This review isn’t going to give this game what it deserves, but it’s Iron Bowl week and I like to move on quickly regardless of the precursor. That said, let’s take a look back at one of the more exciting games in Jordan-Hare history.
I told you it was going to be fun. Auburn had nothing to lose. They could go out and let it all hang out and see what happened. What happened was Auburn’s offense played loose, fast, and free, and got up 21-0. Cam Coleman, everybody.
But the Aggies made a few adjustments and slowed the Auburn offense down a tad. This allowed the Texas A&M offense, led by a pretty good quarterback, to finally get some points on the board.
It’s not like the Aggies weren’t moving the ball. While the Auburn offense was scoring fast and furiously, the Auburn defense did allow some yards, but the Aggies missed a field goal, then the Aggie quarterback threw an interception. Eventually the dam was going to spring a little bit of leak.
Over the course of the 2nd quarter and early part of the 3rd quarter, Texas A&M rattled off 21 unanswered points of their own to tie it up.
After one of Auburn’s more terrible field goal attempts ever, and finally a three-and-out from Texas A&M, 1st quarter Thorne showed up, rolled to his right, and threw one up for KLS. He Moss’d the dude and then Jarquez scored one of his three touchdowns on the night to go up 28-21.
Did you know he only has eight touchdowns this season despite being Auburn’s first 1000-yard rusher since 2021?
Texas A&M punted once more, which made it feel like the game was almost in hand. But after a tipped-pass interception, the Aggies were in the redzone. The defense stood tall and held the Aggies to a field goal. No worries. We’re still up four.
However, three punts in a row, two of them being less than desirable, gave Teas A&M extra possessions and short fields. So yeah, they were able to take their first lead of the night with around four minutes to go. Not good.
Even worse, Auburn went three-and-out with -6 yards. I saw people leave. It was looking grim.
But, Auburn had all three timeouts and used them all perfectly while the defense made one last stand in regulation. Auburn got the ball back on the 15-yard-line with 2:30 to go.
What if I told you that Auburn ran 15 plays in less than 2:30 minutes, all with no timeouts? Crazy, right? It was pretty much a perfect drive given the scenario and pretty much ended regulation with a walk-on kicking the game-tying field goal.
To overtime, we went…
Texas A&M went first and scored on a pass play where the receiver gained way too many yards after first contact. Then Jarquez scored on a little option-pitch.
Both teams kicked field goals in the 2nd overtime. On Auburn’s half, there was an obvious defensive pass interference backed up a by non-existent offensive pass interference. This backed the Tigers up, but thanks to a tough run by Thorne, the walk-on kicker was given an easier, but still tough kick. He made it. This assured me Auburn was meant to win.
Then the game went to the new-ish overtime rules which they claim speeds up the game. But trotting a team out for one play seems to be a waste time to me.
In both attempts at the 2-point conversion, tough passes were thrown and not caught. To the 4th OT…
In both attempts at the next 2-point conversion, tough passes were thrown… but only one was caught.
Auburn won the football game.
It was a fun start that went away by the 3rd quarter, but that allowed a more fun result to happen. It was almost everything Auburn needed after this close-but-no-cigar season.
Now it’s Iron Bowl week.
