9.1.24 football articles

[aubiefifty 18,301]

 

[aubiefifty 18,301]

si.com

Newcomers Explode, Lead Auburn Tigers to Win Over Alabama A&M

Daniel Locke

~3 minutes

A first half that saw no shortage of points put on the board by the Auburn Tigers allowed them to cruise to victory in their season opener.

Auburn earned a 73-3 win over the Alabama A&M Bulldogs at Jordan-Hare Stadium tonight. Both sides agreed to shorten the third and fourth quarters to 10 minutes after Auburn held a 52-3 lead at halftime.

It did not take long for the Tigers to get going as a 34-yard touchdown run from Jarquez Hunter capped off Auburn’s four-play opening drive that covered 70 yards.

Auburn would go on to score touchdowns on its next two possessions as well, including a 44-yard pass from Payton Thorne to Cam Coleman for the first touchdown of the freshman stand-out’s college career.

First collegiate score for @CamColeman12 📈 pic.twitter.com/pG7lBLinPM

— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) August 31, 2024

Thorne’s play in the first half was a contributing factor to Auburn’s success as he went 13-of-21 for 322 yards and four touchdowns. He had more yards in the first quarter, 158, than he had in nine games last season. 

Additionally, Thorne picked up 49 yards and a touchdown on the ground from four attempts. Senior running back Jarquez Hunter also had a successful start to the game, breaking away for a 34-yard touchdown run on Auburn’s opening drive.

The Tigers also got off to a fast start on the defensive side of the ball, forcing five three-and-outs during the first half. 

Auburn kept its foot on the gas to begin the shortened second half. Malcolm Simmons recovered a blocked punt in the endzone and caught a 57-yard pass from Hank Brown to help extend Auburn’s lead to 66-3.

Special teams, special plays, special players@micah_r_d 🤝 @MalcolmSimmons0 https://t.co/NCqV3GOsvi pic.twitter.com/xY1VdmztfI

— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) September 1, 2024

The Tigers’ revamped wide receiver unit had the chance to show what it is capable of as their four leaders in receiving yards were each newcomers.

Simmons led the way with 91 yards and one touchdown off three catches, KeAndre Lambert-Smith accounted for 80 yards and two touchdowns off three catches, Perry Thompson had 82 yards and one touchdown off two catches and Cam Coleman caught two passes for 62 yards and one touchdown.

Auburn returns to action next week to host Cal at 2:30 p.m. CT on ESPN2.

[aubiefifty 18,301]

auburnwire.usatoday.com

Instant analysis: Revamped passing game shines in Auburn's season-opening win over Alabama A&M

Taylor Jones

~3 minutes

Auburn football fans entered the 2024 season hoping to see new life within the passing game.

Through one game, it is safe to say that quarterback Payton Thorne and the Tigers’ receivers lived up to fans’ expectations.

Thorne and backup quarterback Hank Brown combined to complete 18-of-28 passes for 451 yards and six touchdowns in Auburn’s 73-3 victory over Alabama A&M. The duo combined to connect with 10 different receivers.

After Jarquez Hunter’s 34-yard touchdown run with 14:13 in the 1st quarter, Auburn went on to record four receiving touchdowns over its next six drives. On the Tigers’ ensuing possession, Thorne connected with Penn State transfer KeAndre Lambert-Smith on a 67-yard pass to push Auburn ahead, 14-0 with 12:47 remaining in the opening quarter. Thorne and Lambert-Smith hooked up again later in the quarter on a 4-yard touchdown pass. In-between Thorne and Lambert-Smith’s connections, freshman Cam Coleman hauled in his first collegiate pass for a 44-yard touchdown to push the Tigers ahead, 21-0.

Thorne’s final passing score of the night came with 10:10 remaining in the first half when he found another true freshman, Perry Thompson, for a 70-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 38-0. Thorne passed the torch to Brown after calling his own number for a four-yard rush to give Auburn the 45-3 lead with 3:22 in the 2nd quarter.

Brown picked up where Thorne left off by throwing two touchdown passes of over 35 yards. He found freshman Malcolm Simmons for a 57 yard score and later connected with Cal transfer Sam Jackson V from 37 yards out. Brown’s home debut concluded after passing for 96 yards and two scores.

Holden Geriner finished the game by leading Auburn’s final drive that lasted five plays, 36 yards. However, it resulted in a lost fumble.

Three Auburn receivers recorded over 80 yards of receptions: Malcolm Simmons (91 yards), Perry Thompson (82), and KeAndre Lambert-Smith (80). Cam Coleman logged 62 yards on two catches with a touchdown in his highly-anticipated debut.

Auburn football kicks off the 2024 season with a 1-0 record. Next week, the Tigers will look to remain unbeaten by hosting Cal at Jordan-Hare Stadium for a 2:30 p.m. CT kickoff.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on  X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__

[aubiefifty 18,301]

247sports.com

Instant Impressions Auburn 73 Alabama AM 3

Nathan King

10–13 minutes

The Tigers breeze their way through Saturday night's season opener against the in-state FCS

It didn't take long for Auburn to get some fireworks from its highly anticipated offensive upgrades.

Auburn scored three touchdowns in its first 66 seconds of possession, including bombs to new receivers KeAndre Lambert-Smith and Cam Coleman, and never slowed down, showing off its hopeful passing-game improvements in a 73-3 romp over Alabama A&M.

Here are Auburn Undercover's instant impressions from a game that was essentially over in the first quarter, and gave the Tigers a chance to iron out some wrinkles before a Power Four matchup at home next week. 

