Auburn took care of business on Saturday afternoon against an overmatched Vanderbilt Commodore squad, defeating them 31-15.
After an up and down first half (mostly up) for Auburn, the Tigers led 17-7 at the break. The up featured a heavy dose of Jarquez Hunter, with two long touchdown runs for the junior from Philadelphia, MS. On the second play from scrimmage, the left side of the line opened up a hole that Moses would have been proud of and Hunter rumbled for 67 yards.
Friendly reminder, @jarquezhunter IS GOOD ⚡️ https://t.co/gaPa4lnqcz pic.twitter.com/PU5a2Qa5ae
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) November 4, 2023
Later in the quarter, quarterback Payton Thorne started throwing with some confidence, connecting on consecutive first down passes that softened up the defense just enough for Hunter to find another massive hole and rumble 56 yards for his second long score of the quarter.
Jarquez Hunter has 3 carries in the first quarter…and has 121 yards and ✌️ TDs…
Is that good, @jarquezhunter? pic.twitter.com/rpN9jE0adf
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) November 4, 2023
The downside of the first half for the Auburn offense came on the only points the Commodores scored in the entire half. On perhaps Payton Thorne’s biggest mistake of the season, from their own 5 yard line, Thorne completely missed on a check down, never seeing the defender Bryce Cowan, who had as easy a pick six:
PICK. SIX. BRYCE. COWAN pic.twitter.com/tl8PrWUVN9
— Vanderbilt Football (@VandyFootball) November 4, 2023
Hugh Freeze was not happy with the sloppiness, and he let the team know about it at halftime. Whatever he told them paid immediate dividends as the passing game looked much sharper in the second half. After a Vanderbilt pass interference to open the drive, Thorne found a wide open tight end, Rivaldo Fairweather down the sidelines for a 53-yard TD, their third 50-yard+ TD of the game.
Watch Payton Thorne to Rivaldo Fairweather for a long Auburn touchdown
pic.twitter.com/s4Qe41ZrCS— Auburn Gold Mine (@AUGoldMine) November 4, 2023
Auburn was able to put one more score on the board, a quick jet sweep pass to Jeremiah Cobb to go up 31-7 which turned the game into a complete domination in Auburn’s favor.
The Tigers return home to face Arkansas next Saturday at 3pm. The Razorbacks are coming off their best win of the year, beating the Florida Gators in overtime at the Swamp.
Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP
