Sept. 29, 2017
By Greg Ostendorf
AuburnTigers.com
AUBURN, Ala. - It was Sept. 14, 2013. Auburn hadn't won an SEC game in nearly two years. But the Tigers had a new coach, a new quarterback and a team destined to do great things that season. They just didn't know it yet. They had no idea the impact that C.J. Uzomah's game-winning touchdown to beat Mississippi State that night would have on the rest of the season.
The game itself transpired like any other. Auburn jumped out to an early 11-0 lead in the first quarter thank to a 76-yard touchdown pass from new quarterback Nick Marshall to Quan Bray, and by halftime, the Tigers were clinging to a 14-13 lead.
However, Mississippi State took its first lead early in the third quarter when quarterback Dak Prescott rushed for his second touchdown of the game. Auburn answered with a field goal to cut the Bulldog lead to 20-17, but it stayed that way until late in the fourth quarter when the Tigers got the ball at their own 12-yard line with 1:56 left.
The next two minutes would define the season for Malzahn and Auburn.
Offensive lineman Alex Kozan: "I remember going into that final drive, and we knew we needed six [to win]. We knew we'd have to do the two-minute drill, and we didn't know if Nick was going to be able to get it done just because he was obviously one of the most elusive runners, but we didn't know what he could do throwing the ball. We were like, 'We'll just give it our best shot and we'll see what happens.'"
Uzomah: "I remember coming together before the drive actually started and just feeling something different, feeling that we were going to win this close game. The year before, we hadn't. And just looking at Nick's eyes and just knowing that he's got this, he's going to lead us down the field, and we're going to end up winning this game -- that's something that resonates the most to me."
Marshall lined up in the shotgun with Tre Mason beside him and four receivers out wide. He took off running the first play and picked up six yards, but 20 seconds ran off the clock.
The clock would stop, though, after Marshall found Marcus Davis, a true freshman playing in only his third game, for a quick five-yard gain and a first down. Next it was a 17-yard pass to Davis, and then another completion to the freshman for six yards. Then after connecting with Jaylon Denson on a pass, he found Davis one more time for nine yards.
Davis had more catches on that drive (4) than he had in his entire Auburn career up to that point.
Davis: "There weren't any nerves because to be honest, as a freshman out there, I wasn't even thinking about the time. I was just happy to be on the field. The only reason I was thinking about the time was just to get out of bounds, but as far as 'oh this is a big moment,' -- that wasn't really a factor. It was more so just let me help the team any way I could."
By that point, Auburn was in field-goal range. And for those watching the ESPN broadcast at home, they kept showing kicker Cody Parkey on the sideline getting ready in case his number was called. After all, a field goal would have tied it and sent the game to overtime.
Parkey: "I remember us driving down the field and being like, 'All right, it's going to come down to a field goal. It's going to come down to a field goal.' I remember a couple times that season having that feeling, and then somehow we just kind of figure it out and we score a touchdown. I'm like, 'Man, that was my moment.'"
On the field, Marshall picked up a critical 3rd-and-10 with an 11-yard scramble to give the Tigers the ball at the Mississippi State 14-yard line. But there were only 21 seconds to play.
After a three-yard run from Mason, Auburn called a timeout to set up the play that would ultimately win the game. There were 15 seconds left and Malzahn wanted to take a shot for the end zone, so he called on Uzomah. The 6-foot-5, 264-pound tight end had yet to come in on the drive, but he was one of the team's top red-zone targets that season.
Uzomah: "When we get over to the sideline, he says the play that we were going to run, so I knew it was coming to me. And I didn't know what to do. I didn't know who to talk to. I didn't want to make it obvious that I was going in the game to get the ball or anything. So I kind of just stood there and nodded my head and kind of knew it was coming."
Kozan: "Every coach kind of has shots based on the field position. I don't remember where we were specifically on the field for that play, but I remember that each of those plays Malzahn has little areas where he likes to throw certain plays. That play was a play we had practiced from that position, so it was really just kind of pitch and catch for Nick and C.J."
Before the play when Auburn broke the huddle on the sideline and Uzomah lined up wide, ESPN color commentator Brock Huard said, "Watch 81 at the bottom of the screen. Big receiver."
Sure enough, Uzomah ran a double move, Marshall pump-faked, and then the quarterback threw a perfect ball to his tight end in the back of the end zone. The crowd at Jordan-Hare Stadium erupted when Uzomah caught it, giving Auburn the lead back with 10 seconds left.
Once upon a time vs. Mississippi State in Jordan-Hare.. #WarEagle pic.twitter.com/4qnugixjC6
- CJ Uzomah (@cjuzomah81) September 29, 2017
Uzomah: "It was unbelievable. I'm pretty sure Jay Prosch was the first one to come up to me. I just remember him yelling 'I love you.' I was just like, 'I love you, too.' That was unbelievable. Everyone was just hitting me on the head. It kind of hurt a little bit, but it was awesome knowing that we just won the game. We just drove the length of the field, and we won."
Parkey: "I remember being like, 'We're going to try one more time to the end zone, probably won't get it because the defense will be blocking it off, and I'll go out there and make the kick.' I'm kicking into the net and I'm kind of just watching on the jumbotron, and I saw C.J. catch it in the end zone and I'm like 'Holy crap, we just scored.' There was only a couple seconds left, and I was like 'Shoot, I guess I just go kick an extra point now. I'll take that.'"
Kozan: "I remember we celebrated like it was the biggest game we'd ever won because when you don't win an SEC game for a year, everybody was having a great time that night."
The drive turned out to be a coming-of-age moment for Marshall. The catch turned Uzomah into a hero at Auburn. And the game, which broke a 10-game SEC losing streak, helped catapult the Tigers into the BCS national championship game that year.
It's going to be hard to top that when the two teams meet this Saturday.
Greg Ostendorf is a Staff Writer for AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: Follow @greg_ostendorf