AUBURN OFFENSE BLAZES OUT OF THE GATES, STAYS ON FIRE

If you got caught in a long line at the concessions right before kickoff, you may have missed 21 points.

It took Auburn only six plays and 1:06 worth of possession to go up 21-0 early — including back-to-back touchdowns to Lambert-Smith (67 yards) and Coleman (44 yards) on one-play drives. Auburn's opening drive took 47 seconds on three plays, capped by an Alabama A&M facemask penalty, and capped by Jarquez Hunter

Auburn scored 28 points in the first quarter, and its 52 points in the first half marked the most in a half since the Tigers led 56-7 over Purdue at halftime of the 2018 Music City Bowl.

Auburn's 436 yards were the most in a first half since the 2016 win over Arkansas.

The Tigers would have likely had a couple additional possessions over the course of the second half to add to the scoreboard, but at the start of the third quarter, the official announced that both teams had agreed to play 10-minute quarters the rest of the way. The third-team offense also committed two turnovers in the fourth quarter, both fumbles by running back Justin Jones and receiver Bryce Cain.

NEW RECEIVERS SHINE

Thorne glanced confidently downfield almost every time he dropped back — for very good reason.

The sixth-year senior QB threw for over 300 yards in the first half alone and had four completions of at least 40 yards. He exceeded his longest pass from last year (53 yards) twice. 

The game plan to get Auburn's new receivers involved was clear from the first snap, as freshman Malcolm Simmons took a quick throw 12 yards. 

Lambert-Smith simply got behind the defense for his 67-yard score, while Coleman took advantage of a one-on-one matchup on the outside, burning the cornerback with a swift double move. Freshman Perry Thompson later caught a deep shot from Thorne for a 70-yard touchdown.

Penn State transfer KeAndre Lambert-Smith had three catches for 80 yards, and added a second touchdown late in the second quarter off a rub-route from Coleman in the red zone. In his highly anticipated Auburn debut, Coleman had two catches for 62 yards, while Thompson had 82 yards on two receptions. Caleb Burton III added 49 yards. 

Simmons got in on the fun with a 67-yard touchdown in the third quarter from backup quarterback Hank Brown, who later threw a 37-yard touchdown in the back of the end zone to Sam Jackson V. 

Auburn's wide receivers caught six touchdowns Saturday — after that group accounted for seven touchdowns all of last season.

It wasn't a perfect day, of course. Freeze was livid with Thorne after he sailed a third-down pass to an open Lambert-Smith, leading to Auburn's first punt of the day. And tight end Rivaldo Fairweather, the team's top returning pass-catcher from last season, dropped two passes. 

Thorne's day was done by the first drive of the second half, as the sixth-year senior finished 13-of-21 for 322 yards and four touchdowns. He became the first Auburn quarterback to throw at least four touchdown passes in a game since Jarrett Stidham threw five against Purdue in 2018. He also added a rushing touchdown late in the second quarter, giving him five total touchdowns for only the second game of his career (Michigan State vs. Youngstown State in 2021).

DEFENSE LIVES IN THE BACKFIELD

As expected, Auburn rotated a lot of faces along the defensive front. And it was obviously an overwhelming task for Alabama A&M to block them on a consistent basis.

The Tigers totaled 10 tackles for loss on the day and held Alabama A&M to only 40 rushing yards. Freshman defensive tackle Malik Blocton, who played plenty with the starting group, had two TFLs, as did pass-rusher Jalen McLeod and linebacker Dorian Mausi Jr. 

Alabama A&M made an earlier quarterback change after a few drives, pulling Cornelius Brown IV for Xavier Lankford. Brown came back into the game in the third quarter. 

The shutout ended after Auburn was hit with two different 15-yard penalties — roughing the passer on defensive tackle Trill Carter and facemask on cornerback Jay Crawford — on an Alabama A&M drive midway through the second quarter, ultimately resulting in a 43-yard field goal.

The Bulldogs' best play came when Alabama A&M quarterback Cornelius Brown IV unloaded a deep shot that redshirt freshman cornerback JC Hart appeared in perfect position to intercept, but Hart couldn't come down with it after leaping up, and the tipped pass fell into Hambrick's arms for a 56-yard catch. Auburn got a stop in a goal-to-go setting, though, and the Bulldogs missed a 29-yard field goal.

Auburn's young defenders bowed up again in the third quarter, forcing a field goal after Alabama A&M had first-and-goal at the 2 following a fourth-down conversion. The Bulldogs were pushed back, accepted a delay of game on fourth down, then missed a 30-yard field goal. 

SPECIAL TEAMS MAKES A MARK 

The Tigers' scoring onslaught was helped by a couple standout plays in the third area of the game.

Keionte Scott appeared to take a punt 60 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the second quarter, but it was ruled he stepped out at the 26-yard line. The Tigers only added a field goal, though. 

Early in the third quarter, tight end Micah Riley blocked Alabama A&M's punt — and after the ball hung in the air for a good few seconds, Simmons found it in the end zone for a score.

Auburn Undercover will update this story. Check back for additional information.

Live updates: Auburn 73, Alabama A&M 3 (final)

Auburn football is finally here

Football is back at Auburn, as Year 2 of the Hugh Freeze era is set to begin.

The Tigers take on Alabama A&M to open the 2024 campaign, with Auburn looking for crisp execution in a game that should be won comfortably. Star freshmen like Cam Coleman and Amaris Williams will make their Auburn debuts, while the staff will obviously be hoping for a strong showing from a new-look receiving corps and returning quarterback Payton Thorne. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CST on ESPN+.

