Oct. 10, 2016
By Charles Goldberg
AuburnTigers.com
AUBURN, Ala. - Coach Gus Malzahn knew the quickest way to win a ticket back to Auburn was to run the clock and head to the buses, so the Tigers did just that in Starkville on Saturday.
Auburn threw a grand total of two passes in the second half of Saturday's 38-14 win over Mississippi State, that coming a week after throwing six passes in the second half against Louisiana-Monroe. Malzahn and Co. were happy enough with the halftime lead in both games. Auburn led Monroe 28-7 at the break. The Tigers led Mississippi State 35-0 after two quarters and scored three points in the second half.
That was OK.
"Ain't going to be no negative today from me," joked Malzahn.
Running back Kamryn Pettway picked up the lack of passing with 39 punishing carries for 169 yards. He jumped to third in the SEC in rushing. Teammate Kerryon Johnson is seventh, dropping after injuring his ankle after only three carries Saturday.
Quarterback Sean White threw it only 18 times, but still surpassed the 1,000-yard passing mark for the season, now with 1,187 yards. He has a passing efficiency rating of 157.20 - third best in the SEC - and that's a stark contrast to what Auburn has held opposing quarterbacks. They have a passing efficiency rating of 112.78.
The offense was clicking throughout with center-turned-tackle-turned-back-to-center Austin Golson. He started his second straight game there while Xavier Dampeer nursed an injury.
"I feel really comfortable in both positions. Coach asked me to do it, and I have no problem with doing whatever is best for the team. It'll be that same way moving forward."
Auburn doesn't play this week, and took Sunday off to regroup before thinking about playing Arkansas at home on Oct. 22.
Auburn's Kamryn Pettway jumped to No. 3 in SEC in rushing after his 169-yard performance Saturday. Sean White is third in passing efficiency pic.twitter.com/cbsgPFzFe8
- Auburn Gold Mine (@AUGoldMine) October 10, 2016
Here are some notes provided by Auburn...
- Auburn has held five of six opponents in 2016 and six of its last seven opponents under 20 points
- That 35-0 halftime lead was the largest halftime lead in an SEC game since a 42-6 advantage against Vanderbilt in 1990. It was the largest halftime lead in an SEC road game since leading Florida 35-0 n 1970
- It was Auburn's first first-half shutout of an SEC opponent since 2008
- Kamryn Pettway recorded his first multiple touchdown game with three rushing scores in the first half, the first three touchdowns of his career
- Pettway's 27 first-half carries were the most ever in a half by an Auburn player who gained 100 yards in the first half. According to ESPN Stats, it's the second-most carries in a first half in college football in the last 10 years.
- Ryan Davis' first-quarter TD reception was his first career TD catch. It was Sean White's sixth TD throw of the season and seventh of his career.
- Montravius Adams' fumble recovery for a score in the second quarter was his first career touchdown; the last Auburn player to score on a fumble recovery was Justin Garrett against Louisville in 2015. The last Auburn player to recover two fumbles in a game was Eltoro Freeman against Georgia in 2011.
- It was Carl Lawson's third career multiple-sack game and the second in the last three contests. Lawson has 11 career sacks.
- Rudy Ford had six tackles on Saturday to increase his career total to 253, moving Ford to fifth on the Auburn career tackle list since 2004, passing Will Herring (250, 2002-06) and Craig Stevens (252, 2005-10).
- Daniel Carlson has kicked 30 consecutive touchbacks on kickoffs and is 30-31 for the season.
Charles Goldberg is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: Follow @AUGoldMine