Auburn football notebook: 'Everything we've got'

Auburn football notebook: 'Everything we've got'Auburn football notebook: 'Everything we've got'

Kam Martin rushes against Liberty. Photo: Will Flowers/Auburn Athletics

AUBURN, Ala. – Setting the tone on Auburn's first offensive play, Kam Martin gained 12 yards up the middle. By the time his day ended after the first drive of the third quarter, Martin had rushed for 116 yards on 17 carries, his first 100-yard game of the season and third of his career.

"It felt good," Martin said. "I had a great week of practice, so I knew I if I came out here and took care of business then I was going to have a great game."

Martin averaged 6.8 yards per carry, with a long of 20, helping the Tigers rush for 340 yards on 61 carries in a 53-0 win over Liberty.
 
"To run the ball hard and to be physical and tough," Martin said. "We have to do what we do, and that is playing Auburn football."
 
CARLSON COMES THROUGH

For the third time this season, Anders Carlson kicked three field goals in a game.

"I was going through a little tough struggle there for a while. To put that through now, it felt good," Carlson said. "That's kicking. Sometimes it goes your way, sometimes it doesn't, so you've just got to keep working it."

Carlson tied his career long with a 53-yarder on Auburn's opening possession, adding a 20-yarder, a 40-yarder, and four extra points for a 13-point outing.

"Holder and snapper have been great throughout the season," he said. "They've been mentoring me."

Speaking of Carlson's holder, senior Ian Shannon took over the placekicking duties in the second half, giving Carlson's leg a rest. Shannon kicked two extra points and narrowly missed a field goal.

"I think that's awesome," Carlson said. "He deserves it. He's put in some good work here over the years. I'm excited to see him score some points and kick some good kickoffs, too."

Auburn's special teams unit also generated points from Jordyn Peters, whose third blocked punt of the season led to a safety and a 12-0 lead for Auburn midway through the first quarter.
 




IRON BOWL PREVIEW

The three-phase domination created momentum Auburn will take to Tuscaloosa next week when the Tigers visit No. 1 Alabama Saturday at 2:30 p.m.

"I have no doubt in my mind that my unit is going to come out, we're going to fight. We're going to compete," senior linebacker Deshaun Davis said. "It's going to be their senior night. I know they want to send their seniors out the right way. Hopefully we can be a spoiler."

"I'm excited. First Iron Bowl to actually play in," said Carlson, a redshirt freshman who was on the sideline last season watching his brother Daniel kick in Auburn's SEC West clinching victory. "Got to experience last year's, which is special. Real excited."

"It's the reason I came to Auburn," senior fullback Chandler Cox said. "We're going to go in there and fight and give everything we've got. I'm going to leave everything out there. I'm not going to leave without knowing that I put everything out there."
 




Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer