While Auburn’s offense came to life in the fourth quarter, Auburn’s defense took its consistent play to a whole different level in the fourth. While Auburn’s offense reeled off 14 points, Auburn’s defense did its part in only allowing two total yards of offense in the fourth quarter.
Through nine games this season, Auburn is one of six FBS teams to allow 24 points or less to opposing teams. Saturday, in the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry, that nine-game streak became a 10-game streak in Auburn’s 21-14 loss.
Auburn’s defense held Georgia to a season low of 251 total yards of offense and kept Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm in check for the most part holding him to a 46% completion rate.
Ultimately, Auburn’s defense could only hold on for so long and Georgia was able to capitalize and score when they needed to. Fromm, even with a low completion rate, still passed for over 100 yards and threw three touchdowns.
Senior defensive lineman Marlon Davidson, making his first start back after missing against Ole Miss with a back injury, understands that a team will make mistakes.
“Yeah, I mean, it’s very tough, man," Davidson said. “You try to play a perfect game, but in college football, you’ll never play a perfect game, no matter what; I don’t care what school you play against. Just knowing that you did all that, knowing that you can’t come in the locker room and enjoy it, it’s just—it’s a hard pill to swallow.”
Auburn’s defense allowed 21 points through the first three quarters and the Tigers were down 21-0 heading into the fourth. Auburn’s defense had allowed 249 total yards of offense through the first three quarters.
Things changed when Auburn headed to the fourth quarter, on both sides of the ball.
A big factor in Auburn’s offense getting more chances in the fourth was that Auburn’s defense forced three consecutive 3-and-outs in the fourth. Auburn’s defense forced a total of nine in the game.
Auburn was not discouraged when down 21 heading into the fourth, according to Derrick Brown.
“We don’t give up,” Brown said. “I don’t care who you are. I don’t care where you came from. We’re breed not to give up here. It doesn’t matter if it was 48-0. We’re going to keep playing until the final sound goes off.”
While Auburn’s comeback attempt became just that and while that may not have been the best game from the defense this season, with three penalties against them including two personal fouls, Auburn’s defense didn’t give up in the fourth quarter and helped get the crowd back into the game.
Jeremiah Dinson’s expectations may have been different for this season than what has unfolded but Auburn still has two more regular season games to play.
“Just finish,” Dinson said. “Everything in life is not going to go well. We had expectations – I know I had expectations for the team and myself, but you learn from these types of things. As a leader, I have to keep my head up and go to work. This is the job, just telling my guys to keep pushing and fighting.”
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