Third-down conversions
The stat: 9 of 18
That’s a very good 50 percent conversion rate on third downs against a team that allowed just 38 percent of third-down conversions a season ago. The Auburn football team converted on 45.5 percent of its third-down plays a year ago. That ranked 15th in the country.
Only two teams converted 50 percent of their third-down plays or more in 2017.
The Tigers were 4 for 5 on third downs on their first two possessions of the game. The Stidham-to-Sal Cannella 10-yard TD pass came on third-and-7. On Auburn’s second drive, Stidham hit Darius Slayton for 18 yards on third-and-12 and Nate Craig-Myers for 24 yards on third-and-6. Kam Martin added a 4-yard run on third-and-1.
Then there were the two really big ones on the game-winning drive:
- Stidham to Chandler Cox for 12 yards on third-and-9.
- JaTarvious Whitlow’s 10-yard touchdown run on third-and-7.
To ice the game, Whitlow gained four yards on third-and-2 and Auburn ran out the clock.
What it means: Hitting around 50 percent on third downs is a recipe for winning football games. That Auburn was able to do this against a veteran and talented Washington defense in the first game of the season is a good sign. While the offensive line wasn’t perfect, the more you look at stats like these, the better you feel about the progress and how good this group can be.