Win gives Tigers confidence boost
Auburn apparently got some of its swagger back with last week’s 28-24 comeback win over Texas A&M, and just in time, too, with Southeastern Conference East winner Georgia coming up Saturday in Athens.
The Tigers (6-3, 3-3 SEC) now have posted back-to-back wins after losing two in a row to Mississippi State and Tennessee and will be looking for their first three-game winning streak of the year when they take on the No. 5 Bulldogs (8-1, 6-1 SEC).
“The thing that I really took away from that game is when the game was on the line, defensively, we made play after play,” coach Gus Malzahn said of the win over the Aggies.
“Offensively, the last two series we answered the bell, and then special teams-wise, the return really had a lot to do with it. And we covered the kick, too. We covered the kickoff and held them inside the 25 or 20.
“So all three phases helped win that game when the pressure was on the most. That’s really what our team has taken from that.
“And you could tell Sunday. It felt different from a confidence standpoint. That’s exactly what we needed — that kind of win to help give us some momentum moving forward.”
It wasn’t just the win but the fact that the Tigers overcame a 10-point deficit entering the fourth quarter that added to its significance.
“The way we won, I really think will help us moving forward,” Malzahn said, “and we’re looking forward to playing a very good Georgia team, one of our rivals, on the road.
“When you play the elite teams, you’ve got to manufacture rushing yards. The more talented teams you play, the more important it is to be balanced.”
Balance, however, wasn’t in much evidence against the Aggies. The Tigers netted only 19 yards on 21 rushes while quarterback Jarrett Stidham passed for 239 yards with two of his 18 completions going for touchdowns. Wide receiver Ryan Davis also had a touchdown pass to wide receiver Sal Cannella for Auburn’s first score.
The trip to Georgia will be the first of two road games among Auburn’s final three of the regular season. The Tigers are at home against Liberty on Nov. 17, then finish the regular season at No. 1 Alabama on Nov. 24.
