Marshall Leads Auburn to 3-0

Auburn tied last season’s win total and broke a ten game SEC losing streak with a 24-20 win against Mississippi State.

Although the Tigers improved to 3-0, Mississippi State dominated the 2nd and 3rd quarters as Nick Marshall struggled to regain rhythm after a strong first half and Auburn’s defense was gashed by the Bulldog offense.

However, it was Marshall, who was explosive in the first quarter, who guided Auburn down the field for the game winning drive, going 6-8 and making key plays with his feet. The drive ended with an impressive touchdown strike to tight end C.J. Uzomah.

The quarterback threw for 339 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions on the evening. He also had a spectacular catch after his pass was batted down that resulted in a 37 yard run.

Although Marshall ended the game the hero, it was Mississippi State surprise starter Dak Prescott who looked like the star throughout most of the game. Prescott, filling in for injured starter Tyler Russell, gave Dan Mullen plenty to think about by putting together a 213 passing yards and 133 rushing yards performance.

The Bulldogs offense stymied as the second half wore on, however, as Tigers’ linebacker Kris Frost entered the game following a first half suspension. True freshman defensive tackle Montravius Adams also saw increased playing time and the two energized a stronger defensive performance.

Auburn, now 3-0, has to feel good about the win, despite the fact that it was “ugly.” For a team that has been beaten down, it is crucial to have a come from behind win like this to rebuild confidence. The team faces LSU next week, but will need a stronger performance in the run game to hope for a win. Mississippi State is now 1-2 and will play Troy next week.