63-31, for the Homecoming football game Saturday.
"It was great to go out there and get a win," said Auburn head coach Gene Chizik.
Auburn began the game with a 35-yard return to the Auburn 49-yard line by junior running back Mario Fannin.
Auburn capitalized on its first drive on a 6-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Chris Todd to sophomore wide receiver Darvin Adams.
Chizik said Todd was efficient in what he did Saturday.
"It was good to see him come out and fire on all cylinders," Chizik said.
Furman was able to respond on its ensuing drive with a 23-yard field goal by senior kicker Matthew Cesari.
Senior running back Ben Tate found the end zone in the first quarter on a 9-yard rush to make the score 14-3.
Fannin scored on a 24-yard reception from Todd with 1:10 left in the first quarter to extend Auburn's lead to 21-3.
Senior defensive end Antonio Coleman recorded a sack at the end of the first quarter, bringing his career sacks total to 21 which tied him with defensive line coach Tracy Rocker on the all-time career sacks list at Auburn.
Adams found the endzone for the second time on a 23-yard reception from Todd in the second quarter, bringing the score to 28-3.
Adams scored his third touchdown of the day with 7:53 left in the second quarter on a 41-yard pass from Todd.
Todd had an almost perfect first half passing, connecting on his first 14 passes before recording an incompletion, completing 17 for 18 for 256 yards and four touchdowns.
"Chris did a really nice job; it's hard to complete that many in a row," Chizik said.
The Tigers scored another touchdown in the second quarter on a 5-yard run by Tate.
Auburn took a 42-3 lead into the half.
The Paladins took advantage of an Auburn muffed punt and scored a touchdown on a 6-yard rush by freshman running back Jerry Williams.
Furman again took advantage of an Auburn fumble as sophomore fullback Tersoo Uhaa rushed 19 yards for a touchdown, cutting the Tigers' lead to 42-17.
Sophomore running back Eric Smith joined in on the Auburn scoring with a 2-yard touchdown rush in the third quarter to take the lead to 49-17.
Auburn continued to put the ball in the endzone, as freshman wide receiver Anthony Gulley scored on a 13-yard rush.
Furman didn't give up and scored a touchdown on a 1-yard rush by Williams and brought the score to 56-24.
Gulley had one more touchdown in him Saturday, scoring the final Tiger touchdown on a 50-yard rush.
Furman put another score on the board with 4:42 left in regulation on a 17-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Chris Forcier to senior split end R.J. Webb to bring the game to the final score of 63-31.
Auburn travels to Athens, Ga., next week for The Deep South's Oldest Rivalry game against the University of Georgia.
Chizik said the team is excited about going to Georgia to play the Bulldogs.
"The Auburn-Georgia game is the oldest rivalry in the South and is just as good as it gets," Chizik said.
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