Auburn vs Arkansas Recap: Tigers Storm Hogs 45-21
Aug 30, 2014; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers receiver Melvin Ray (82) celebrates with quarterback Jeremy Johnson (6) after scoring a touchdown agains the Arkansas Razorbacks during the first half at Jordan Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
It was close early, but the Auburn Tigers pulled away in the second half to earn their first win of the 2014 season. Auburn beat Arkansas 45-21 Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
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After entering the locker room at halftime tied at 21, the second half belonged to the Auburn Tigers – and to the weather.
Nick Marshall, who was held out of the first half of the game, entered in the third quarter and led Auburn to 17 consecutive points to start the half. Then, with the Tigers leading 38-21 with roughly ten minutes to go, lightning in the area forced the teams off the field.
Even without Marshall, the Auburn offense started quickly. After an Arkansas three-and-out on the game’s first drive, Auburn scored on their first opportunity when Jeremy Johnson hit Melvin Ray, who broke a tackle and finished the 49-yard touchdown. Daniel Carlson knocked home the extra point and the Tigers took a 7-0 lead.
The Razorbacks stormed back on the following drive behind an impressive string of runs. Arkansas gashed the Tigers up the middle before Brandon Allen found tight end Hunter Henry wide open in the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown.
But, the tie was short lived. Jeremy Johnson and Cameron Artis-Payne made quick work of the Razorbacks on the very next drive. Johnson hit Uzomah on a 19-yard pass before Artis-Payne pounded the ball into the end zone to put Auburn back on top 14-7.
After forcing Arkansas to punt, and being backed up to the 2-yard line, the Tigers drove down the field again quickly. Johnson hit Duke Williams on a 62-yard completion, and then again for an 18-yard touchdown to push the lead to 21-7 after a 98-yard drive.
But, head coach Bret Bielema and his Razorbacks answered with a mix of a strong rushing attack and play-action passing. Brandon Allen threw his second touchdown, this one to AJ Derby to cut the lead to seven. Before halftime, the Hogs added another score – a nine-yard TD run by Jonathan Williams to tie the game at 21.
Aug 30, 2014; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers quarterback Nick Marshall (14) looks for a receiver during the second half against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Jordan Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
At halftime, Jeremy Johnson had completed 13 of 17 passes for 243 yards and two touchdowns. He connected with D’haquille “Duke” Williams seven times for 138 yards and a touchdown in the first half. Williams finished the day with nine catches for 154 yards and a score. Johnson would not re-enter the contest.
It is possible that Johnson’s strong showing (he started 8-for-8) played into the decision for Marshall to sit the entire first half. Head coach Gus Malzahn never gave an estimate on how much Johnson would play, but cornerback Jonathon Mincy – who, like Marshall, was suspended from starting, entered the game on the defense’s second series.
The game turned in the third quarter. Nick Marshall entered at the beginning of the second half and immediately drove the Tigers down the field and the senior quarterback scored himself from 19 yards to give Auburn a 28-21 lead.
Auburn’s defense came up with a big play shortly thereafter when Robenson Therezie knifed through the Arkansas offensive line and put a big hit on Allen, who was in the middle of his throwing motion. The hit forced the ball high into the air and safety Jermaine Whitehead came down with it and raced 32 yards for the touchdown and a 35-21 Tigers lead.
To that point, the Razorbacks’ offensive line was having their way with the Auburn front four. The Tigers allowed 267 total yards in the first half, with more than 150 coming on the ground.
Prior to the game, it was announced that Montravius Adams would get the start at defensive end instead of Elijah Daniel. That means the Tigers will start four players on the D-Line that played defensive tackle last season. Gabe Wright, DeAngelo Blackson, Jeff Whitaker, and Adams. As was expected, the Tigers rotated several players in on the defensive line.
Early in the fourth quarter, Daniel Carlson added a 45-yard field goal to push the lead to 17, but before the Tigers could kick off, lightning in the area caused the game to be delayed.
Marshall’s entrance into the game gave the Tigers a big boost on the ground. In the first half, Auburn averaged 3.8 yards per carry. When the teams left the field for the weather delay, the team was averaging 6.8 per attempt. Also at the time of delay, Auburn held a 491-310 edge in total yards, including 180-43 in the second half.
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The senior QB threw only six times, and completed four passes for 50 yards. Marshall carried the ball on eight occasions f0r 18 yards and a score.
Cameron Artis-Payne broke the century mark in rushing yards in the third quarter when he busted through the line on a 28-yard carry. Artis-Payne finished with 178 yards on 26 carries and a TD.
Once play resumed, the Tigers defense came alive. LaDarius Owens knocked down a pass at the line of scrimmage on 2nd down, then Cassanova McKinzy sacked Brandon Allen for a seven-yard loss to force an Arkansas punt. The Auburn offense then began a methodical drive that leaned heavily on Artis-Payne and Corey Grant.
Grant capped off the drive with a three-yard touchdown to give the Tigers a 45-21 lead. The final three yards gave Grant 87 on 10 carries. Auburn finished with 595 yards of total offense and scored 24 consecutive points in the second half to finish off the Razorbacks.