Can't be glued to the TV? Follow along here for live updates, injuries and other developments from Auburn's season opener under the lights in Jordan-Hare Stadium. Miss any updates before the game? Check out our Pregame Notebook.

FOURTH QUARTER

1:54 4Q: Freshman receiver Bryce Cain gets in on the fun with his first catch of the game. Cain then fumbles and turns the ball over.

6:35 4Q: Justin Jones fumbles his first carry of the night.

6:53 4Q: Auburn gets another stop, and Hank Brown looks to be coming in the game at quarterback. 

9:09 4Q: Brown throws a 37-yard TOUCHDOWN in the back of the end zone to Sam Jackson V (Auburn 73, Alabama A&M 3).

THIRD QUARTER

0:39 3Q: Blocton gets another sack, and the Bulldogs will punt again. Auburn has forced seven three-and-outs.

1:40 3Q: Malcolm Simmons shakes the defender with a start-stop and scores a 67-yard TOUCHDOWN (Auburn 66, Alabama A&M 3).

3:12 3Q: Auburn gets another stop in a goal-to-go setting, and the Bulldogs miss another field goal.

5:29 3Q: The Bulldogs pick up 28 yards on fourth down and have first-and-goal at the 2.

5:52 3Q: Auburn gets a stop on third down just outside the 30-yard line, and the Bulldogs will go for it.

8:25 3Q: Auburn blocks the punt, and Malcolm Simmons scores a TOUCHDOWN (Auburn 59, Alabama A&M 3).

9:38 3Q: Both teams have agreed to play 10-minute quarters in the second half.

SECOND QUARTER

0:52 2Q: Damari Alston carries for a short TOUCHDOWN (Auburn 52, Alabama A&M 3).

1:41 2Q: Thorne picks up 31 yards with his legs into the red zone.

2:05 2Q: Alabama A&M quickly goes three-and-out.

3:22 2Q: Thorne keeps it himself for a TOUCHDOWN (Auburn 45, Alabama A&M 3).

4:21 2Q: Thorne to Caleb Burton III for 49 yards, as he's dragged down at the 5-yard line.

6:00 2Q: Auburn's shutout ends with a 43-yard FIELD GOAL (Auburn 38, Alabama A&M 3).

7:19 2Q: Chunk play for the Bulldogs through the air, and they have it down to Auburn's 32-yard line.

10:10 2Q: Perry Thompson gets open behind the defense for a 70-yard TOUCHDOWN (Auburn 38, Alabama A&M 0).

10:44 2Q: Auburn forces a turnover on downs on fourth-and-7 in the red zone.

12:08 2Q: Another 15-yard penalty for Auburn, this time on Jay Crawford for a facemask.

13:33 2Q: Trill Carter is called for roughing the passer, and Alabama A&M is across midfield.

13:48 2Q: Auburn can't pick up a first down, and Towns McGough's 32-yard FIELD GOAL is good (Auburn 31, Alabama A&M 0).

14:44 2Q: Keionte Scott takes a punt back 60 yards for a touchdown, but it's coming back. He stepped out of bounds at about the 26.

FIRST QUARTER

1:06 1Q: Back-to-back-to-back tackles for loss by Robert Woodyard, Keldric Faulk and Malik Blocton, and the Bulldogs go three-and-out once more.

2:00 1Q: Thorne finds a wide-open Lambert-Smith for a TOUCHDOWN (Auburn 28, Alabama A&M 0).

3:33 1Q: Jarquez hunter hurdles a defender for a first down.

4:25 1Q: Kayin Lee gets a nice pass breakup on third down defending a slant, and the Bulldogs will punt.

6:11 1Q: Auburn goes three-and-out, and Hugh Freeze is livid with Thorne. Sailed that pass for Lambert-Smith.

7:10 1Q: Jalen McLeod gets home on third-and-goal, and Auburn forces a field goal after Alabama A&M had first-and-goal at the 1, and the Bulldogs miss it from 29 yards out.

9:49 1Q: JC Hart nearly had an interception, but the tipped ball is caught for a huge gain down to the 1-yard line.

11:39 1Q: Thorne drops one in the bucket for Cam Coleman for a 44-yard TOUCHDOWN (Auburn 21, Alabama A&M).

11:59 1Q: A couple drops for Alabama A&M's pass-catchers, and they go three-and-out again. Keionte Scott returns the punt to the opposing 45-yard line.

12:48 1Q: Payton Thorne uncorks one to KeAndre Lambert-Smith for a 67-yard TOUCHDOWN (Auburn 14, AAMU 0).

13:09 1Q: Auburn's defense stifles the Bulldogs quickly, and it's a three-and-out.

14:13 1Q: Jarquez Hunter's first carry of the season is a 34-yard TOUCHDOWN (Auburn 7, AAMU 0).

14:45 1Q: Thorne to Malcolm Simmons for 12 yards on the first play of the game, then KeAndre Lambert-Smith gets his facemask pulled for another 15 yards.

15:00 1Q: Alabama A&M wins the toss and defers. Auburn football first.

[aubiefifty 18,301]

wsfa.com

Auburn rolls over Alabama A&M in season opener

WSFA 12 News Staff

~3 minutes

AUBURN, Ala. (WSFA)- Auburn started the year off with a bang on the plains Saturday night against the Alabama A&M Bulldogs. The Tigers dominated the game from the opening kickoff on both sides of the ball en route to a 73-3 victory.

On the game’s opening drive, Jarquez Hunter exploded for a 34-yard touchdown to get the Tiger offense rolling. The defense then made quick work of the Bulldog defense, forcing a three-and-out, giving the Auburn offense a chance to showcase their abilities again.

