Auburn linebacker Deshaun Davis, exhausted yet exhilarated, leaned back in his chair, welcoming the plethora of cameras and recorders. When asked to recall the last play of the game that had just been played, he had to collect his thoughts for a moment.
“That was about the most intense moment that I’ve ever had in my life," Davis said as he began to chuckle.
Davis' good mood was warranted, because for once, he didn't have to face the media and explain why his unit's performance was in vain. Instead, he could reminisce about his team's instant-classic 18-13 victory over No. 18 LSU.
The last play was so chaotic, only a game involving Les Miles' infamous clock management and Auburn with one second on the clock could produce it. LSU's last-second touchdown sent the purple and gold corner of Jordan-Hare Stadium into mass hysteria after what they thought was a miraculous game-winner, but it was the Auburn defense that came away victorious at long last.
Davis was in the midst of all the chaos, unsure what had just transpired but confident that his team would get the call it desperately needed.
"I was kind of over the ball when they snapped it; I kind of thought the clock was at zero," Davis said. "We’ve just got to defend the play. Just to see him catch the ball and the referee say touchdown, a lot of thoughts were going through my head at the moment, but I’m glad they reviewed it."
In the first few weeks of the season, Auburn's strong defensive performances were undercut by an incoherent offense, leading to a 1-2 start. While the Tigers didn't score a touchdown on offense against LSU, they did gain 388 yards, 18 first downs and had rhythm for the majority of the night, consistently moving into scoring territory.
While Auburn's offense gained more momentum than it had in either of its first two Power Five games this year, the defense continued its resurgence. LSU gained just 338 yards and 14 first downs, went 4-for-13 on third down, and didn't score a touchdown after the first quarter.
The Tigers are glad that, for the first time this season, both sides of the ball showed up when it counted, not just the defense.
“Really, as a defensive player, I’m just happy for the offense to get their drives moving and do what they do," said senior defensive tackle Montravius Adams. "People still know us as the Auburn offense, and now they can know it’s the Auburn offense and defense.”
Sophomore linebacker Darrell Williams echoed Adams' sentiments.
"With our offense coming along a little more, it really helps," Williams said. "They’re doing a good job at fighting hard and working hard in practice to just get better everyday. We see that and appreciate that, so we’re just going to be in this together and hold our own while they hold theirs.”
Kicker Daniel Carlson tied a school record with six field goals, accounting for all of Auburn's points. Carlson and the defense carried the Tigers to their first win without an offensive touchdown since 2008, when Auburn beat Mississippi State 3-2.
Davis joked that Carlson was so automatic on three-point tries, he's "like Steph Curry."
“This win right here, it can turn your whole season," Davis said. "It was a big win, the first SEC win we’ve had at home in a long time.”
A long time would be one way to put it. Auburn hadn't won an SEC home game since beating South Carolina on October 25, 2014. The Tigers would lose a school-record six consecutive SEC home games. Now, exactly 700 days after the win over the Gamecocks, the Tigers are back in the win column thanks to an all-around team performance.
"We've been going through some down times, but we've all stayed together, stuck together, worked out, had energy, no fighting, no internal things going on, so I knew, eventually, it was going to happen," said defensive end Carl Lawson. "It was just special when it did, to just get a win for this team, and to get a win for Auburn."
Lawson had two sacks against the Bayou Bengals, including a crucial one on LSU's final drive that head coach Gus Malzahn called "the play of the game" before exiting the media room to partake in some victorious Waffle House.
"To get a win at home, it's just a great feeling," Lawson said. "A beautiful moment."
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
