Heading into Saturday morning's showdown with Mississippi State, Auburn carried not only the burden of playing its first road game of the season, but also the weight of a history of sluggish morning performances. The program's recent history suggested the 11 a.m. kickoff would lead to a sluggish, sleepy performance by the Tigers.
That thought process proved 50 percent correct. Auburn was sluggish for 30 minutes of the contest. Fortunately for Gus Malzahn, those 30 minutes came after his team had built a 35-0 lead and sent Bulldog supporters to the exits in droves.
Auburn was dominant in all phases of this game. How does their report card look?
Coaching: A
- Malzahn's decision to hand the keys to his offense to Rhett Lashlee is continuing to pay off. The offense faced early adversity after Sean White's interception, but the unit rebounded with three consecutive touchdown drives. The offense gained 335 yards and 17 first downs in the first half alone. This unit was well-prepared.
- With a road game now under the defense's belt, there's no doubt that Kevin Steele's unit is legitimate. Auburn's defense was suffocating in the first half, holding Mississippi State to 5 first downs, 91 yards and, most importantly, zero points. At the midway point of the season, this defense has only allowed 10 touchdowns.
- The only reason this isn't an A+ is the conservative second-half approach. The outcome was never in doubt, but Auburn was outscored 14-3 after halftime.
Quarterback: A
- White's early interception wasn't his fault, but it's still impressive how he was able to bounce back and lead the Tigers to a huge first half. He showed great touch on some of his deep passes, though he did miss a couple of deep shots where the receivers had sprung open. He threw for 185 yards before halftime and showed great poise, especially considering how he performed against Mississippi State last season.
Running Back: A
- Stepping in for an injured Kerryon Johnson, Kamryn Pettway had a huge day. He ran for 169 yards and 3 scores on 39 carries, the fourth-most in school history. The Bulldogs had no answer for him in the first half.
- Pettway's third-quarter fumble was his lone mistake on the day and the only reason this isn't an A+.
- Kam Martin's 42-yard catch in the second quarter was a big play that got the Tigers out of the shadow of their own end zone.
Wide Receiver: A-
- Tony Stevens' early drop led to an interception, but from then on, the Tigers' wide receivers stepped up. Stevens hauled in a 37-yard pass on Auburn's second drive, while freshman Ryan Davis earned the first touchdown catch of his career. This unit also did a good job blocking on running plays, allowing Auburn to spring some wide plays, including a 29-yard run by Pettway just before halftime.
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