Payton Thorne wasted no time. On the first play of the drive, he went deep to KeAndre Lambert-Smith for a 67-yard touchdown. Thorne did it again when the Tiger offense came out after another quick three-and-out by the A&M defense. This time, Thorne found 5-star recruit Cam Coleman for a 44-yard touchdown, and just over four minutes into the game, the Tigers were up 21-0.

Late in the first quarter, the Thorne, Lamber-Smith connection struck again to give Auburn a commanding 28-point lead.

The Tiger offense added three more touchdowns before the end of the first half and went into the locker room at halftime up 52-3.

The second half was reduced to 10-minute quarters, but that didn’t slow down the Tigers despite the majority of the starters getting the second half off. The Auburn special teams unit decided to get on the board when Micah Riley blocked a punt and scored on the second half’s opening drive.

Tiger backup quarterback Hank Brown showed he could throw touchdown passes too when he was given his first opportunity of the year. Brown connected with Malcolm Simmons for a 57-yard touchdown, and then Sam Jackson V for a 37-yarder next time out to make it an incredible 70-point lead with around nine minutes to go in the game.

At the end of the night, the Tigers left no doubt that they are looking to bounce back from a tough 6-7 season last year. They showcased a smothering defense and a high-powered offense, but the first real test comes next week when they welcome the Cal Golden Bears into Jordan-Hare Stadium for a rematch. Last year, the Tigers went out to the West Coast and beat Cal 14-10.

The kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m., and if you can’t make it to the game, you can catch all the action live on ESPN2.

Not reading this story on the WSFA News App? Get news alerts FASTER and FREE in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store!

Sign up for the WSFA Newsletter and get the latest local news and breaking alerts in your email!

Find a typo or grammatical error? Let us know by CLICKING HERE. (Please include the article’s headline.)

Copyright 2024 WSFA. All rights reserved.

[aubiefifty 18,301]

waaytv.com

Payton Thorne throws 4 TD passes in first half, Auburn routs Alabama A&M 73-3 in opener

JUSTIN FERGUSON (AP)

4–5 minutes

AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Payton Thorne threw for 322 yards and four touchdowns in the first half, and Auburn opened its season with a 73-3 victory over in-state FCS opponent Alabama A&M on Saturday night.

Thorne wasted no time in taking advantage of his new wide receivers, tossing two touchdowns to Penn State transfer KeAndre Lambert-Smith and another one to highly touted freshman Cam Coleman in the first quarter. Fellow freshman receiver Perry Thompson added a 70-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter.

Auburn’s big offensive night started with a 34-yard touchdown run from Jarquez Hunter on the fourth play of the game. Thorne scored his rushing touchdown from 4 yards out in the second quarter, and Damari Alston added a 2-yard score just before halftime.

Malcolm Simmons, another Auburn freshman receiver, scored two touchdowns in the third quarter on a blocked punt and a 55-yard reception. California transfer Sam Jackson V added a 42-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter.

“I wish they were all kind of like that,” Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze said. “They won’t be, but it was good to get a lot of kids involved, a lot of faces. We have a lot of things to clean up, but we’re certainly pleased with a lot of aspects.”

As a team, Auburn threw for 451 yards in the victory. That was the most for the Tigers in a single game since Nick Marshall had 456 passing yards against Alabama in 2014.

“You don’t want to get too caught up in stats, but looking at how we played, connecting on those shots downfield was good,” Thorne said. “And getting in that rhythm is something that we want to carry over week to week.”

Alabama A&M quarterback Cornelious Brown IV threw for 182 yards in the loss. The Bulldogs only converted two of their 16 third-down tries and missed two short field goals.

“What we learned about our team was that we don’t quit,” Alabama A&M head coach Connell Maynor said. “We kept fighting, even though the score was lopsided. We never gave up. They had more bullets than we did and kept leaning on us. We were overmatched from the start.”

THE TAKEAWAY

Alabama A&M: The Bulldogs have been on the wrong side of several lopsided losses to SEC teams over the last several years, and Saturday night was no exception. The positive is that this is their only game against an FBS squad this year — which should help in the quest for their first winning season since 2021.

Auburn: The Tigers added seven newcomers to a wide receiver room that has struggled over the last several years, and they made their impact rather quickly in the season opener. Thorne still had some misfires that he’ll want to clean up, but there was a clear difference in Auburn’s ability to both get open and stretch the field Saturday night.

TAKE TO THE SKIES

In an offensive scheme that relied on a heavy use of run-pass options, Auburn threw the ball against favorable matchups from the Alabama A&M defense more often than usual. The Tigers only ran 46 offensive plays and recorded 18 rushing attempts as a team.

“They were stuffing the box,” Coleman said. “We had to throw the ball. When we threw the ball, we made big plays.”

A HISTORIC WIN

The win was the 800th in program history for Auburn, which became the 13th FBS team to hit that milestone. The 70-point margin of victory was also the Tigers’ largest in a single game since a 77-0 win over Erskine College in 1932.

UP NEXT

Alabama A&M: Hosts Kentucky State on Saturday.

Auburn: Hosts California on Saturday.

 

[aubiefifty 18,301]

al.com

3 takeaways from Auburn's season opening blowout win over Alabama A&M

Updated: Aug. 31, 2024, 10:42 p.m.|Published: Aug. 31, 2024, 9:46 p.m.

4–5 minutes

Hugh Freeze addresses the media following Auburn's season-opening 73-3 win over Alabama A&M

By

Peter Rauterkus | prauterkus@al.com

Auburn started the 2024 season with a blowout win Saturday night, beating Alabama A&M 73-3 to kick off Year 2 of the Hugh Freeze era.

It was clear from the beginning that Auburn had a substantial athleticism advantage over Alabama A&M, so it would be unwise to try and read too much into what Saturday’s result means for the Tigers.

But season openers are also an opportunity to get a feel for how a team wants to play and who some of the key players are.

With that said, here are our three takeaways:

Auburn was unafraid to air it out and for good reason

Payton Thorne had statistically the best game of his Auburn career on Saturday.

He threw for 322 yards and four touchdowns, all while only playing in the first half. It marked the first time since 2018 that an Auburn quarterback threw for four touchdowns in a game.

How did it happen? Auburn’s talented new receivers showed why they garnered so much attention during the offseason.

Malcolm Simmons caught the first pass of the game out of the slot, but Penn State transfer KeAndre Lambert-Smith was the first two bring fans out of their seats.

On the first play of Auburn’s second possession, he and Thorne connected for a 67-yard touchdown on a throw over the middle. Lambert-Smith beat his man with ease, a sight Auburn didn’t often see from its receivers in 2023.

Highly touted freshmen Cam Coleman and Perry Thompson each added long touchdowns of their own, as Auburn repeatedly looked to stretch the field during the first half.

It’s worth noting the competition when talking about the passing numbers, but if nothing else, Auburn showed an increased desire to throw the ball downfield and its playmakers shined as a result.

Only knock on the offense was some late ball security issues. The Tigers lost two fumbles in the fourth quarter, preventing it from making the blowout any worse.

Auburn may have found its starting left tackle

Towards the end of fall camp, questions emerged surrounding what the left side of Auburn’s offensive line would look like.

Redshirt freshman Tyler Johnson got the start at left tackle on Saturday and helped keep Thorne clean throughout the night.

Johnson, who began fall camp with a minor hamstring injury, emerged as a potential starter towards the end of preseason practice.

Freeze said leading up to the game there would likely be a rotation with Johnson, Dillon Wade and Mississippi State transfer Percy Lewis.

Johnson saw most of the action in the first half with Wade starting at left guard. Freeze said that it could take a few games to find a permanent solution to the left side of the offensive line, but Saturday might’ve been a step towards answering that question.

The front seven is deep

Freeze said throughout fall camp that there would be rotation along the defensive line, and that was the case on Saturday.

There still doesn’t seem to be a set first group along the interior defensive line, and given the depth, there may not ever be. With the constant rotation, though, there was never a considerable drop off from group to group.

The defense held Alabama A&M to 38 rushing yards and had 11 tackles for loss.

At linebacker, Eugene Asante was the mainstay of the group, but Austin Keys, Dorian Mausi Jr. and Robert Woodyard Jr. all made an impact in the first half.

The most notable contributions along the front seven, though, came from true freshmen Malik Blocton and Amaris Williams. Both saw playing time in the first half and constantly rotated with the first group. In the third quarter, the pair combined for a sack.

Regardless of opponents, having depth up front will only benefit Auburn this season. With the game out of reach early, it wasn’t a big deal on Saturday, but that will change when it’s time for four quarters of physicality in SEC play.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

[aubiefifty 18,301]

al.com

Auburn freshmen receivers make presence known in debut

Updated: Aug. 31, 2024, 10:19 p.m.|Published: Aug. 31, 2024, 8:51 p.m.

~2 minutes

WR Cam Coleman scores his first touchdown as an Auburn Tiger

Auburn coach Hugh Freeze said going into the season it was high time for his freshmen receivers.

If the season-opener against Alabama A&M was any indication, the sky’s the limit.

Cam Coleman caught a 44-yard touchdown pass from Payton Thorne with 11:39 left in the first quarter - with the Tigers leading 14-0.

Not to be outdone, Perry Thompson, with just more than 10 minutes left in the first half, hauled in a 70-yard touchdown pass to give Auburn a 38-0 lead.

Coleman enrolled early and went through both spring and fall camp, while Thompson didn’t arrive to Auburn until this summer. It didn’t seem to matter either way, both found the end zone on Saturday night.

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

[aubiefifty 18,301]

247sports.com

VIDEO Freeze talks impressive win over Alabama AM in season opener

Jason Caldwell

6–7 minutes

It didn't take long for Auburn to get some fireworks from its highly anticipated offensive upgrades.

Auburn scored three touchdowns in its first 66 seconds of possession, including bombs to new receivers KeAndre Lambert-Smith and Cam Coleman, and never slowed down, showing off its hopeful passing-game improvements in a 73-3 romp over Alabama A&M.

Here are Auburn Undercover's instant impressions from a game that was essentially over in the first quarter, and gave the Tigers a chance to iron out some wrinkles before a Power Four matchup at home next week. 

AUBURN OFFENSE BLAZES OUT OF THE GATES, STAYS ON FIRE

If you got caught in a long line at the concessions right before kickoff, you may have missed 21 points.

It took Auburn only six plays and 1:06 worth of possession to go up 21-0 early — including back-to-back touchdowns to Lambert-Smith (67 yards) and Coleman (44 yards) on one-play drives. Auburn's opening drive took 47 seconds on three plays, capped by an Alabama A&M facemask penalty, and capped by Jarquez Hunter

Auburn scored 28 points in the first quarter, and its 52 points in the first half marked the most in a half since the Tigers led 56-7 over Purdue at halftime of the 2018 Music City Bowl.

Auburn's 436 yards were the most in a first half since the 2016 win over Arkansas.

The Tigers would have likely had a couple additional possessions over the course of the second half to add to the scoreboard, but at the start of the third quarter, the official announced that both teams had agreed to play 10-minute quarters the rest of the way. The third-team offense also committed two turnovers in the fourth quarter, both fumbles by running back Justin Jones and receiver Bryce Cain.

NEW RECEIVERS SHINE

Thorne glanced confidently downfield almost every time he dropped back — for very good reason.

The sixth-year senior QB threw for over 300 yards in the first half alone and had four completions of at least 40 yards. He exceeded his longest pass from last year (53 yards) twice. 

The game plan to get Auburn's new receivers involved was clear from the first snap, as freshman Malcolm Simmons took a quick throw 12 yards. 

Lambert-Smith simply got behind the defense for his 67-yard score, while Coleman took advantage of a one-on-one matchup on the outside, burning the cornerback with a swift double move. Freshman Perry Thompson later caught a deep shot from Thorne for a 70-yard touchdown.

Penn State transfer KeAndre Lambert-Smith had three catches for 80 yards, and added a second touchdown late in the second quarter off a rub-route from Coleman in the red zone. In his highly anticipated Auburn debut, Coleman had two catches for 62 yards, while Thompson had 82 yards on two receptions. Caleb Burton III added 49 yards. 

Simmons got in on the fun with a 67-yard touchdown in the third quarter from backup quarterback Hank Brown, who later threw a 37-yard touchdown in the back of the end zone to Sam Jackson V. 

Auburn's wide receivers caught six touchdowns Saturday — after that group accounted for seven touchdowns all of last season.

It wasn't a perfect day, of course. Freeze was livid with Thorne after he sailed a third-down pass to an open Lambert-Smith, leading to Auburn's first punt of the day. And tight end Rivaldo Fairweather, the team's top returning pass-catcher from last season, dropped two passes. 

Thorne's day was done by the first drive of the second half, as the sixth-year senior finished 13-of-21 for 322 yards and four touchdowns. He became the first Auburn quarterback to throw at least four touchdown passes in a game since Jarrett Stidham threw five against Purdue in 2018. He also added a rushing touchdown late in the second quarter, giving him five total touchdowns for only the second game of his career (Michigan State vs. Youngstown State in 2021).

DEFENSE LIVES IN THE BACKFIELD

As expected, Auburn rotated a lot of faces along the defensive front. And it was obviously an overwhelming task for Alabama A&M to block them on a consistent basis.

The Tigers totaled 10 tackles for loss on the day and held Alabama A&M to only 40 rushing yards. Freshman defensive tackle Malik Blocton, who played plenty with the starting group, had two TFLs, as did pass-rusher Jalen McLeod and linebacker Dorian Mausi Jr. 

Alabama A&M made an earlier quarterback change after a few drives, pulling Cornelius Brown IV for Xavier Lankford. Brown came back into the game in the third quarter. 

The shutout ended after Auburn was hit with two different 15-yard penalties — roughing the passer on defensive tackle Trill Carter and facemask on cornerback Jay Crawford — on an Alabama A&M drive midway through the second quarter, ultimately resulting in a 43-yard field goal.

The Bulldogs' best play came when Alabama A&M quarterback Cornelius Brown IV unloaded a deep shot that redshirt freshman cornerback JC Hart appeared in perfect position to intercept, but Hart couldn't come down with it after leaping up, and the tipped pass fell into Hambrick's arms for a 56-yard catch. Auburn got a stop in a goal-to-go setting, though, and the Bulldogs missed a 29-yard field goal.

Auburn's young defenders bowed up again in the third quarter, forcing a field goal after Alabama A&M had first-and-goal at the 2 following a fourth-down conversion. The Bulldogs were pushed back, accepted a delay of game on fourth down, then missed a 30-yard field goal. 

SPECIAL TEAMS MAKES A MARK 

The Tigers' scoring onslaught was helped by a couple standout plays in the third area of the game.

Keionte Scott appeared to take a punt 60 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the second quarter, but it was ruled he stepped out at the 26-yard line. The Tigers only added a field goal, though. 

Early in the third quarter, tight end Micah Riley blocked Alabama A&M's punt — and after the ball hung in the air for a good few seconds, Simmons found it in the end zone for a score.

Auburn Undercover will update this story. Check back for additional information.

[aubiefifty 18,301]

 

[aubiefifty 18,301]

 

[aubiefifty 18,301]

 

[aubiefifty 18,301]

 

[aubiefifty 18,301]

 

[aubiefifty 18,301]

 

[aubiefifty 18,301]

 

[aubiefifty 18,301]

 

[aubiefifty 18,301]

 

[aubiefifty 18,301]

 

[aubiefifty 18,301]

al.com

‘Nothing like confidence’: What Auburn can take from its dismantling of Alabama A&M

Updated: Aug. 31, 2024, 11:56 p.m.|Published: Aug. 31, 2024, 11:31 p.m.

4–5 minutes

Auburn started fast and never looked back en route to its 73-3 season-opening win on Saturday night.

Returning starting quarterback Payton Thorne had his best game in an Auburn uniform.

Three of Auburn’s four freshmen receivers found the endzone, while its big transfer portal addition in Penn State transfer receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith scored a pair of touchdowns.

The Tigers’ defense kept the opposing team out of the endzone.

Auburn also managed to score a touchdown on special teams, while freshman kicker Towns McGough was perfect as he filled in for Alex McPherson, who missed the game as he continues to recover from a gastrointestinal illness.

Everything Auburn could want from a season opener, it got.

