AUBURN — The Auburn Tigers started off the 2024 season with a big win over in-state foe Alabama A&M on Saturday night in Jordan-Hare Stadium, dismantling the Bulldogs 73-3.
What are the biggest takeaways from the game?
The Auburn offense came out on fire
Payton Thorne and the Auburn offense didn’t waste much time before lighting up the scoreboard, as they scored three touchdowns on their first six plays from scrimmage.
The Tigers eclipsed the 200-yard mark on their fourth drive of the game and scored 28 points in the first quarter—the most points Auburn has scored in a first quarter since its 2018 Music City Bowl appearance against Purdue.
Payton Thorne had a career night
Granted, it was against a “lesser” opponent, but Thorne had his best game in an orange and blue uniform to date. The senior quarterback threw for more yards in the first quarter (158) than he did in nine games as Auburn’s starting quarterback a season ago.
Thorne — who didn’t play a snap in the second half — finished his night with 314 yards on 13 completions. He also added 49 yards rushing with four carries, making him the second-leading ball carrier on the night.
Auburn’s wide receivers showed out
Whether it was a freshman newcomer or a veteran transfer, the Tigers' receiving corps showed out, assisting the quarterbacks in a 451-yard performance through the air.
Malcolm Simmons led the group with 91 yards on three catches, but the rest of the room wasn’t far behind. Perry Thompson had 82 yards on 2 catches, while KeAndre Lambert-Smith had 80 yards on three catches.
Between Thompson, Lambert-Smith, and Simmons, they combined for plays of 70, 67 and 57 yards, respectively.
Don’t forget about the defense
DJ Durkin’s defense played with lots of intensity on Saturday night, wreaking havoc on the A&M offense.
The Tigers’ defense didn’t allow a touchdown throughout the contest and showed their strength with two key goal line stands in the red zone.
They held the A&M offense to just 38 yards rushing, with 11 tackles for loss. Jalen McLeod led the way with five tackles on the night.
The Tigers will get ready for the California Golden Bears making the cross-country trip to the Plains next Saturday. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN2.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email logan.fowler@1819News.com.
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