Auburn fails to play backup quarterback

Leading up to Saturday’s game, Auburn coaches held firm to the fact that backup quarterback Kodi Burns would still be a part of the Tigers’ game plan.

However, the mobile quarterback didn’t take one snap against Mississippi State. Not even when AU had the ball inside the Bulldogs’ 10-yard line.

“We got in a situation where we thought we could win it on defense,” Auburn head coach Tommy Tuberville said. “We weren’t going to put him in there cold, and that was my fault. We probably should have played him some.

“But on the road in a situation like this, we felt like if we kept our field position and not make terrible mistakes, which we did … it’s just coaching. But he’ll get his share.”

Flag on the play
Auburn had 94 yards in penalties for the game. Mississippi State had 116 yards of total offense. Not the prettiest game ever played.

“It was ugly,” Tuberville confirmed.

Oh, Auburn also fumbled the ball three times, twice in the fourth quarter.

But it was the penalties that cost the Tigers the most, including the one that gave Mississippi State its only points of the ballgame.

In the fourth quarter, Auburn sophomore center Ryan Pugh was called for a holding penalty in Auburn’s end zone on a third-and-9.

Since the hold occurred in the end zone, it’s an automatic safety, making the score 3-2 Auburn with 7:05 to play.

“The holding calls were interesting,” Tuberville said. “We’re going to obviously have to work on that. That’s tough, especially when they know not to hold when the ball is in the end zone.

“I’ve got to really look at that one to see the holding call. Just way too many mistakes on offense.”

Injury report
In the third quarter, Brad Lester went down awkwardly after a 6-yard run, landing on his shoulder and head. Medical personnel attended to Lester for some time, before the senior running back was taken off the field on a cart. Lester was secured with a neck brace and backboard before being placed on the cart.
However, the senior was seen walking around outside the locker room after Auburn’s win, still wearing a neck brace.

“He’s fine,” Tuberville said. “He’s just sore. He’s inside (the locker room). The X-ray’s were negative. They just took precautions.

“He’s a hard player, but he’ll be ready to go next week.”

Under center
On fourth-and-inches from the Auburn 46-yard line, Tiger quarterback Chris Todd did something he’s only done twice before: He took a snap under center.

The junior quarterback took a quick snap from Ryan Pugh and pushed his way for the necessary yardage, which was only about 6 inches. It worked, and Auburn had a first down.

The other two times Todd took a direct snap prior to that play? When AU took consecutive knees to run out the clock against Southern Miss last week.
First-half domination

Auburn’s 3-0 lead at halftime marked the third consecutive game the Tiger defense had shut out an opponent in the first half.
Auburn has outscored its opponents 34-0 in the first half this season.

BESTS
Best concentration: In the second quarter, wideout Montez Billings hauled in a Chris Todd pass for 30 yards while leaping in the air over the middle of the field. Billings, not only was able to make an athletic catch, but did it with a MSU defender on his back. The play set up Auburn’s first score — a 35-yard field goal.

Best hard-nosed defense: After the Tigers missed their second field goal of the night — a 22-yarder late in the third quarter — the momentum was shifting to MSU’s side. But the Tiger defense forced a three-and-out to get the offense the ball back in good field position.

Best punt: On Mississippi State’s second punt of the game, Blake McAdams ripped a 53-yarder which landed at the Auburn 4-yard line and bounced immediately out of bounds.

WORSTS
Worst way to start the second half: On the first play of the third quarter, Auburn QB Chris Todd mishandled a high snap from center Ryan Pugh. When Todd went to hand it off to running back Brad Lester, he never had a handle on the football. MSU recovered the fumble at the Tigers 32-yard line.

Worst cutback decision: On a screen pass to running back Ben Tate out in the left flat, the junior found no running room on that side of the field. Instead of trying to salvage something out of the play, Tate took off toward the other side of the field to the opposite sideline. He lost 2 yards on the play.

Worst fourth-down playcall: On fourth-and-1 from the Auburn 37, Mississippi State, instead of pounding the ball up the middle for the first down, ran a play-action rollout pass, which fell incomplete, giving Auburn the ball on downs.