However, the team on the opposing sideline was a below-average FCS team in Alabama A&M, meaning fans of other teams and even some cautiously optimistic Auburn fans were quick to try to poke holes in the weight of the win.

And those folks might be right.

Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze is a realistic guy and knows the Tigers’ schedule will only get tougher.

But a game and a result like Saturday’s are far from worthless.

“There’s nothing like confidence,” Freeze said in his post-game press conference, replying to a question about Auburn’s ability to create explosive plays on offense.

“I think anytime you have a game, even if it’s like this, where you are able to create those, that it only builds confidence in the kids and maybe they believe in our scheming and play calling better and it makes them make better plays,” Freeze added.

While Auburn’s second-year head coach might’ve said that in response to the offense lighting up the scoreboard with chunk plays (the Tigers averaged a program-best 13.7 yards per play), the same principle can be applied up and down the roster and across all areas of play.

Auburn BUCK linebacker Jalen McLeod, who helped lead the Tigers’ defensive efforts with five tackles, two tackles for a loss and a sack, said Saturday’s performance also pumped confidence into the defense, particularly when it came to stopping Alabama A&M’s rushing attack.

“It gives us a lot of confidence. We put a lot of work in during the summer for stopping the run, emphasizing that, and that’s what we did tonight,” McLeod said. “And we gotta keep doing that when we play big opponents.”

The Tigers’ defense held the Bulldogs to 38 rushing yards on 36 attempts.

More than anything, simply lining up across from someone wearing a different colored uniform presents plenty of opportunity to learn and build, says quarterback Payton Thorne.

“It’s good to do it against someone else,” Thorne said. “To actually do it in your jersey in front of your fans under the lights, it means something. You’ve got to take something from that. The team we played is a D-I football team. It’s not like we played a high school team or something.

“So you go out there and take the good things that we did and you build on those, and then there’s other things to learn from tonight too.”

Freeze, in true coach fashion, believes the Tigers still have plenty to improve on.

Auburn’s head coach specifically pointed to the Tigers’ pair of turnovers on offense, a few drops by Auburn’s receivers, a pair of bad decisions by the quarterbacks and the Tigers’ defense not pressuring the quarterback enough for his liking.

“Learn from what we didn’t do well tonight and take confidence in what we did do well, and let’s grow from that,” Freeze said of Auburn’s goals moving forward. “But we certainly haven’t arrived yet. But right in front of us is some great opportunities in our home stadium and got to handle the successes and failures both in the same way.”

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

[aubiefifty 18,301]

al.com

3 takeaways from Auburn's season opening blowout win over Alabama A&M

Updated: Aug. 31, 2024, 10:42 p.m.|Published: Aug. 31, 2024, 9:46 p.m.

4–5 minutes

Hugh Freeze addresses the media following Auburn's season-opening 73-3 win over Alabama A&M

By

Peter Rauterkus | prauterkus@al.com

Auburn started the 2024 season with a blowout win Saturday night, beating Alabama A&M 73-3 to kick off Year 2 of the Hugh Freeze era.

It was clear from the beginning that Auburn had a substantial athleticism advantage over Alabama A&M, so it would be unwise to try and read too much into what Saturday’s result means for the Tigers.

But season openers are also an opportunity to get a feel for how a team wants to play and who some of the key players are.

With that said, here are our three takeaways:

Auburn was unafraid to air it out and for good reason

Payton Thorne had statistically the best game of his Auburn career on Saturday.

He threw for 322 yards and four touchdowns, all while only playing in the first half. It marked the first time since 2018 that an Auburn quarterback threw for four touchdowns in a game.

How did it happen? Auburn’s talented new receivers showed why they garnered so much attention during the offseason.

Malcolm Simmons caught the first pass of the game out of the slot, but Penn State transfer KeAndre Lambert-Smith was the first two bring fans out of their seats.

On the first play of Auburn’s second possession, he and Thorne connected for a 67-yard touchdown on a throw over the middle. Lambert-Smith beat his man with ease, a sight Auburn didn’t often see from its receivers in 2023.

Highly touted freshmen Cam Coleman and Perry Thompson each added long touchdowns of their own, as Auburn repeatedly looked to stretch the field during the first half.

It’s worth noting the competition when talking about the passing numbers, but if nothing else, Auburn showed an increased desire to throw the ball downfield and its playmakers shined as a result.

Only knock on the offense was some late ball security issues. The Tigers lost two fumbles in the fourth quarter, preventing it from making the blowout any worse.

Auburn may have found its starting left tackle

Towards the end of fall camp, questions emerged surrounding what the left side of Auburn’s offensive line would look like.

Redshirt freshman Tyler Johnson got the start at left tackle on Saturday and helped keep Thorne clean throughout the night.

Johnson, who began fall camp with a minor hamstring injury, emerged as a potential starter towards the end of preseason practice.

Freeze said leading up to the game there would likely be a rotation with Johnson, Dillon Wade and Mississippi State transfer Percy Lewis.

Johnson saw most of the action in the first half with Wade starting at left guard. Freeze said that it could take a few games to find a permanent solution to the left side of the offensive line, but Saturday might’ve been a step towards answering that question.

The front seven is deep

Freeze said throughout fall camp that there would be rotation along the defensive line, and that was the case on Saturday.

There still doesn’t seem to be a set first group along the interior defensive line, and given the depth, there may not ever be. With the constant rotation, though, there was never a considerable drop off from group to group.

The defense held Alabama A&M to 38 rushing yards and had 11 tackles for loss.

