OXFORD, Miss. – For anybody who thought the Auburn defense was just going to throw in the towel after last week's loss to Tennessee, think again.
This is a unit that has too much talent and too much pride to do that. Sure, there were guys who were hurt. There were guys who couldn't play. But every time a challenge presents itself, the Tigers always seem to rise to the occasion. And Saturday was certainly a challenge. Auburn was facing an Ole Miss offense that came in averaging 41.6 points per game – second in the SEC.
Through the first 57 minutes, that Ole Miss offense had not yet scored a touchdown.
"I'm really proud of this defense," Auburn defensive lineman Marlon Davidson said. "It's crazy the way that we fight. With the adversity that we're going through, we just keep fighting for Auburn. We have that much pride for ourselves, to not lay down."
Davidson more than did his part. Playing on a bad ankle, the junior finished with three tackles, a sack, and he blocked a field goal for the third straight week. It didn't matter that he wasn't 100 percent. He was going to go out there and give his all for Auburn.
Senior linebacker Deshaun Davis wasn't 100 percent either. He injured his leg two weeks ago against Mississippi State, and like Davidson, he walked out to do post-game interviews with a boot on his foot. But that didn't stop him from going out there Saturday and finishing with a game-high 13 tackles. It was the fifth time in the last six games that he's had double-digit tackles, and he's now No. 10 on Auburn's all-time list with 226 career tackles.
"Sometimes, that's what you have to do," Davis said. "I know what I mean to my team. I know what I meant to my defense. Sometimes it takes a little pain to get the job done."
Auburn was also missing two starters in the secondary for the first half Saturday. Cornerback Jamel Dean didn't make the trip due to injury, and safety Jeremiah Dinson was suspended for the first half because of a targeting penalty he received in the second half of the Tennessee game.
Not to worry. Their teammates stepped up. Safety Daniel Thomas finished with a career-high 10 tackles. Cornerbacks Noah Igbinoghene and Javaris Davis each had five tackles and two pass break-ups. And true freshman safety Jamien Sherwood (above) picked up his first career sack at Auburn on a key third down early in the second half that forced Ole Miss to kick a field goal.
"I thought that was big," Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said. "Not having Dean here – he's an impact player – and our corners really stepped up and played a whole lot of snaps. And not having Dinson, who is one of our leaders, in the first half – those young guys really stepped up.
"I'm very proud of those guys because when you have two of your best players that aren't available in the first half against an offense like that, that's a scary thought."
The good news is that Auburn has its bye week next, so the players can use the next two weeks to recover and get healthy before Texas A&M comes to town on Nov. 3. But more importantly, the defense got back to playing its brand of football. That swagger was back.
"It was time to come out and play like Auburn," Davidson said. "I think now that we came out of our shell, we're going to turn this thing around."
Greg Ostendorf is a Senior Writer for AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: Follow @greg_ostendorf
