STARKVILLE, Miss. – Forget Auburn’s spread offense and all that talk about who will play quarterback.
The Tigers win football games with defense, and demonstrated that in a most emphatic way Saturday with a 3-2 win – yes, a 3-2 win – over Mississippi State in a game that had more twists and turns than the strange score would indicate.
Auburn had 315 yards of offense – and nine killer penalties on the offensive line, including one that resulted in a safety with 7:49 remaining.
Safety? Things got even crazier from there. Auburn lost two fumbles and Mississippi State had three more possessions. But the 3-2 score somehow stuck.
Mississippi State had 116 yards of offense – and was throwing for the win with just over two minutes left with a pass that defensive back Walter McFadden made a circus catch on at the Auburn 18.
It wasn’t exactly the tuneup Auburn wanted heading into next weekend’s SEC West headliner against LSU.
“It was ugly, but we’ll take 3-2 every game we play this year,” said Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville.
Ugly? It was historic.
al.com
9/14/08
