Auburn answered its biggest offensive question in a big way when the Tigers faced Alabama State on Saturday night.
Auburn struggled to run the ball effectively in the season opener against Washington, but were able to find success on the ground in Jordan-Hare Stadium Saturday night. Kam Martin and JaTarvious Whitlow, Auburn’s top two running backs, combined for only 108 rushing yards against the Huskies on 30 carries.
Against Alabama State, Whitlow gained 122 yards on the ground alone, while Martin added 40 more to help push the Tigers to a 63-9 victory.
“I thought that was good, to get back on track running the football,” Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn said.
Whitlow and Martin each averaged 3.5 and 3.6 yards per carry in week one, respectively. In week two, Whitlow averaged 8.7 and Martin averaged 5.7.
Freshman running back Shaun Shivers entered the game in the third quarter proved himself to be another effective runner for the Tigers, carrying the ball 13 times for 117 yards and a touchdown.
“He’s a real physical guy,” Malzahn said about Shivers. “Even though he’s not big in stature he really runs hard and low to the ground.”
A somewhat surprising addition to the rushing game against Alabama State was freshman wide receiver Anthony Schwartz, who carried the ball three times for 50 yards and a touchdown. Schwartz was equally as effective in the receiving game, grabbing three passes for 67 yards and another touchdown.
“He’s just as fast in pads as he is without and I think that’s really big,” Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn said about Schwartz, who holds the world youth record in the 100m in track. “He’s got big play ability.”
A few different freshmen were able to get playing time after Auburn got a commanding lead, with most of the starters being pulled at halftime.
“We got a chance to play some young guys which was much needed,” Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn said. “A lot of those guys are going to be playing this season.”
Thirteen different rushers touched the ball for a combined 59 carries, 429 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns. It may have only been against Alabama State, but the Auburn offense accomplished what it wanted to accomplish by getting the ground game going.
Jarrett Stidham only attempted 11 passes throughout the night, completing six for 113 yards and a 57-yard touchdown pass to Schwartz. He added two carries for eight yards, with one six-yard run into the end zone for a rushing touchdown.
Auburn’s defense picked up right where it left off, only giving up 205 total yards to Alabama State and limiting the Hornets to 47 rushing yards.
The Tigers had four sacks, five quarterback hurries, nine tackles for loss, three interceptions, and a fumble recovery. Daniel Thomas grabbed two picks, one of which he returned 29 yards for a touchdown.
The only touchdown that Auburn allowed was set up by a fumbled punt return on Auburn’s own 16-yard line, while the Hornets’ other two points came on a safety.
The defense was able to help out with scoring, blocking a punt that was returned for a touchdown to go along with Thomas’ interception return.
The only real concern that came up for Auburn was ball control. The Tigers fumbled the ball five different times, four of which were lost.
“The only negative of the game really from my standpoint was the four turnovers,” Malzahn said. “But, three of those were from freshman.”
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