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The curse has been broken.
Auburn dominated the fourth quarter on defense, and Bo Nix did a lot of magic, as Auburn won at Baton Rouge for the first time since 1999, beating LSU 24-19.
Here are Auburn Undercover’s quick takeaways from a huge win for Bryan Harsinprogram of.
THE DRIVING
Auburn’s landing training will be remembered by the Orange and Blue faithful.
From his own 8-yard line, Auburn totaled 92 yards in 11 plays, topped by a Hunter Jarquez touchdown to take the lead, 24-19 with 3:11 to go.
True freshman Hunter ran three carries, including a 44-yard gallop along the sideline in a toss. Nix also converted two third downs, both on swing passes to the senior running back. Shaun Shivers.
LSU recovered the ball with 3 minutes and the remaining change, needing a touchdown to win.
BO’S RETURN
Nix was benched for the first time in his college career last week. Harsin even provided a drive for the backup, TJ Finley, to find work at the start of the game.
How did Nix respond? As Harsin and Auburn might have hoped.
Nix played through the night with his athleticism, pulling away from several LSU defenders, looking up and hitting his targets to cap some miraculous streaks at the limit.
He controlled the infraction for the first two practices, which both entered LSU territory. But the Tigers didn’t get any points, with a short punt and a 51-yard misfire. Finley came in for the third practice and got the same result, passing midfield, but still empty.
As Auburn’s defense adjusted following an unsightly first touchdown from LSU, Nix made Auburn’s offense buzz with his signature backyard football games.
Most notably, Nix rushed for 11 seconds on a fourth and two in the second quarter before finding a wide open Tyler fromm in the end zone for Auburn’s first score of the night. Nix went 6 of 8 for 62 yards on the drive.
Nix converted another fourth and 2 on Auburn’s ensuing possession with similar tactics, this time finding Demetris Robertson for a first down. Anders Carlson had a 49-yard field goal and Auburn came in at halftime after scoring 10 straight points. Nix had eight of his last 11 assists before the break.
And he did it again – for the third consecutive possession in the third quarter. Nix danced before he found John Samuel Shenker for a gain of 33 yards to put Auburn past the midfielder. Carlson’s 52-yard field goal was blocked, however.
Next, Nix brought the Tigers back into the end zone, finishing a nine-game streak saving for a rush.
After Nix returned to quarterback after Finley’s only practice, Auburn’s next four practices totaled 75, 62, 40 and 75 yards, with two touchdowns and one field goal.
Nix is the first Auburn quarterback to win at LSU since Ben leard 22 years ago.
THE DEFENSE WITHSTANDS THE FIRST STORMS OF FIRE
Auburn’s high school looked like it was on a hell of a night after LSU’s first practice – really, after LSU’s first scrum game.
An almost unstoppable early connection between LSU quarterback Max johnson and receiver Kayshon Boutte Seemed like it was gonna be a disaster for Derek masonunity. Boutte amassed 55 yards on LSU’s first play, and Johnson went 6-for-6 for 122 yards and a touchdown on his first possession (a foul-slam fumble pushed the ball back to the goal line and allowed LSU to pick up more than 100 meters in a single trip).
However, Auburn quickly returned to earth, better bottling LSU’s widening in space and – more importantly – applying pressure on Johnson from the defensive line. Johnson was – unlike what Penn State QB Sean clifford done two weeks ago – not allowed to sit all day and pick seats. Even without starting board rusher TD mold and starting linebacker Owen Pappoe, Auburn found success after Johnson, with three sacks on the night.
LSU was still able to score, with four field goals. And Johnson has always orchestrated successful runs in Auburn territory, but the Orange and Blue Tigers have continuously made turns without breaking stops. LSU finished their practices on Auburn’s 5, 8 and 14 yard line, but didn’t score another touchdown.
Mason’s squad also had the clutch gene, giving Nix and his company a chance to take the lead in a 19-17 game. Auburn forced a punt on LSU’s first three practices in the fourth quarter, including his only two forced three-and-outs of the game. Auburn should also have had an interception in LSU territory, after Wooden colby made a pass to the line of scrimmage, and Zakoby mcclain couldn’t pull it down.
LSU recovered the ball with just over 3 minutes to go, and after a few completions in Auburn territory, security Bydarrius Knighten knocked out Johnson in the fourth and sixth points to freeze the game.
In the fourth quarter, LSU had 54 attacking yards and just two first downs.
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