Impactful plays and takeaways from Auburn’s 39-33 OT loss at Mississippi State

Auburn was just a few performs away from overcoming a 24-3 deficit throughout Saturday’s 39-33 additional time loss in opposition to Mississippi State at Davis Wade Stadium. Tank Bigsby’s 41-yard fourth-quarter landing gave Auburn its first lead of the sport. Bigsby’s rating emphatically punctuated a 22-point run of unanswered factors by the Tigers.

Jarquez Hunter scored a landing with lower than 90 seconds left, giving Auburn a 33-30 lead. The Tigers may’ve folded after Lideatrick Griffin housed an Anders Carlson kickoff for 92 yards with 8:12 remaining within the first half.

“However man, them children, they didn’t blink. They didn’t blink. Like, ‘Coach, we obtained you. No person’s quitting. We’re going to proceed to serve,” Williams mentioned. “We’re going to proceed to bleed. We’re going to proceed to struggle. We’re going to proceed to struggle on offense, man.’”

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Carlson’s 27-yard subject objective resulting in the kickoff felt like a major loss for the Tigers. The explanation why results in certainly one of a number of important performs within the heartbreaking loss for Auburn.

Mississippi State 17 Auburn 0 2nd and 10 ball on MSU 26 2nd QTR 12:34

It obtained ugly quick for Auburn. The Tigers had 29 yards within the first quarter, 5 passing, and 24 dashing yards in opposition to the Bulldogs. Will Rogers had 139 passing yards in the identical quarter with a landing and obtained his second of the sport early within the second body.

Auburn wanted a break, and it obtained one when Jeffery M’Ba sacked Rogers, and Dylan Brooks recovered the fumble created by M’Ba. The Tigers obtained the ball on the Bulldog’s eight-yard line. A landing places the Tigers again within the sport immediately. As an alternative, the drive stalled, which led to a different play that didn’t go Auburn’s means.

Mississippi State 17 Auburn 0 2nd and Aim ball on MSU 10 2nd QTR 11:03

Jeremiah Wright will get known as for a blindside block and focusing on on the run for 3 yards by beginning quarterback Robby Ashford. The refs reviewed the focusing on and rescinded it, however the 15-yard penalty for the blindside block remained. Auburn went from having the ball on the seven-yard line to 3rd down on the 25-yard line.

One other challenge for Auburn was the fourth down state of affairs. Ashford had a 15-yard run on third down, and it appeared the offense was going to go for it. However the staff obtained known as for a delay of sport. Williams tried to name a timeout, however the play clock ran down. Auburn kicked the sector objective, 17-3, earlier than the 90-plus-yard kickoff return.

Mississippi State 24 Auburn 6 2nd and 14 on MSU 20 third QTR 10:18

Auburn failed to attain on the primary drive of the second half. A comeback appeared bleak till Auburn’s particular groups made an enormous play. Barton Lester and Sean Jackson tackled the Bulldog punter after a fumbled snap. Auburn’s offense obtained the ball on the Bulldog’s 16-yard line.

Ashford capitalized on the chance for his first of two landing runs. The Tigers couldn’t convert the two-point try, however 24-12 felt far more hopeful.

Ashford’s rating on third and three from the Bulldog’s 18 on the 4:18 mark within the third quarter introduced Auburn inside putting distance at 24-19.

— Williams can have lots to be ok with with regards to Auburn’s effort in his first sport because the Tigers, interim head coach. Nevertheless, there might be numerous work to do when the staff reconvenes on Monday for observe to organize for Texas A&M. The Tigers had 14 penalties for 115 yards, even should you take away the questionable name on Wright for the blindside block, he had one other private foul that was a no-doubter within the second half. Auburn can’t afford to provide away yards on foolish penalties.

— Auburn rushed for 256 yards and held MSU to 13 yards. Nevertheless, Rogers threw for 375 yards in comparison with Ashford’s 75 on 7-22 passing. Ashford mentioned Auburn’s dedication to working the ball regardless of trailing by 18 factors at halftime.

“You form of noticed the circumstances,” Ashford mentioned. “The ball’s slippery. Which lots of people don’t know as a result of you’ll be able to’t actually inform, however with that form of bizarre rain, the bottom’s moist, so middle’s obtained the ball; he’s not attempting to make it slick, however you get it, and it’s moist, so our go sport simply wasn’t nice, however you’ve obtained to provide cred to Mississippi State’s protection, too. They performed nice. When you already know, you’ll be able to run the ball, and when you may have working backs like what we’ve, you’ve gotta give these guys the ball. Auburn’s identified for working the soccer, so it was form of simply (a) slick soccer. All the pieces round it leveled us to know, ‘OK, we’ve obtained to pound it.’”

— Auburn’s willingness to adapt confirmed through the sport, however it began on Monday when Harsin departed this system. Followers would possibly’ve been fed up with Harsin, however having to vary a lot with 4 weeks left within the season is difficult for the gamers and workers members who’re impacted past three and a half hours on Saturdays in southern soccer stadiums.

“You recognize, you all don’t know the week—I do know you’ve seen what occurred,” Williams mentioned, “However you haven’t any concept the week that we simply had with the dearth of preparation as a result of what went down on Monday and a pair issues all through the week that went on.”

Nubyjas Wilborn covers Auburn for Alabama Media Group. Comply with him on Twitter @nwilborn19