AUBURN - Auburn got back in the win column on Saturday night in Jordan-Hare Stadium with a sound 45-19 win over New Mexico.
Here are the five takeaways from the game:
Impressive outing for Hank Brown
Hank Brown had an impressive night under center for the Tigers in his first collegiate start. The redshirt freshman showed a nice demeanor in the pocket and finished his night with 235 yards on 17 completions.
Quick passes out of the backfield early on allowed Brown to get in a groove as he started off 6-8 with 81 yards. He led three straight scoring drives to start off the game, with an early touchdown pass to Camden Brown.
Brown had no shortage of playmakers on the field tonight as he hit 10 different Auburn playmakers, with four different pass-catchers scoring touchdowns.
Secondary Struggles
The secondary woes continued for Auburn as the Tigers’ defense got carved up by the likes of Devon Dampier and the Lobo’s passing game.
Making matters worse, starting cornerback Kayin Lee did not take the field and adjacent starter Keionte Scott went down in the second half after a collision with Austin Keys.
Auburn gave up 291 yards through the air and will need to get things shored up as the competition gets stiff from here on out.
However, the lone highlight for the Tiger’s defense was two forced turnovers - the first of the season - with Antonio Kite and Jerrin Thompson recording two interceptions.
Lack of pass rush
A contributing factor in New Mexico’s success through the air was the lack of pass rush from Auburn’s front seven. The Tigers recorded only one tackle for a loss and didn’t record a sack.
Dampier’s elusiveness played a role in the Tigers' struggles as he escaped the pocket with ease all night.
Hugh Freeze mentioned throughout the week that his defense didn’t crash the pocket well enough for his liking against Cal. Defensive coordinator DJ Durkin will want to improve on that statistic with athletic signal-caller Taylen Green suiting up against the Tigers next week.
Successful night on the ground
The Tigers rushing attack was on full display with Jarquez Hunter leading the way, consuming 152 yards on 20 carries. He averaged 7.6 yards per carry and added a touchdown.
Behind him was Damari Alston who had his best showing of the season with 80 yards on 10 carries.
The Tigers amassed 268 total yards on the ground from five different ball carriers.
Pulled away in the second half
Auburn pulled away in the second half, executing its offensive drives to perfection. The Tigers scored on all of their second-half opportunities, excluding the final drive as they kneeled the clock out.
A mix of the pass and run was the formula for success. Brown threw for three touchdowns coming out of the half with Alston putting the final touches on the night with a 22-yard rushing touchdown.
Auburn improves to 2-1 on the season with the win. They will start conference play next Saturday as the Arkansas Razorbacks make the trek to the Plains. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CTS and will be aired on ESPN.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email logan.fowler@1819News.com.
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