After securing the victory over Baylor in Waco last week, Auburn has its sights set on a home matchup with the Ball State Cardinals.
The Tigers found much of their success on the ground against Baylor, totaling 307 rushing yards. After establishing success in the run game, Auburn could attempt to stretch the ball downfield more against the Cardinals and utilize its talented receiver room, headlined by Cam Coleman and Eric Singleton Jr.
Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze hinted at that possibility ahead of the game with Ball State.
“At some point, you’re going to have a box that you don’t like, and you’re going to have to throw the football to win football games,” Freeze said. “Those days are coming, and the good thing is that I think we have the ability and people that can do that. It would be good to get Jackson (Arnold) some of those reps sooner than later.”
Arnold, the transfer quarterback from Oklahoma, went 11-of-17 for 108 yards through the air in last week’s win. Arnold led the team in rushing with 16 carries for 137 yards and two touchdowns. Damari Alston finished the game with 84 rushing yards and a touchdown, while Jeremiah Cobb added 74 yards and a touchdown of his own.
With only 11 completions, the receiving numbers didn’t jump off the stat sheet, but Malcolm Simmons and Cam Coleman each had receptions of more than 20 yards. Eric Singleton Jr. led the team with three catches, and Horatio Fields made timely plays to keep drives alive.
Ball State had a disappointing start to its season, getting shut out by Purdue 31-0. The Cardinals totaled 203 yards – 87 through the air and 116 on the ground. Ball State controlled the time of possession against the Boilermakers but ultimately had nothing to show for it on the scoreboard. Ball State quarterback Kiael Kelly went 10-of-16 passing and led the team in rushing with 63 yards. It will be a different stylistic matchup for the Auburn defense, facing a more mobile quarterback after coming off a game where Sawyer Robertson attempted 48 passes for Baylor.
The Tigers will be without defensive back Champ Anthony, who broke his thumb in the season opener. Freshman Eric Winters is expected to take on a larger role, among others, in Anthony’s absence.
That’s not the only injury news for Auburn. The Tigers will be without running back Damari Alston, who suffered a shoulder injury in Week 1.
This will be the fourth all-time meeting between the Tigers and Cardinals, with Auburn leading the series 3-0. The most recent game was in 2009.
“The goal is to be 1-0 this week,” Freeze said. “We get to come to the 16th straight sellout at Jordan-Hare. Our fans were incredible in Waco, along with our band and cheerleaders, but it’s nothing like playing at home. We’ve got to have an edge about us when we get to play here.”
The Tigers will look to live by that motto and go 1-0 this week when they face the Cardinals on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. CST. The Week 2 matchup will be televised on ESPNU.
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