Auburn Shuts Out Louisiana-Monroe 31-0 in Season Opener
Box Score l Game Notes l Photo Gallery l Audio
September 4, 2004
Auburn Football |
AUBURN, Ala. (AP) -- Jason Campbell passed for two touchdowns and Carnell Williams ran for 103 yards as No. 17 Auburn unveiled a new offense in a 31-0 victory over Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday. Jason Campbell passed for two touchdowns and Carnell Williams ran for 103 yards as No. 17 Auburn unveiled a new offense in a 31-0 victory over Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday.
The Tigers' West Coast offense sputtered at times but still fared better than in last year's opening shutout defeat to Southern California that set the stage for a disappointing season. Williams carried 23 times and caught a 9-yard touchdown pass but was mostly contained by a Louisiana-Monroe defense geared toward stopping the run.
Auburn's defense had to replace five starters in its front seven but still managed its first shutout since the opener two years ago against Western Carolina. Starting cornerback Montae Pitts was also suspended for violation of team policy before the game, but it didn't matter in this one.
The Tigers improved to 12-0 against Sun Belt Conference teams, allowing few yards after the catch against the Indians' short passing game.
Steven Jyles was 16-of-22 passing for only 96 yards with an interception. The Indians had only one pass play over 11 yards, and that 22-yarder came late.
The Tigers showed a little more ability to get the ball downfield, including Campbell's 32-yard touchdown pass to Devin Aromashodu early in the third quarter after the defender tripped.
Campbell was 11-of-18 for 110 yards but lost a fumble and threw an interception, splitting time with redshirt freshman Brandon Cox. Cox ran for a 14-yard touchdown after hitting Courtney Taylor for a 39-yarder on his first pass, the longest gain for either team.
Ronnie Brown also ran for a 30-yard touchdown in the third quarter.
New Auburn coordinator Al Borges' offense scored on its first three possessions to build a 17-0 lead and was marching again when Campbell was picked off by Shelton Williams deep in Louisiana-Monroe territory.
Williams returned it 42 yards across midfield but the drive ended in the first of two missed field goals for the Indians, who also lost their last five games in 2003.
Auburn revamped an offense that didn't produce a touchdown in the first two games last season but it's clearly still geared toward the run. The Tigers ran 41 times for 194 yards.