Notebook: Goal-line stand 'huge' for Auburn defense

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Austin Perryman/AU Athletics

AUBURN, Ala. – Talking after the game Saturday, Auburn defensive lineman Marcus Harris summed up the defense's performance in the 24-16 victory in one quote.  

"The testament of a good defense is what you're going to do when you're down," Harris said. "Everybody is happy when you're up. But what are you going to do when you're down? When adversity hits, how are you going to respond?"

Harris and his teammates faced that adversity early in the second quarter. With the offense struggling and the game still scoreless, San Jose State hit a 16-yard pass play to set up a first-and-goal from the 1-yard line. The Spartans were knocking at the door to score a touchdown, steal the momentum and silence the crowd at Jordan-Hare Stadium. 

The Tigers were not about to let them walk in. They stuffed the first run for no gain. They plugged the middle again on second down, and Harris brought down the running back for a 1-yard loss. After back-to-back false start penalties, a credit to the crowd noise, it was Harris again who sacked the quarterback on third down to force a field goal attempt. 

"It was amazing," Harris said. "Most of the time at the 1-yard line, people think it's an automatic touchdown. So, when you stop them, you show how strong-minded your defense is and how hungry your defense is." 

"It was pretty big," added safety Zion Puckett. "Just being on the field, it was electrifying with the fans. The atmosphere around us gave us another boost."

The goal-line stand also gave the offense a boost. After San Jose State converted the field goal, Auburn's offense went 75 yards on nine plays and scored a touchdown to take the lead. Freshman Damari Alston provided the spark with a 35-yard run on the second play of the drive, but the momentum had already turned because of the defense. 

"It was a hell of a job by our defense," Auburn head coach Bryan Harsin said. "They had a few penalties, but our guys made plays. They tried to run the ball on us, and our d-line swelled up, our linebackers are hitting them, they moved them back – that was huge. When you get on the 1-yard line and they don't score a touchdown, that's huge from your defense. 

"That's what really good defenses do. When there's a turnover or a sudden change, it's 'Get out there and watch me now.'"


 Good Mojo: Finley responds
After throwing two interceptions last week, the last thing T.J. Finley wanted to do was throw another one Saturday. But on the final play of the first quarter, a San Jose State defensive back made a sensational play to dive in front of a pass and intercept it.  

Finley didn't let it get to him. He stayed positive, knowing his number would be called again. 

On the very next drive, the junior quarterback avoided a sack and connected with John Samuel Shenker to convert a critical fourth down. He found Shenker again two plays later to set up Auburn's first touchdown – a 7-yard run from Jarquez Hunter. 

Finley responded to the interception by completing five of six passes for 60 yards in the second quarter. He went 12 of 15 for 158 yards over the final three quarters and scored on a 4-yard quarterback keeper in the fourth quarter to make it a two-possession game. 

"It's just the Mojo of the team," Finley said. "Each game is its own game. Each game you're not going to come out firing all good and clicking on all cylinders. But the character of this team – nobody on the team let me put my head down. That's what we've been talking about all fall camp, all spring, all summer. We're brothers, and we've really got each other."

"It doesn't surprise me at all because that's just the kind of guy he is," added linebacker Owen Pappoe. "He took it on the head. He even came into the locker room and said, 'I got y'all. I'm going to be better coming out.' He came out, and he improved."
 Another Carlson milestone
The extra point early in the fourth quarter to put Auburn ahead 24-13 might have seemed miniscule at the time, but it was a big deal for Anders Carlson who moved up to second in Auburn career scoring with 364 points. He passed Wes Byrum (363 from 2007-10) and now only trails his brother, Daniel, who scored 480 points from 2014-17. 

Anders Carlson made all three of his PATs and drilled a 45-yard field goal in Saturday's victory. He also ranks second behind his brother in career field goals made with 68. 

Daniel Carlson, who made 92 field goals while at Auburn, began his fifth season in the NFL on Sunday as the starting kicker for the Las Vegas Raiders.