Sep 12, 2015; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers running back Peyton Barber (25) scores the game-winning touchdown during overtime against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks at Jordan Hare Stadium. Auburn won 27-20. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports
AUBURN, Ala.– FCS foe Jacksonville State has a reputation for knocking off FBS opponents, and the Gamecocks almost pulled off one of the biggest upsets in school history.
But it wasn’t meant to be for coach John Grass’ team as No. 6 Auburn came from behind to capture a thrilling 27-20 overtime win.
Running back Peyton Barber scored the game-winning touchdown from 4 yards out to give the Tigers (2-0) their first home win of the season. He finished the game with 125 yards on 23 carries.
Quarterback Jeremy Johnson, who once again struggled with his decision-making, connected with wideout Melvin Ray in the corner of the end zone for a 10-yard score to tie the game at 20-all with under a minute to play. Grass then elected to play for overtime by instructing quarterback Eli Jenkins to take a knee, which worked in the Tigers’ favor.
Johnson finished with 236 yards on 21-of-32 passing, with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
–Matt Lowe
No. 11 Florida State 34, South Florida 14
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Seminoles shook off a sluggish start and surged in the second half to beat the in-state foe Bulls behind a career day from running back Dalvin Cook.
Cook, a sophomore, carried the load for the second straight week, this time rushing for a career-high 266 yards on 30 carries and three touchdowns to propel Florida State to a 2-0 start.
Cook became the fifth player to rush for more than 200 yards in school history and is the first Seminole to surpass that mark since 1988. Cook’s game also is the second-best performance ever by a Florida State running back. Former Seminoles running back Greg Allen owns the all-time single-game record with 322 yards.
No. 12 Clemson 41, Appalachian State 10
CLEMSON, S.C. — Charone Peake, filling in for injured wide receiver Mike Williams, caught four passes for 86 yards and two touchdowns as the Tigers rolled over the Mountaineers.
Williams, a preseason All-ACC selection, is out indefinitely after suffering a small fracture in his neck in the Tigers’ season-opening game, but Clemson didn’t miss a beat against Appalachian State, improving to 2-0 heading into Thursday night’s nationally televised game at Louisville.
Appalachian State (1-1), seeking its first win against an ACC opponent since a 20-16 victory at Wake Forest in 2000, entered the game riding a seven-game winning streak but fell victim to a 28-point second quarter that saw the Tigers score four touchdowns in less than 10 minutes.