At linebacker, Eugene Asante was the mainstay of the group, but Austin Keys, Dorian Mausi Jr. and Robert Woodyard Jr. all made an impact in the first half.

The most notable contributions along the front seven, though, came from true freshmen Malik Blocton and Amaris Williams. Both saw playing time in the first half and constantly rotated with the first group. In the third quarter, the pair combined for a sack.

Regardless of opponents, having depth up front will only benefit Auburn this season. With the game out of reach early, it wasn’t a big deal on Saturday, but that will change when it’s time for four quarters of physicality in SEC play.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

[aubiefifty 18,301]

al.com

Auburn freshmen receivers make presence known in debut

Updated: Aug. 31, 2024, 10:19 p.m.|Published: Aug. 31, 2024, 8:51 p.m.

~2 minutes

WR Cam Coleman scores his first touchdown as an Auburn Tiger

Auburn coach Hugh Freeze said going into the season it was high time for his freshmen receivers.

If the season-opener against Alabama A&M was any indication, the sky’s the limit.

Cam Coleman caught a 44-yard touchdown pass from Payton Thorne with 11:39 left in the first quarter - with the Tigers leading 14-0.

Not to be outdone, Perry Thompson, with just more than 10 minutes left in the first half, hauled in a 70-yard touchdown pass to give Auburn a 38-0 lead.

Coleman enrolled early and went through both spring and fall camp, while Thompson didn’t arrive to Auburn until this summer. It didn’t seem to matter either way, both found the end zone on Saturday night.

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

[aubiefifty 18,301]

al.com

Alabama A&M at Auburn by the numbers: Tigers 1 win from 800

Updated: Aug. 31, 2024, 9:40 a.m.|Published: Aug. 31, 2024, 9:30 a.m.

4–5 minutes

Alabama A&M at Auburn

6:30 p.m. CDT Saturday (ESPN+)

Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn

2 Previous games between Auburn and Alabama A&M. The Tigers won both – 51-7 on Nov. 17, 2012, and 55-0 on Nov. 19, 2016. Auburn has outgained the Bulldogs 1,110 to 338 in yardage in the two games.

3 Auburn players have had at least 1,625 passing yards and 400 rushing yards in the same season, including returning QB Payton Thorne. In 2023, Thorne threw for 1,755 yards and ran for 515. The other two players on the list are Cam Newton and Nick Marshall.

5 Victories without a loss on Aug. 31 for Auburn. The Tigers defeated Georgia Southern 31-17 in 1991, UAB 29-0 in 1996, Wyoming 35-21 in 2000, Washington State 31-24 in 2013 and Oregon 27-21 in 2019 on that date. Auburn has a 7-2 record in August games.

21 Consecutive games with at least one reception for Auburn WR Robert Lewis. All those games came with Lewis playing for Georgia State. He had 70 receptions for 877 yards and seven touchdowns for the Panthers in 2023.

28 Victories without a loss for Auburn against FCS opponents since 1978, when the NCAA split Division I football into Division I-A and Division I-AA.

38 Receptions for Rivaldo Fairweather in 2023, the most in one season for an Auburn tight end. Fairweather broke the record set by John Samuel Shenker with 33 receptions in 2021. Fairweather led the Tigers in receptions in 2023 as well as receiving yards with 394 and TD receptions with six.

Western Kentucky at Alabama by the numbers: A new coach, an old quarterback

SEC top 10 for Week 1: No. 1’s winning streak in Georgia’s hands

SEC Football by the Numbers: Conference has new king of season-opening games

38 Passing yards for Cornelious Brown, Alabama A&M’s No. 1 quarterback for 2024, in the 2023 season, when he was limited to two appearances because of a knee injury. In 2020, the former Calera High School standout threw for 2,278 yards and 17 touchdowns and ran for 301 yards and seven touchdowns for Georgia State.

63 Victories, five losses and one tie for Auburn in games against Alabama-based opponents (excluding Alabama). Those opponents have included Alabama A&M, Alabama State, Birmingham-Southern, Camp Sheridan, Jacksonville State, Marion Institute, Maxwell Field, Montgomery, North Alabama Athletic Club, Samford, Spring Hill and UAB. The most recent loss for Auburn against that set of teams is a 7-0 defeat by Maxwell Field on Sept. 28, 1945, in Montgomery.

102 Victories, 27 losses and two ties for Auburn in season-opening games. The Tigers have won their past seven season-opening games.

123 Rushing yards are needed by Auburn RB Jarquez Hunter to become the 15th Auburn player with 2,300. Hunter ran for 909 yards and seven touchdowns on 159 carries in 2023 to reach 2,177 rushing yards for his career.

142 Games have been played by Auburn since it was most recently shut out, the second-longest streak in school history. Auburn’s most recent shutout loss came 49-0 to Alabama on Nov. 17, 2012. Auburn’s record scoring streak lasted 149 games, starting with a 55-16 victory over Richmond on Oct. 4, 1980, and ending with a 17-0 loss to Alabama on Nov. 26, 1992. Auburn’s current scoring streak is the 10th-longest in SEC history, and its record streak is the ninth-longest.

799 Victories in Auburn football history. A win on Saturday would make the Tigers the 13th NCAA FBS and fifth SEC program with 800 victories. The schools with at least 800 victories include Michigan, Alabama, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Texas, Oklahoma, Penn State, Nebraska, Tennessee, Southern Cal, Georgia and LSU. The NCAA record book credits Auburn with an all-time record of 799-471-47.

FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE SEC, GO TO OUR SEC PAGE

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

[aubiefifty 18,301]

 

[aubiefifty 18,301]