The Tigers came into today's matchup 6-3 in games kicking off before noon under Gene Chizik. At the half, the Tigers are tied 17 all with the Ole Miss Rebels.
The Tigers scored 17 points in the second quarter, while only scoring 27 points total in the last three SEC games.
Auburn's first drive stalled after a short completion to tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen, as Auburn was able to string together just one first down with a 16-yard strike to Emory Blake.
Auburn's first defensive series was squandered by trickery, as Ole Miss receiver Randall Mackey took the running back pitch and threw it back to quarterback Bo Wallace for the touchdown, putting Ole Miss up 7-0.
The Tigers came back on offense, but starting center Tunde Fariyike, replacing Reese Dismukes because of injury, snapped the ball high over Clint Moseley's head. Ole Miss recovered in the end zone for a touchdown to put the Tigers down 14-0 with five and half minutes remaining in the first quarter.
Driving to the six-yard line before the end of the first quarter, Auburn dominated time of possession with 11 minutes and 30 seconds, compared to Ole Miss's three minutes and 30 seconds.
At the end of the first quarter, Moseley and Wallace were perfect through the air, as Moseley was 5-5 and Wallace 3-3.
Tre Mason scored Auburn's first touchdown of the day, with a two-yard run.
Auburn forced a fourth and one on the ensuing drive, stuffing Mackey at the Ole Miss 46-yard line. The Auburn offense stalled itself however, punting the ball after a delay of game penalty on fourth down.
After an Ole Miss three and out, Auburn took advantage of a short field position, as Moseley play actioned to Mason and completed a 42-yard pass to Sammie Coates. Mason took the next play six yards to score his second touchdown of the day and even the score 14 all.
Kicker Cody Parkey took advantage of Ole Miss' kicking formation, kicking and recoving an onside kick.
Parkey nailed a 42-yard field goal with a minute remaining in the first half to nudge Auburn ahead 17-14, but Ole Miss methodically drove down field to the Auburn 18-yard line, and kicker Bryson Rose evened the score 17 all with a 28-yard field goal to end the first half.
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