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A spirit that is not afraid

Auburn runs over Kent State, 55-16

Auburn's Kam Martin scores the second touchdown of the first half.
Auburn Football homecoming vs Kent State on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019 in Auburn, Ala. 
Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics
Auburn's Kam Martin scores the second touchdown of the first half. Auburn Football homecoming vs Kent State on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019 in Auburn, Ala. Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics

In its first two games of the season No.8 Auburn combined for 378 rushing yards. In comparison, against Kent State on Saturday, the Tigers ran for 464 yards . Auburn won the game 55-16. The Tigers are now 3-0 to start the season.

Leading the Tigers’ run game was JaTarvious Whitlow, who had 17 carries on the night for 135 yards, with two touchdowns. Whitlow’s longest carry of the night was for 39 yards. 

This is the second game this season he has run for over 100 yards, with the first coming against Oregon when he had 24 carries for 110 yards. He fell just short of the mark against Tulane with 96 yards.

Shaun Shivers also crossed the 100 rushing yards mark in the game. He had 12 carries for 102 yards. He averaged 8.5 yards a carry and his longest run was for 27 yards.

Back-up quarterback Joey Gatewood also saw success with his run game. He ran for 102 yards on 12 attempts, with two touchdowns. He also averaged 8.5 yards a carry. 

This the first time since 1983 that Auburn had three players rush for over 100 yards in a single game.

In the first quarter, Auburn got its running game going with 142 rushing yards. The game opened with a 17-play, 6-minute drive by Kent State that resulted in a field goal. Auburn responded on its first possession with an 8-play drive that ended on a 3-yard rush by Whitlow for the touchdown.

In the second quarter, Auburn ran for 63 yards, and in the third quarter the Tigers recorded 117 rushing yards. Of Auburn’s seven touchdowns, six were rushing touchdowns. 

The Tigers’ defense did not allow the Golden Flashes the same success on the ground. Kent State had 92 rushing yards on the night. The quarterback Dustin Crum led the team in rushing yards with 30 yards on 11 carries. Neither of Kent State’s two touchdowns came on the ground.

Auburn will face off against Texas A&M for its SEC opener at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas. Kick off is slated for 2:30 p.m. CST. 


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