#18 Auburn overcomes Kansas State in final 2:01, 23-13;

Collegefootballfan.com nails down #115!

Auburn, AL -  Eighteenth-ranked Auburn struggled past Kansas State in both teams' openers for a 23-13 win by scoring two TDs during the final 2:01 of play.  Brandon Cox's 3-yard TD pass to TE Gabe McKenzie provided the Tigers (1-0) with a late lead, and Antonio Coleman's 34-yard  return of Josh Freeman's fumble after being sacked by Quentin Groves at 1:09 sealed the win for Auburn.  Both teams' running games struggled behind inexperienced offensive lines and compensated by relying on deception and a few big plays to get into scoring position.  In addition, AU's leading rusher, Danny Hester, was suspended indefinitely for unresolved academic issues and won't return until corrected.  For Collegefootballfan.com, Kansas State became the 115th team to reach The Goal leaving only four more College Bowl Division teams to go!  We enjoyed great Auburn hospitality once again from our friends Charlie and Lynda Murren and their family, Auburn Alum and big Auburn fans.

     Kansas State opened its first offensive series from the 39 and drove to the Auburn two-yard line keyed by the passing of Soph QB Josh Freeman (37 of 52, 268 yards, 2 INTs).  Brooks Rossman's 20-yard FG gave the Wildcats (0-1) a quick 3-0 lead. Not until the final possession of the first period could Auburn muster a response when QB Brandon Cox connected over the middle to wide-open WR Prechae Rodriguez for a 55-yard pass to the KSU eighteen-yard line.  The Wildcats seemed to stop the Tigers on a fourth and one at the nine, but a late whistle for a delay of game negated the play which should have at least given Auburn fourth and six from the fourteen, but instead Auburn HC Tommy Tuberville argued that the play was not delayed and Auburn was given another chance on fourth and one to convert a first down.  We watched closely through our binoculars from our 50-yard line seats on the Nelson Club level of Jordan-Hare Stadium, and saw the play stopped and the whistle blown as the stop was made.  KSU Coach Ron Prince didn't argue, but if that was not a penalty, the play was complete and should have been the Wildcats ball from what we saw.  KSU stifled the Tigers after the subsequent first down, and PK Wes Bynum matched Rossman's kick to tie the score, 3-3, less than a minute into the second period.  There was poor officiating during the game, and KSU beared the brunt with 16 flags for 141 yards, most deserved, while the home teams totals were exactly half of their opposition's.

     Bynum gave the Tigers a 6-3 lead on his team's next possession in the second period with a 39-yard FG.  On Auburn's subsequent possession starting from its own two, Cox ducked a would-be tackler in his own end zone to avoid a safety before throwing a pass that resulted in interference against KSU.  The senior QB 's mobility averted a potentially dangerous turnaround agaisnt the Tigers.  However, a Cox pass was later intercepted by LB Reggie Walker to give the Wildcats a chance to score before the first half expired. However, Auburn LB Tray Blackmon almost turned the tables as he picked off a Josh Freeman pass as time expired in the half.  A touchdown-saving tackle from behind by the big QB stopped the Tigers from extending their lead before the half ended.  Auburn maintained the 6-3 lead at the half.

     The Auburn Marching Band performed at halftime and we got to wander the Nelson Club Level of Jordan-Hare that hosted 86,439 college football fans this evening.   Charlie had gotten us a parking pass along with the great seats that put us close to the stadium where we watched the Tiger Walk before the game.  AU does need to set up a few convenient port-a-johns nearby, however, for those of us sans mobile homes.  The games at J-H are now played on what's known as Pat Dye Field at Jordan-Hare Stadium.  The former Auburn Coach who led the Tigers from 1981-1992 whose team we saw in 1985, has his photograph overlooking the field along with other Auburn football legends.  The glaring statistic of the first half - both teams with experienced running backs, despite Hester's suspension, playing behind inexperienced lines were going nowhere.  Auburn rushed for only 26 yards while KSU totaled only 17.  Kansas State relied primarily on the arm of QB Josh Freeman. The QB made no rushing attempts in the first half.  We expected to see State's offense come out with a strategy utilizing the legs as well as the arm of this talented, young QB.

     On Auburn's first, second-half possession, S Marcus Watts made a diving catch of an errant Cox pass to start the Cats at their own 30.  KSU came out and played with a different albeit unexpected offensive strategy.  Four reverse options brought them eventually to the Tigers' 25.  Chicanery paid off finally on a reverse end-around pass from WR Jordy Nelson from the left flat to a wide-open James Patton in the right corner of the end zone for the first TD of the game. Rossman's PAT put the Wildcats up, 10-6.  On K-State's subsequent drive, the deception stopped, but Freeman finally tucked the ball on a QB draw and gained fifteen yards.  The drive put the Cats in position for Rossman to boot a 40-yard FG to make the score, 13-6, in favor of the visitors. The Tigers forced KSU to punt from its own16 after a Quentin Groves sack of Freeman.  Kansas State Punter Tim Reyer booted the ball 55 yards, but his coverage team lagged, and returner Robert Dunn took advantage speeding about twenty yards up the middle before breaking a few tackles and streaking toward the right pylon before being tackled at State's 15 for a 57-yard return.  The Cat D, however, rose to the occasion again near its own goal line.  A sack of Cox on a third down forced the Tigers to go for three, and Bynum knocked in a 31-yard FG to cut the Kansas State lead to 13-9.  That score held deep into the final period.

     Late in the final stanza, a couple of slant passes to the left side got AU to State's six.  An off-sides against KSU moved Auburn three yards closer, and with 2:01 left, Cox faked play action and it paid off connecting with McKenzie standing wide open deep in the left corner of the end zone.  The Tigers re-took the lead, 16-13.  Kansas State came out throwing.  Auburn rushed hard and on second down, DE Quentin Groves sacked Freeman hard from behind forcing the fumble picked up by Coleman and run into the end zone unscathed to put the game out of reach, 23-13, with 1:09 left.  Auburn celebrated a tough but sloppy win.  As AU mascot Aubie the Tiger's poster read, "You're not in Kansas any more", prophetic for the Wildcats.

     K-State returns home to Manhattan next week to host Dick Tomey's San Jose State Spartans who fell to our sleeper this year,  Arizona State, 45-3, in their opener.  The Tigers may heed Aubie's words as well when it hosts 1-0 South Florida of the Big East led by another talented, sophomore QB, Matt Grothe.  From what we saw and what we've heard, the Bulls will pose some stiffer competition than Kansas State.  It will be another close game for the Tigers.  Collegefootballfan.com saw its 115th team toward the Goal and will add two more teams in three weeks.  In the meantime, we will be in New Brunswick, NJ next Friday night to see #16 Rutgers (1-0) host 2006 rushing leader Navy (1-0).  On Saturday, we will see which teams' opener indicates what kind of season lies ahead for each when #17 Penn State (1-0) hosts Notre Dame (0-1).  Guest Game Analyst Lynda Murren was prophetic for the Notre Dame outcome.  She said to always watch out for Georgia Tech in their opener.  She saw what the Yellow Jackets did to her Tigers twice in openers of recent years!

EXTRA POINTS:  We like the new kick-off rule starting at the 30-yard line.  It will add excitement and more offense to the game as more drives will start out beyond the 20-yard line.  We won't miss kicks going for touchbacks in the end zone. It should be very unusual to see teams start from behind the 20-yard line from now on!

     We were disappointed that Kansas State did not use their big QB on more running plays.  He's big, fast, and tough to bring down.  We thought that this was the added dimension that this program was building around.  He ran the ball only once for fifteen yards.  We thought that KSU could have loosened up the Auburn pressure toward the end with that strategy.  KSU netted only 51 yards in the game.  Maybe the coaching staff is hesitant to have him get too banged up early in the season.  After four various reverse plays leading to their only touchdown, K-State never used any reverses for the balance of the game to gain back needed offensive momentum.

     Cox was banged up taking numerous hits during the course of the game.  He finished 17 of 30 for 229 yards and one TD.  His O-Line needs to protect better if he's going to make it through the season.  WR Prechae Rodriguez led all Tiger receivers with 73 yards.  Auburn's primary RB, Ben Tate, came up with 83 yards on 23 carries.

     On Sunday, we got the added bonus of attending the Mets-Braves game at Turner Field in Atlanta.  Charlie and Lynda's daughter, Megan, who worked for Auburn during her school days there for the football staff and got us a tour of the pressbox at J-H prior to our first Arkansas game in 2004, is now working for the PR department of the Braves.  As great Mets fans, we sat among many guests of the Braves up behind home plate in the mezzanine, and we watched Tom Glavine get the win against his former team and teammate John Smoltz, 3-2.  David Wright smacked a two-run homer for the Mets to gain the three game sweep over Atlanta.  Megan would not acknowledge she knew the guy in the Mets hat and shirt in our section during the game.  We had a great dinner with Charlie, Lynda, Megan, and Laura Murren that night.  Laura is a student at D-2 football school, Valdosta State, national champs in 2004.  It was a great start to our 2007 season not only adding #115 in a very competitive game, but we got to visit our great friends as well.  We love this time of the year!  And it's only the beginning.

   --------------------Steve Koreivo, ed.