AUBURN, Ala. – Two weeks before Saturday's season opener, Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze named Michigan State transfer Payton Thorne the team's starting quarterback. Thorne beat out Robby Ashford and Holden Geriner to win the job.
However, Freeze made sure to add that Ashford would still be a part of the game plan.
"He will always have a package," Freeze said. "He adds an element to us that's a little different."
On Saturday, Freeze stayed true to his word.
After Thorne led Auburn down the field for a touchdown on the game's opening drive, Ashford checked in on the second drive as the Tigers neared the red zone. He ran for 8 yards. The drive resulted in a field goal. Freeze called his number again on the first play of the second quarter, and this time Ashford took it 10 yards to the end zone.
It would be the first of three rushing touchdowns for Ashford in the second quarter alone. He finished the day with 51 yards rushing on nine carries.
"Every press conference I've been in I've said, 'Robby Ashford is vital to us winning football games.' I don't know how else to say it," Freeze said after Saturday's 59-14 victory. "He is vital to us winning football games. I don't know exactly what that looks like week to week, but I know he's vital to us winning football games and we need him."
To Ashford's credit, he responded to losing the quarterback battle.
"The first few days after I found out were hard," Ashford said. "I was kind of down on myself. 'Am I good enough?' It didn't feel like I was good enough. I had a few rough days, but I knew God has a plan for me. He wouldn't put me through this battle without having something ahead for me. I just give all the credit to Him because He's helped me get through this and be that guy I know I can be for this team – even if I'm not the starter."
Thorne didn't complain either when Ashford checked into the game Saturday. He was just as excited as anyone on the sideline when Ashford got in the end zone.
"I don't really care how we get in the end zone as long as we're scoring points," Thorne said. "There are some plays we ran that definitely seemed like they were meant for a little faster of a quarterback. I don't think I'm slow, but Robby is obviously really fast."
Thorne also produced a touchdown Saturday, connecting with Jay Fair on a 29-yard touchdown pass early in the third quarter. Fair got open over the middle, and Thorne dropped it in perfectly, hitting Fair in stride as he crossed the goal line. It was Thorne's first touchdown toss for Auburn.
"It felt good," Thorne said. "Getting that first one under your belt and getting that out of the way. Same thing with the first game. A lot of firsts today. It was awesome."
On a day where Auburn didn't have to pass it as much, Thorne finished 10 of 17 for 141 yards and the lone touchdown. He completed four passes of 20 or more yards.
"I thought he played really solid and protected the football," Freeze said. "We didn't ask him to do a whole lot in the passing game, truthfully, but I thought he was really solid. He'll be ready to improve off what he sees."
From a team perspective, it could not have gone much better for Auburn in the season opener. Both quarterbacks played and played well – each bringing a different dynamic to the offense. Geriner, the team's third-string quarterback, also saw some action in the second half and completed a couple of nice passes.
More importantly, there's good camaraderie in the quarterback room.
"We've just got a band of brothers in that room," Ashford said. "It's been great. Everybody pushes each other. We want each other to be great. We were talking about what our celebrations are going to be before the game. 'What are we going to do when we score?' That's how we are. It's good to be with a guy like (Thorne) and just this whole room."