Penalties hurt Auburn

Earlier in the week, offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn said he was going to do everything in his power to not let another penalty-infested quarter happen again.

He may have spoken too soon. Or, more precisely, he might have been speaking just for Auburn’s offense.

The Tigers committed six penalties for 59 yards in the first 15 minutes, aiding in the early 14-point lead LSU jumped out to. They made only one in the final three quarters.

When combined with the eight-penalty fourth quarter against Kentucky, the Tigers committed 14 penalties for a combined 114 yards in the span of 30 game minutes.

Only one of the Tigers’ first-quarter penalties Saturday was on the offense, but it was costly. With Auburn lined up to go for it on fourth-and-1 at its 48-yard line, right tackle Andrew McCain jumped off-sides, pushing the Tigers back 5 yards and bringing on the punt team.

The rest were on the defense, particularly of the extracurricular persuasion.

Thirty-five of LSU’s 83 yards on its game-opening drive came via Auburn penalties. Safety Zac Etheridge’s unsportsmanlike conduct penalty proved the most detrimental, coming well after an incomplete pass on a third-and-13 at the Tigers’ 34. LSU scored two plays later on a Jordan Jefferson touchdown pass to Terrence Toliver.

He’s OK
Defensive end Antonio Coleman, already nagged by a number of injuries, provided a brief scary moment for Tiger fans when he went down with an apparent serious knee injury in Saturday’s first half.

Falling to the ground after helping sack Jefferson in the second quarter, Coleman lay motionless before Auburn trainers arrived on the field. After a few more moments, Coleman walked off the field with the assistance of two trainers and did not put any pressure on his right leg.

A few minutes on the stationary bike appeared to cure everything, though, as Coleman was back on the field for the Tigers’ next defensive possession.
Coleman’s two half-sacks brought him to 18.0 for his career, which puts him in sole possession of sixth place on Auburn’s all-time list.

The Bull gets loose
Linebacker Eltoro Freeman reappeared in the starting lineup Saturday and didn’t let a single snap go to waste.

Freeman one-upped his entire season’s tackle total in the first 30 minutes, picking up eight in the first half against LSU.

Freeman didn’t play a single snap at linebacker against Kentucky the week before and didn’t even make the trip to Arkansas because of “personal reasons.”
Contributions from Freeman were seen as essential throughout the week, considering that the Tigers dress just five healthy scholarship linebackers.

Hot attack
Defensive end Antoine “Hot” Carter made his second consecutive start at defensive end, perhaps signaling a legitimate change at the position.

After his start against Kentucky, Carter downplayed the apparent power shift, saying regular starter Michael Goggans was hampered by some minor injuries in practice.

Goggans said he was good to go when he met with reporters Tuesday, but didn’t resume his starting role, which he had been in for 18 consecutive games.

Number swap
Watch out for Anthony Gulley. If he wants your number, you might be on your way off the team.

For the second time this season, Gulley has taken over a departed player’s number, as the true freshman is now wearing No. 8 — the number previously worn by cornerback Harry Adams, who was dismissed from the team Thursday for an unspecified violation of team rules.

Gulley started the season wearing No. 24 but switched three weeks into the season to No. 84 — the jersey previously worn by senior wide receiver Montez Billings. Billings, in the midst of a four-game suspension, left the team for “personal reasons.”

In then out
Opelika native Zach Clayton’s return to the field was a brief one Saturday.

After missing three games with an ankle injury, Clayton returned to the field and played with the second-team defensive line, but left injured in the second quarter, hobbling on his right ankle, and did not return.

By the Numbers
0 – Auburn’s points in the first half, marking the first scoreless first half ever by a Gus Malzahn-coached offense.
42 – yards of Auburn offense in the first half.
35 – penalty yards by the Auburn defense on LSU first drive of the game, which resulted in an LSU touchdown.
3 – consecutive Auburn losses, marking the second straight year the Tigers have taken a three-game losing streak into the final four games of the season.