Auburn started yesterday's game with a real opportunity to beat No. 12 Ole Miss in Oxford.
During the first half without WR Jeremiah Koger, the game felt close, and Auburn actually seemed like it had a chance to win the game. That all changed in the second half after coming out of halftime already down 14-9.
Byrum Brown scrambled for a 7-yard touchdown run that put the Tigers within two. Then, the offense botched a poorly called play for a two-point conversion.
From that point on, Ole Miss bullied Auburn until the end of the game.
The Rebels scored 28 unanswered points and used former Auburn QB Deuce Knight as the final nail in the coffin with a 17-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to break the spirits of not only the team but its fans as well.
Here are the three Auburn winners and three losers from today's rout in Oxford.
Winner: WR Chas Nimrod
Chas is a winner today because of his first half, when he caught Byrum Brown's only touchdown pass of the day. The senior receiver was tied with the most yards with another winner from today's game.
Winner: WR DeShawn Spencer
Spencer was a breath of fresh air every time he caught the ball for the Auburn offense. Spencer tied Nimrod for the most yardage during the loss. Still, the plays Spencer made against Ole Miss should give fans hope for the future as he hopefully blossoms into a rising star by the end of the season.
Winner: DB AnQuon Fegans
Fegans intercepted Trinidad Chambliss in the second quarter, and then the offense fumbled the ball on the next play. Wasting Fegans' efforts and a chance to take momentum. The defense held Ole Miss' offense to 14 points in the first half and did its job early. Even though he got hurt with what hopefully is just a mild ankle injury, he still wins for his enormous efforts in the first half.
Loser: QB Byrum Brown
Byrum Brown had a chance to do what Drew Mestemaker did for himself today if he had won. Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss has been considered one of the top players in the whole country all year long, and a win over him might have propelled his draft stock. Not to mention, the fans would have been more excited seeing their team have a QB win a duel in route to a potential 9-3 season.
Brown had moments with a clean pocket where he just held on to the ball too long. On one instance, because he did, the pocket finally collapsed, and Suntarine Perkins made the play from behind. Ultimately, this was a sloppy game from Brown that deserves recognition, as for a fifth straight week, he hasn't thrown for over 200 yards passing.
Loser: Coach Alex Golesh
Alex Golesh took the blame for the loss to Ole Miss just like he accepted the blame for the same blowout with LSU. But now the line has met the road, and Golesh knows that the offense he promised isn't doing what it's supposed to do on Saturdays, and it is his fault.
He is staring the problem in the face, as Brooks Austin said during SEC Media Days. Golesh knows how to fix the problem, but doesn't seem to want to. I am not sure if it is his friendship with offensive coordinator Joel Gordon, who has been with Golesh since he started his adventure at USF. Or if he just doesn't know how to fix it. No one knows, but Golesh is losing the faith of the Auburn fans with every second he doesn't figure something out. I really think Golesh knows how to fix the problem, but he is just trying to face the reality of having to do it.
Loser: OC Joel Gordon
Gordon has had an abysmal season calling plays for the offense. His schemes were so predictable that Ole Miss seemed to know every time Brown was the designated runner. Now, Gordon doesn't have the excuse of being against three of the top-5 defenses in the SEC. He was blessed by the football gods with the gift of one of the SEC's worst defenses, and he couldn't even get Brown to 200 yards passing.
This has been a sorry excuse for an offense, and he has been protected by Golesh all season long. Now he has to be held fully accountable for the loss. The offense hasn't been successful since the Southern Miss game, and everyone suddenly thinks it is DJ Durkin's fault? Hopefully, Golesh takes away Gordon's playcalling before he causes Golesh to lose his job. If they lose against Arkansas, I can only imagine the meltdown from the fanbase and boosters.
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