AUBURN, Ala. – Leading up to Auburn's 48-11 thrashing of LSU, defensive lineman Derick Hall called it an opportunity for a "statement game" for the Tigers' defense.
Statement delivered loud and clear.
Auburn forced three turnovers leading to 21 points, held LSU to 32 rushing yards on 27 attempts (1.2 yards per carry) and added four sacks while holding the Bengal Tigers 31 points below their average.
Nehemiah Pritchett made Auburn's first takeaway, intercepting TJ Finley's pass and returning it 48 yards to LSU's 4-yard-line to set up the Tigers' first touchdown early in the second quarter.
"It was a blessing. We had been repping that play all week at practice, and I just so happened to be there to make a good play on the ball," said Pritchett, who made his first Auburn interception. "Once I saw No. 6 [Terrace Marshall Jr.] come out, I knew that was my play."Nehemiah Pritchett's first career interception led to an Auburn touchdownLater in the second quarter, Auburn's defense put points on the board when Hall made his second sack, forcing a fumble that Christian Tutt returned 20 yards for a touchdown for a 14-0 Auburn lead.
"The ball was on the ground for a good two or three seconds and nobody moved, so I was like, 'It's my time. I'm going to go get that,'" said Tutt, who scored his first Auburn touchdown. "I knew as soon as I picked it up, somebody was going to try to hit me so I just tried to keep my balance trying to stride into the end zone."
In the third quarter, Daquan Newkirk deflected a pass that Big Kat Bryant intercepted at LSU's 21-yard-line, leading to the first of two Tank Bigsby touchdowns and 35-3 Auburn lead.
"I heard it and looked up and I'm like, 'It's falling to me, it's falling to me, it's falling to me,'" said Bryant of his second career interception. "I jumped up a little to make sure I caught it. I wasn't going to drop it."
Facing a true freshman quarterback starting his first SEC road game, Auburn expected LSU to try to establish the run. Auburn made sure that strategy backfired, holding LSU's leading rusher, John Emery, to 21 yards on nine carries.
"We came into this game ready to stop the run and ready to rattle him," Tutt said.Run stoppers: Zakoby McClain and Big Kat Bryant helped Auburn hold LSU to 32 rushing yardsMaking LSU one-dimensional allowed the Tigers to pressure Finley into committing three turnovers.
"That's a big factor," said linebacker Zakoby McClain, who led Auburn with nine tackles. "The D-line got a lot of pressure on the quarterback."
Hall's pregame prediction proved prophetic. Auburn's defense made a statement all right.
"We opened a lot of eyes," said Bryant, one of Auburn's captains. "It lets you know we're not down and out. We're just going to continue to apply pressure every week."
"We put a lot of pieces together," Tutt said. "We made some plays and went out and executed very well."
"This is the reason you want to come to Auburn, to win a game like this," said Owen Pappoe, who made six tackles and broke up a pass. "We accepted the challenged and went out and performed."'Statement game': Derick Hall recorded his first two sacks vs. LSU
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer