AUBURN, Ala. – Soon after Anders Carlson reached the sideline after missing a potential go-ahead kick, his Auburn teammates told him another opportunity would be forthcoming.
"We have a few fortune tellers on the team," Carlson said. "A lot of people approached me and told me I'd get another one. My mindset was already geared toward that."
Two minutes and 38 seconds after missing from 34 yards, Carlson connected from 39 yards with 7 seconds remaining Saturday in No. 13 Auburn's 30-28 win over Arkansas.
"If I miss one, the next one should go in," Carlson said. "I was very happy the defense pulled up big as they always do. They got the ball back and the offense moved it down the field enough for me to get in field goal range. I was happy to get the chance. Wild game. I was happy to end it that way."
"He's a great kicker," Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said. "One of the best kickers in the country. He was looking forward to that. You could see it in his eyes. We did a good job with the snap and the hold. Our protection held up. Game-winning kick at home in the SEC. It doesn't get much better than that as a kicker."
Before his second chance, Carlson discussed the miss with holder Ben Patton, double checked the wind, which affected the earlier kick, and executed a few practice kicks into the net.
"It's always a challenge, but my mindset is, I always want the challenge, I always want the game-winner," Carlson said. "I'm fine with some wind because I'm mentally prepared for it. The protection did their job and I just did the easy part.
"I try to bring a strong mentality knowing that I've done it before. I was on a roll and I'm going to keep going on a roll, just trying to do my job."
Carlson made two field goals prior to his game-winner, a 25-yarder late in the first half, and a 47-yarder in the first quarter in a downpour.
"That first quarter was rough," Carlson said. "My holder did great all day, catching the ball even when it's wet. My snapper (Bill Taylor) did the same thing. Those guys did their job."
Checking the weather forecast and anticipating that rain would be an issue, Carlson and his special teams teammates went to Jordan-Hare Stadium during the week, dousing footballs with water to simulate the conditions they expected.
"Worked the best we could preparing for today," he said. "Happy it paid off."'I always want the game-winner': Anders Carlson smiles after Auburn's 30-28 win vs. Arkansas
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer
