Auburn vs San Jose State: Players of the Game
Sep 6, 2014; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers running back
Cameron Artis-Payne(44) avoids the tackle of San Jose State Spartans defensive end
Adrian Blake(91) during the first half at Jordan Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
Saturday night at Jordan-Hare Stadium, the Auburn Tigers defeated San Jose State in convincing fashion. The Tigers raced out to a 38-10 halftime lead and cruised to a 2-0 record with a 59-13 victory over the Spartans. It was an impressive performance several Auburn players in particular, and if the Tigers received helmet stickers for their efforts, our Players of the Week are the ones that would get them.
Cameron Artis-Payne
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The Tigers’ senior running back had more than 100 yards for the second consecutive game, and even broke the century mark in the first half against the Spartans. Artis-Payne sprinted to 102 yards and three touchdowns in the first half Saturday, and finished with 112 yards on 16 carries, including a 31-yarder. He also caught a seven-yard pass.
Now through two games in 2014, CAP has rushed for 289 yards on 42 carries and has scored four touchdowns – all of which lead the Southeastern Conference.
Quan Bray caught his first two passes of the season Saturday night for a total of 15 yards, but he makes our list because of the electric 55-yard punt return touchdown he had in the second quarter. Bray fielded the punt at the Auburn 45-yard line and danced through the Spartans’ coverage team, broke a couple of tackles and found the end zone to increase the Auburn lead to 28-7. He is the odds-on favorite to win the team’s special teams player of the week award.
Last week against Arkansas, Frost looked timid in the first two quarters and did not record a tackle in the game. That changed Saturday as Frost ran sideline to sideline in the first half against the Spartans to record five tackles before the break. He added another tackle in the second half and gives Tigers’ fans good reason to believe that Week 1 was an anomaly.
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Rudy Ford, the sophomore safety, was very active against San Jose State. It started on the defense’s first drive of the game when Ford recovered a fumble that unfortunately was negated by a penalty. While that big play didn’t stand, Ford made another in the second quarter when he intercepted SJSU’s Blake Jurich. Overall, Ford had eight total tackles, including six that were solo.
Montravius Adams
Adams, who started at defensive end, but saw plenty of time at defensive tackle, was a fixture in the Spartans’ backfield on Saturday night. The sophomore showed great strength on bull rushes to get to the quarterback on multiple occasions, recording a sack and a quarterback hurry. He also had three tackles for loss, five solo tackles and an assist. Adams could be considered the overall player of the game.
The Offensive Line
The Auburn offensive line held the Spartans in check all night Saturday. As a unit, the O-Line did not allow a sack on a combined 23 pass attempts by Nick Marshall and Jeremy Johnson, and the Tigers racked up 363 rushing yards on 50 carries. Shon Coleman was particularly impressive, and appears to have solidified the left tackle position Greg Robinson manned last season.
Auburn’s senior corner made big plays Saturday with two tackles for loss, a sack and seven solo tackles.
The senior safety had an interception in his second consecutive game, and returned the pick 19 yards against the Spartans. He had five total tackles and a tackle for loss.