BY BRANDON HUGHES
FOR THE OBSERVER
AUBURN — The Auburn Tigers recorded the 800th win in program history in grand fashion Saturday night at Jordan-Hare Stadium, defeating the Alabama A&M Bulldogs 73-3. It was the most points scored in a season opener in 109 years and the largest margin of victory in 92 years.
Jordan-Hare Stadium buzzed with electric energy as fans packed the stands, brimming with the optimism of opening day — their team undefeated, every goal still within reach and the promise and hope of a thrilling season ahead. This particular opener comes after an offseason highlighted by a top-10 recruiting class, which included the “Freeze Four,” a quartet of highly rated wide receivers led by top-five overall player Cam Coleman.
Although it would not take long for these highly rated and highly anticipated freshmen receivers to make an impact, it was the Tigers’ senior stalwart running back Jarquez Hunter who put Auburn’s first points on the board. On the game’s fourth play and Hunter’s first carry, he burst through the line and outran the Bulldog defense to the end zone for the 34-yard score. The quick score — 47 seconds into the game — was the fastest offensive score to begin an Auburn game since 2010 against Chattanooga.
After forcing a three-and-out, Auburn would waste no time — 12 seconds to be exact — extending its lead as quarterback Payton Thorne connected with Penn State transfer KeAndre Lambert-Smith for a 67-yard touchdown. Hunter’s and Lambert-Smith’s scores are the fastest two touchdowns to begin an Auburn season since at least 1996 when such records started being tracked.
After holding the Alabama A&M offense to a second three-and-out in as many possessions, the crowd finally got what it was hoping for. Once again, on the drive’s first play, the Tigers struck pay dirt. Freshman phenom Cam Coleman made a double move, left his defender flat-footed, and caught a 44-yard pass from Thorne for his first touchdown as a collegian.
After the game, a smiling Coleman said of his touchdown catch: “I saw that they [Alabama A&M] had no safety, so I was like, ‘Oh yeah, that’s bingo,’ and they called it. Coach Heath [Dedeaux] and I made eye contact, and I was like, ‘It’s go time.’ Then me and Payton [Thorne] made eye contact, ‘It’s go time,’ and then I saw it, and I stood there, and I saw him fall. I was like, ‘Oh yeah, it’s coming,’ and I looked up at the ball, and I was wide open. I was like, ‘Don’t drop it. Don’t drop it.’ And then I caught it.”
To recap, Auburn’s first three offensive drives resulted in three touchdowns and amassed 166 yards while taking only one minute and nine seconds.
Alabama A&M moved the ball on the ensuing possession, aided by a wild play that went from a sure Auburn interception to a 56-yard completion by the Bulldog receiver down to the Auburn one-yard line. The visitors would fail to capitalize as the offense moved backward and ended the drive by missing a 29-yard field goal attempt.
Auburn failed to do anything on its next possession. After the teams traded punts, the Tigers put together a six-play 65-yard drive that culminated in Lambert-Smith’s second touchdown reception of the game — a four-yard pass from Thorne — and extending Auburn’s lead to 28-0.
The senior signal caller’s three TD passes in the first quarter was the first time an Auburn QB has thrown three TD passes in a quarter since 2010 when Cam Newton did so against Chattanooga. The 28 first-quarter points were also the most since they scored 28 against Purdue in the 2018 Music City Bowl and only the fourth time the Tigers have done it in program history.
The Tiger defense held the Bulldogs to yet another three-and-out, which led to an apparent punt return touchdown by Keionte Scott. However, after replay review, it was ruled that Scott stepped out of bounds at the Bulldogs 21 yard line. The Tiger offense was unable to get a first down and settled for a 32-yard field goal by freshman Towns McGough, an Auburn native, to push the lead to 31-0.
“It hit me yesterday in the hotel that I would be playing in front of the stands and on the field that I grew up as a fan coming to,” McGough said about kicking in Jordan-Hare Stadium. “It’s all glory to God. After that first field goal, there was so much excitement in my heart. I almost had tears of joy running out on the field for the first time. It was a surreal moment and a full circle, taking it all in. I’m so blessed to have this opportunity.”
Getting a fourth down stop on Alabama A&M’s next drive, the Tiger defense watched from the sidelines as the Auburn offense once again didn’t waste any time. It wasn’t a one-play drive this time … it was two. Another member of the heralded “Freeze Four,” Perry Thompson, got in on the action with a 12-yard reception on the first play, followed by a 70-yard touchdown catch and run on the drive’s second play, making the score 38-0.
The Bulldogs finally dented the scoreboard with a 43-yard field goal, but Auburn answered with a four-yard rushing touchdown by Thorne.
After another three-and-out forced by the Tiger defense, the Auburn offense once more found pay dirt by way of a two-yard run by Damari Alston, giving the home team a 52-3 halftime lead.
Thorne’s first-half passing yards (322), 52 first-half points, and 49-point halftime lead are all the most in their respective categories since the aforementioned 2018 Music City Bowl.
The decision was made by agreement between officials of both schools to play the second half with 10-minute quarters. Despite the visitors’ efforts to hasten the end of the game, the second half would begin as rudely as the first half ended as Auburn’s Micah Riley blocked the A&M punt, which was recovered by “Freeze Four” freshman Malcolm Simmons in the end zone for a touchdown pushing the lead to 59-3. It was the first punt blocked by Auburn for a score since Caylin Newton blocked a punt recovered by Barton Lester vs. Georgia State in 2021
Hank Brown would take over for Thorne in the second half and, on his first drive, found Simmons for a 57-yard touchdown pass and catch, stretching the lead to 66-3.
The scoring finally concluded on the third play of the fourth quarter when Cal Transfer Sam Jackson V caught a 37-yard touchdown pass from Brown.
By the Numbers:
- Auburn wide receivers accounted for six receiving touchdowns Saturday night. In 2023, Auburn’s wide receivers had seven receiving touchdowns all season.
- Auburn QBs threw six touchdown passes Saturday night. In 2023, Auburn QBs threw 18 TD passes all season. They did not throw their sixth touchdown pass until the sixth game of the season.
- Auburn had five different players with receiving touchdowns — the most in a single game in Auburn history.
Of Note: Auburn WR Sam Jackson V was Cal’s starting QB when Auburn played in Berkley last season.
Next Up: At home versus the Cal Golden Bears. Kickoff is set for 2:30 on ESPN2.
