No. 6 Auburn Squeaks out ugly 27-20 OT Win against FCS Jacksonville State

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

The Auburn Tigers, and the SEC, avoided what would have been arguably the biggest upset in college football history squeaking out a 27-20 overtime win against FCS program Jacksonville State.

Auburn (2-0) picked up the go ahead points on a three-yard touchdown run by Peyton Barber on the Tigers’ first possession. The Gamecocks deferred getting the ball on offense second, but could not convert a fourth-and-goal play for a touchdown to send the game into a second overtime.

The emphasis of the game for any college football fan is the importance of all three phases of the game. The Gamecocks (1-1) had a 20-13 lead with 2:51 left in the game. Punter Harnish MacInnes shanked a punt from the 14 yard line giving the Tigers a short field at the 31 for the game tying drive.

Jacksonville State was in control much of the game going down 3-0 late in the first on a Daniel Carlson 27-yard field goal but tied the game early in the second on a 32-yard field goal. Auburn answered with another Carlson field goal, this one a 49-yard booming kick. Midway through the second quarter the Gamecocks took a 10-6 lead on an 11-yard Eli Jenkins pass to Josh Barge.

Auburn took the lead early in the third on a Jeremy Johnson 51-yard touchdown pass to Roc Thomas. Early in the fourth Jacksonville answered tying the game at 13-all. The Gamecocks took the lead at the 6:06 mark when Troymaine Pope went in off the left side for a 5-yard score.

After the shanked Gamecocks’ punt, Johnson connected with wide receiver Melvin Ray in the corner of the right end zone on a 10-yard game tying play.

Jacksonville outgained Auburn 438 total yards to 401. The Gamecocks stayed in the game limiting their turnovers (1) while Auburn gave the ball back three times. Johnson had three picks against Louisville in Week 1 and threw two on Saturday against Jacksonville State.

Jenkins played well in the pocket completing 26-of-43 passes for 277 yards with one touchdown and one pick. He also collected 37 yards on the ground off 18 carries. He was able to avoid Auburn’s rush much of the game being sacked twice.

Johnson was 21-of-32 for 236 yards with two scores. Peyton Barber led the Tigers with 125 yards on the ground off 23 carries with a score. Ricardo Lewis led the Tigers with 10 receptions for 76 yards. Roc Thomas was second with 73 receiving yards on two receptions with a score. Duke Williams was kept quiet held to two catches for 22 yards.

Troymaine Pope had 85 rushing yards with a score pacing the way for the Gamecocks. Jenkins top receiver was Josh Barge pulling down game-highs 14 passes for 132 yards with a score. Ruben Gonzalez had receptions for 101 yards.

Auburn may have been looking ahead to next week when they travel to Baton Rouge to face No. 14 LSU. Jacksonville State returns home hosting Tennessee State.

Photo credit: Butch Dill; Peyton Barber scores game winning touchdown for Auburn in overtime against Jacksonville State.