Another strong defensive performance helped Auburn cruise past the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks on Saturday in a lopsided 48-14 victory.
But it doesn’t just end there.
The Tigers, for the first time this season, did not commit a penalty in any phase of the game, stamping this as one of Auburn’s most complete performances this season.
“Proud of our staff and kids. I thought it was one of our better performances in my time here. Zero penalties,” Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze said.
“I can't remember ever being a part, truthfully, of having a team that had zero penalties. So, I like it that way. Thankful that we executed at that level today, and that we had none, but that's certainly not normal,” he added.
Auburn’s defense came out ablaze to start off the first half, holding the Warhawks to just 70 yards of total offense in the first two quarters and forcing a punt on every Warhawk offensive drive in the half – despite the last drive before the half ended in which time ran out.
“We’ve just – we’ve got a pact on defense,” cornerback Kayin Lee said. “We’re selfless, we’re prepared, and we embrace everything that comes our way. That’s our biggest thing, anything that goes bad or good, we’re good. We have the mindset – we want everything to come our way.”
After going scoreless in the first half, the Warhawks opening drive, offensively, in the second half saw a pair of chunk plays – pickups of 37 and 19 yards on back-to back- plays – move them to the Auburn five-yard line, inviting their first touchdown of the day. The Warhawks opening drive of the half went for 76 yards on eight plays – more than they amassed on six drives in the first half.
After that, the Tigers’ defense locked back in and allowed just six more yards in the third quarter. With under one minute left in the fourth quarter, Auburn held the Warhawk offense to minus seven yards in the quarter. However, after General Booty connected with Jonathan Bibbs for a 65-yard touchdown pass with under 20 seconds left to play, that stat did not hold true.
“You know, in my mind, they held them under 200 (yards),” Freeze said on the defense. “I know the last play there was a lot, but I think our defense – besides the one drive in the third quarter – was really, really solid.”
Auburn held the Sun Belt’s leading rusher Ahmad Hardy to 60 yards on 15 carries and held starting quarterback Aiden Armenta to just 89 yards on 15 attempts. Auburn’s leading tacklers, Lee, Kaleb Harris and Jerrin Thompson, all reside in the secondary – a group that has been a bright spot of the defense after struggling early on.
Lee said he has taken on a leadership role in a group full of young talent.
“I feel like I've taken over the group, even though I'm still a young guy, I feel like it's just been a lot on me, Lee said. “Just leading them. Making sure they know what they’ve got going on and making sure I know what I’ve got going on and just becoming one. Because I know when we're doing our job, then Dirk (Dj Durkin) can call anything in the playbook.”
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Logan Fowler is a Senior from Sumiton, Alabama and is majoring in journalism. He joined the Plainsman in Spring 2024.
You can follow him on X (Twitter) at @loganffowler
