Auburn finishes on high note with Birmingham Bowl win

Auburn finishes on high note with Birmingham Bowl winAuburn finishes on high note with Birmingham Bowl win

Dec. 30, 2015

Game 131st2nd3rd4th-
Auburn Tigers10071431
Memphis Tigers0100010
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Quick StatsAUUM
Total Plays7168
1st Downs2313
3rd down efficiency5-128-19
4th down efficiency2-30-2
Total Yards402205
Passing Yards151108
Comp-Att10-1616-37
Yards per pass9.42.9
Rushing Yards25197
Rushing attempts5531
Yards per rush4.63.1
Penalties-Yards3-456-40
Turnovers31
Fumbles lost00
Interceptions thrown31
Time of Possession34:1725:43

Stat Leaders
PassingC-AttYdsTDInt
AU - White8-1310303
UM - Lynch16-3710801
RushingCarYdsTDLong
AU - Robinson27126120
UM - Dorceus1146016
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
AU - Ray250029
UM - Frazier449029

2015 Schedule
09/05W(6) Auburn 31, Louisville 24
09/12W(6) Auburn 27, JSU 20 (OT)
09/19L(18) Auburn 21, (14) LSU 45
09/26LAuburn 9, Miss. State 17
10/03WAuburn 35, San Jose State 21
10/15WAuburn 30, Kentucky 27
10/24LAuburn 46, Arkansas 54 (4OT)
10/31LAuburn 19, Ole Miss 27
11/07WAuburn 26, (19) Texas A&M 10
11/14LAuburn 13, Georgia 23
11/21WAuburn 56, Idaho 34
11/28LAuburn 13, (2) Alabama 29
12/30WAuburn 31, Memphis 10



By Charles Goldberg
AuburnTigers.com

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Jeremy Johnson helped Auburn close out the season in fine fashion Wednesday when he came off the bench to lead the Tigers to a 31-10 victory over Memphis in the Birmingham Bowl.

Johnson threw the go-ahead touchdown pass in the third quarter, ran for another score early in the fourth and brought life to what had been a hard-fought game. It was 10-10 before the dramatics began in front of a Birmingham Bowl record crowd of 59,430 in Legion Field.

After the game, coach Gus Malzahn announced he hired Kevin Steele as his defensive coordinator. That's the same position he held at LSU.

Auburn running back Jovon Robinson was named the game's MVP after rushing for 126 yards. The Tigers' defense turned in an MVP performance, too, holding Memphis to 205 yards.

Johnson's play, coupled with an Auburn defense that allowed three points and Peyton Barber crossing the 1,000-yard rushing barrier for the season, allowed the Tigers to finish the season with a 7-6 record. Memphis fell to 9-4.

Johnson, subbing for starter Sean White, threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Jason Smith for the lead with 3:12 left in the third quarter. His 5-yard touchdown run on the first play of the fourth quarter made it 24-10.

Barber's running allowed Auburn to have at least one 1,000-yard rusher in seven straight seasons.

Auburn showed a little trickery early in the game before pounding away at Memphis in the second half.

A fake punt set up a 20-yard Daniel Carlson for Auburn's first score and Kerryon Johnson scored on an 8-yard run out of the Wildcat formation for a 10-0 first quarter lead.

A Memphis field goal and a Reggis Ball 56-yard interception return tied things up in the second quarter.

Carlson's field goal was a record-setter. It gave him 23 on the season, a single-season Auburn record. Johnson's TD run came with 1:58 left in the first quarter.

Auburn's Blake Countess came through with another big play, blocking a Jake Elliott field goal try with 5:55 left in the second quarter.

Other Birmingham Bowl stories

Jeremy Johnson provides offensive spark

Kevin Steele hired as defensive coordinator

Gus Malzahn happy with the win