AUBURN, Ala. – Payton Thorne threw five touchdown passes – three to Cam Coleman – and Jarquez Hunter eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark for the season in Auburn’s 48-14 victory over Louisiana Monroe Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
“Happy we’re going home from Jordan-Hare with a win,” Auburn coach Hugh Freeze said. “When you can have a day like today, I’m proud of our staff and kids. It was a complete effort and pretty good execution most of the day.”
Thorne completed 22 of 32 passes for 286 yards and five TDs, Coleman tallied 100 yards on eight receptions, thrice reaching the end zone, and Hunter recorded his 11th career hundred-yard game, netting 102 yards on 14 carries.
“He’s very deserving of it for the way he works and comes every single day to give his best to this team and program,” Freeze said of Hunter’s milestones.
KeAndre Lambert-Smith added 104 receiving yards on six catches, giving Auburn a 100-yard rusher and two 100-yard receivers in the same game for the first time since Stephen Davis, Thomas Bailey and Andy Fuller vs. Florida in 1994.
MAKING IT LOOK EASY @drelambertt https://t.co/hBGM9uU0Sy pic.twitter.com/nZt1P7X8hM
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) November 16, 2024
“We know we’ve been pretty successful running the ball, but any time we can get in tempo and get our receivers and quarterback in sync, we have looked better,” Freeze said. “It got those receivers involved earlier and gave them some confidence.”
After Auburn’s defense forced a three-and-out on the game’s opening possession, the Tigers drove 60 yards in eight plays.
Three Hunter caries netted 21 yards, then Thorne and Cam Coleman teamed up for a 20-yard touchdown that gave Auburn a 7-0 lead at the 10:57 mark of the first quarter.
Jalen McLeod’s third-down sack forced a punt that led to Ian Vachon’s first Auburn field goal, a 22-yarder that gave the Tigers a 10-0 first-quarter lead.
A Warhawks punt pinned Auburn at its 1-yard line, leading to a drive that tied the longest in program history. Auburn marched 99 yards in 16 plays, consuming nearly half of the second quarter.
Converting four third downs, Thorne completed to Coleman and Rivaldo Fairweather to move the chains on third-and-longs.
Coleman’s seventh reception, a 3-yard touchdown catch, gave Auburn a 17-0 lead with 7:44 remaining in the half.
Auburn’s defense forced its third three-and-out of the half, giving the offense another opportunity with 1:25 to play.
On third-and-4, Thorne found Fairweather down the middle for 21 yards to ULM’s 30-yard line with 13 seconds left.
Auburn’s offensive line picked up a blitz, allowing Thorne to throw to his right to a leaping Lambert-Smith, who caught the pass at the 7 and hopped into the end zone for a touchdown with 6 seconds left that gave Auburn a 24-0 halftime lead.
Louisiana Monroe scored a touchdown on its first possession of the second half but Auburn answered in spectacular fashion.
On fourth-and-4 from ULM’s 22-yard line, Thorne floated a pass to the end zone that Simmons snagged with one hand, a highlight that will be replayed on the video board for years to come.
WHAT A CATCH, ARE YOU SERIOUS 😱
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 16, 2024
Cam Coleman with his third TD of the day 😤 @SECNetwork pic.twitter.com/8cc0EqCrRS
Thorne added his fifth touchdown pass, a 40-yarder to freshman Malcolm Simmons, that put Auburn ahead 38-7 late in the third quarter.
Auburn added another score early in the fourth quarter after the Warhawks punter fumbled a snap, giving the Tigers possession at ULM’s 12-yard line.
Two plays later, Damari Alston scored on a 7-yard run to give Auburn a 45-7 lead with 11:48 to play in the fourth quarter.
Vachon’s second field goal, a 26-yarder, put Auburn on top 48-7 with 1:48 to play before ULM scored on a 65-yard touchdown pass with 8 seconds left for the game’s final score.
The Tigers (4-6, 1-5) remain on the Plains next Saturday for their home finale against Texas A&M at 6:30 p.m. CT on ESPN and the Auburn Sports Network.
“Can’t wait,” Freeze said. “It’ll be a tall task. They’re extremely talented. It will be a good test for us.”
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on X: @jeff_shearer