AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn's true freshman backfield – quarterback Bo Nix and running back D.J. Williams – combined for 444 yards, and Christian Tutt's interception on the game's final play helped No. 11 Auburn defeat Ole Miss 20-14 Saturday at sold-out Jordan-Hare Stadium.
"I'm extremely proud of our team," Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said. "It was a hard-fought victory."
Nix completed 30 of 44 passes for a career-high 340 yards while Williams rushed 24 times for 93 yards and added three receptions for 11 yards.
After Ole Miss pulled within six points with 5:45 left in the game, Auburn drove 45 yards, consuming 4:31, with Nix twice converting third-and-longs for first downs on screens to Seth Williams and Anthony Schwartz.
"Some big, key third-down conversions there," Malzahn said. "The game was on the line. Really proud of the offense flipping the field. Really proud of the defense ending the game."
Auburn missed a 49-yard field goal attempt, then Ole Miss drove to the Tigers' 35 with 17 seconds left before Tutt returned an interception 57 yards as time expired.
Leading 10-7 at the half, the Tigers scored on the opening possession of the third quarter, taking advantage of Noah Igbinoghene's 46-yard kick return. Auburn drove 54 yards on 13 plays, going 4-for-4 on third down.
Williams moved the chains three times on third-and-1, picking up 35 yards on seven carries on the drive, setting up Nix's 1-yard touchdown run that gave Auburn a 17-7 lead at the 10:09 mark.
Anders Carlson's second field goal made it 20-7 with 4:15 left in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, Ole Miss drove 91 yards to make it 20-14, converting two fourth downs before scoring on a 1-yard touchdown run.
Auburn's defense, playing without captains Marlon Davidson (lower back) and Jeremiah Dinson (virus), held Ole Miss to 99 passing yards and 266 total yards. Derrick Brown and Daniel Thomas led the Tigers with seven tackles each.
"We had some guys step up, and do an excellent job," Malzahn said. "The defense, when they had to, they stopped them."
Nix threw Auburn's longest pass of the season, a 50-yarder to Schwartz, in the first quarter, then outdid that play by 28 yards on a 78-yard completion to Harold Joiner in the second quarter, setting up Williams' 1-yard touchdown run, the first of his career.
When Williams met resistance inside the 1, left tackle Prince Tega Wanogho made sure his running back reached the end zone by hoisting him across the goal line for a 10-0 Auburn lead.
Ole Miss scored its first touchdown on a 4-yard quarterback run with 44 seconds left in the half after a 55-yard punt return.
The Tigers (7-2, 4-2) will have an open date next week before hosting Georgia on Nov. 16.
"Big win for us," Malzahn said. "The great thing is now we have a week off and we need it. We're a little banged up. We need to heal up. The off week couldn't come at a better time."
On Military Appreciation Night, 87,451 filled the stadium for Auburn's first home game since Sept. 28.
"It was great to be back home," Malzahn said. "Our crowd was outstanding. Really proud of our team."
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer
Big time win in front of the home squad! 💪#WarEagle pic.twitter.com/YSSrVkHIml
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) November 3, 2019
GAME NOTES
- Captains: Derrick Brown, Marlon Davidson, Jeremiah Dinson, Daniel Thomas
- Coin Toss: Auburn wins the toss and defers. Ole Miss will receive
- Eagle Flight: Spirit from flagpole
- Attendance: 87,451
TEAM NOTES
- First-time starters for Auburn: Derick Hall
- Auburn has scored in 89 consecutive games, the second-longest streak in school history
- Auburn scored first for the fifth game this season
- The Auburn defense has allowed only four first-quarter touchdowns this season, none today
- Auburn has held the opponent scoreless in 13 quarters this season, including the first quarter today
- Auburn has not allowed an SEC opponent to gain 100 yards in the first quarter this season (Ole Miss 62 yards tonight)
INDIVIDUAL NOTES/OFFENSE
- Bo Nix' 78-yard completion to Harold Joiner in the second quarter was Auburn's longest pass play of the season and ties for the 13th longest pass play in Auburn records. It's the longest Auburn completion since 2013 (Sammie Coates from Nick Marshall vs. Arkansas, 88 yards)
- Anthony Schwartz' 50-yard reception in the first quarter was his season long; Schwartz finished with a career-best 9 receptions, which tied the Auburn record against Ole Miss (Markeith Cooper, 1999)
- Bo Nix scores his fifth rushing touchdown of the season
- Nix records his second 300-yard passing game of the season (first was 335 vs. Mississippi State)
- Nix finished 30-for-44 passing for 340 yards. His completions and attempts are both Auburn records vs. Ole Miss and his 340 passing yards are the third-most all-time against Ole Miss. His 30 completions were two more than his father, Patrick Nix, against Ole Miss in 1995, and his 44 attempts were one more than Kodi Burns (2008) and Pat Sullivan (1970).
- Sophomore Seth Williams is the 28th player In Auburn history with more than 1,000 career receiving yards; he now has 1,103 career yards, ranking 26th among Auburn career leaders in receiving yardage. Next on the list is Terrell Zachery (1,106 from 2007-10).
- Freshman D.J. Williams' 1-yard TD run was the first score of his career
- D.J. Williams ranks 25th among Auburn single-season freshman rushing leaders with 303 yards, passing Roc Thomas (214 in 2014), Malik Willis (221 in 2017), Demontray Carter (233 in 1997), Anthony Schwartz (236 in 2018) and James Joseph (265 in 1986)
- Senior Kam Martin now has 1,524 career rushing yards, making him 31st on the Auburn career rushing list.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES/DEFENSE
- Marlon Davidson (lower back) did not play after starting 47 consecutive games
- Derrick Brown and Daniel Thomas tied for the team lead with 7 tackles apiece
- Christian Tutt's 57-yard interception return on the last play of the game was the second pick of his career and Auburn's longest return of the season.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES/SPECIAL TEAMS
- Noah Igbinoghene's 46-yard kickoff return was both his and Auburn's longest of the season